On Pins and Needles Read Free

he’d actually touched her.
    Of course she ignored it, held out her hand the same way she had to Mr. Burns, and said, “In case you didn’t know, I’m Megan Bailey.”
    But unlike Mr. Burns, Josh Brimley didn’t take his eyes off her face even as he accepted her hand.
    â€œJosh Brimley,” he said unnecessarily in a voice as deep and rich as aged bourbon.
    His hand was strong, callused and warm to the touch, and having it wrapped around hers did wild and wicked things to the pit of her stomach. But she ignored that, too, clearing her throat so that when she spoke again her own voice didn’t ring with the effects he was having on her.
    â€œI don’t remember too many people from around here so I assume not too many of them remember me, either,” she explained. “I just thought it wouldn’t hurt to introduce myself.”
    â€œMy brother Scott remembers you and your sister from grade school, but I’m two years older than he is and I can’t say that I have much recollection of the two of you. I know your place, though. I was amazed to see anyone trying to live in it again. It’s gotten pretty rundown over the years.”
    â€œWorse than we expected,” she con firmed. “When we decided to come back we thought the house would need a little paint, a little fixing up. But so far it’s needed a whole lot more than that. Today we’re having to put in a new septic tank. When we left this morning there was so much machinery in our backyard it looked like a construction site.”
    â€œI can imagine,” he said, smiling just enough to cut creases down both cheeks and prove just how lithe those lips were. It also in creased the level of his hand some ness by another notch. If that were possible.
    Megan gave herself a quick, silent talking-to about the inadvisability of letting herself be distracted by aclient’s appearance and cut the chitchat to get down to business before she completely forgot herself and why he was here.
    â€œWhen your secretary made the appointment—at least I assumed it was your secretary—”
    â€œMillie. She’s the dispatcher and the post mistress, too,” he explained.
    â€œOh. Well, she said you’re suffering from an allergy that Dr. McDermot thought might benefit from acupuncture.”
    â€œMmm,” he answered noncommittally, glancing around at the waiting room. “And I’ll take a look at your locks, if you want, too.”
    Megan had almost for got ten she’d said that only moments before outside. But now that he’d brought it up, she said, “I’m not really worried about the locks. It just seemed as if you might not be comfortable letting Mr. Burns know you were scheduled to come in for acupuncture so I thought I’d cover your tracks.”
    The sheriff’s full eyebrows drew together at that. “I wasn’t worrying about who knew or what anybody thought. I just wasn’t sure I was going to actually do this,” he answered matter-of-factly. “No offense, but it just seems like some kind of hocus-pocus or voodoo or some thing. Not anything that could actually do me any good.”
    â€œAh, I see. I appreciate your honesty,” she said, not taking offense because it was a sentiment she’d been con fronted with before. “But if Dr. McDermot recommended me he must have told you that acupuncture can be effective.”
    â€œHe wasn’t all that convinced himself. But this damn—this allergy thing has just come up recently and the medicines he’s given me make me fuzzy-headed and too tired to think. I can’t have that on this job. So Bax thought I might as well give you a try.”
    She couldn’t be sure but she thought there might be a bit of innuendo to the last part of that statement. Especially since the give you a try had come with the tiniest upward quirk to one side of his mouth. But once more she opted