Like Arrows (Cedar Tree #6) Read Free Page A

I am still hesitant to share too much of myself, I've come to trust her. Kind of.
    The arrival of my salad at the table interrupts the inconspicuous looks I'm directing toward the counter. More specifically, toward the tall, built and gorgeous man at the counter. I catch him in profile only once, the rest of the time his back stays turned, but that one glimpse is enough to give me butterflies. He's beautiful. With his long hair pulled back from his face, a prominent brow, prominent nose with a bit of a bump, strong square jaws covered in stubble and the most luscious mouth I've ever seen on a man. It's obvious he's at least part Native American, which shouldn't surprise me in this area that is rich with indigenous cultures and a few of the larger reservations.
    "Can I get you anything else?" The tall blonde waitress asks, one eyebrow raised. I shake my head and drop my eyes to my bowl of salad, feeling chastised for looking.
    "No thank you. Just the bill please."
    "Be right back," she says, turning around.
    From the corner of my eye, I see her deliver a plate piled high with what I'm sure are sweet potato fries and I immediately look at my own lunch with some regret. Looks good enough, with a few interesting additions of beans, corn and cheese, but still, I shove most of that to the side and eat a few tentative bites of lettuce and chicken. When the tang of a chipotle dressing hits my taste buds I wish I could eat more.
    The waitress comes back with the bill. "You can pay at the counter," she says. But with one look at the cash register right beside the man, I know I want to avoid it.
    "Can I just pay you now?" I ask, looking at the receipt and fully prepared to hand over my twenty dollar bill even though the total doesn't even come to ten. It's worth not having to be embarrassed when I sidle up to the counter. A man like that would never even look twice at the likes of me.
    The woman stands by my table, a weird expression on her face. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I scramble to dig my wallet from my purse. "Here," I say, handing over the twenty. "No need for change."
    She shrugs and mumbles, "thanks," before turning away.
    Just then the door opens and another statuesque blonde walks in and right up to the man with the ponytail. This one seems younger and is very curvaceous. Not only that, she smiles huge when she talks to him. Figures. I'm even more grateful now that I don't have to walk over there to pay.
    I force down a few more bites and take a sip of my water, but whatever appetite I had is gone. I manage to pull on my poncho, tuck my purse under my arm, and slip out the door while the two blondes and the dark ponytail chat it up.
    Once outside, I dig for my keys in my purse when I feel a tingle at the base of my neck. Lifting my head, my eyes zoom in on the man who is now looking straight at me through the window. Deep black eyes hold me hostage long enough to fumble with my keys and the lock. The moment I open the door, I see him begin to move and tear my eyes away, ducking into the car.
    -
    T he drive is actually very pretty along County Road G. Some snow remains on the landscape, even though it's late March. I push thoughts of those dark eyes as far away as I can. Instead I look around me to see if the sights are able to give me any clues as to why Martin is almost rabid to purchase these properties. I have control of the filing system, except for the one cabinet in his office which houses his 'personal stuff,' or so he says. I've seen some of his recent visitors walk in with rolls of drawings and folders of papers which didn't make it out of the office with them. I assume they're still there. Somewhere. Maybe I'll use the time he's away to get a closer look. In the meantime I'll keep my eyes open. Nothing stands out other than that it's beautiful country.
    The moment I pass the B&B, I start slowing down. I know the Walker's driveway is coming up on my left. The only other time I've been here was before the