Pound Foolish (Windy City Neighbors Book 4) Read Free Page A

hands to calm her. “The place is supposed to be fully furnished, outfitted kitchen, cable TV, boat, everything, so I’m sure they have bedding. They use it for hosting manufacturer reps and big customers. But if it’d make you more comfortable, we can bring sleeping bags just in case. As for food, Lake Villa’s real close. We can zip into town for food.”
         “Greg, that’s okay for groceries, but what about things like salt and pepper, coffee, sugar—stuff I could bring from home so we wouldn’t have to spend the—”
         “Maybe it’s already there.”
         She rolled her eyes.
         Greg knew he needed to compromise. “All right. What if we all calm down and go to Red Lobster for now. Then we’ll come home and pack—on the minimal side—and head up there first thing tomorrow morning?”
         Relief flooded over Nicole’s face, and Greg knew they had a plan.
     
    * * * *
       
    The cottage was far more beautiful than Greg had imagined—high cathedral ceilings, open beams, floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace, and the lakeside was all windows. And it was fully equipped with everything but fresh groceries. They didn’t have to use their sleeping bags or even bring in the box of condiments and assorted staples Nicole had packed. In fact, when Greg went by Bob Kruger’s to pick up the key, Bob told him that when they left all they had to do was strip the beds they’d used and the maid service would take care of everything, including cleaning the cottage.
         A few clouds gathered Monday morning after they arrived, but the temperature still reached 70 degrees before noon. The kids couldn’t wait to run down to the lake to wade in the cold water, but Nicole remained unusually quiet.
         “You okay?” Greg asked as he helped her put away the groceries.
         “Yeah, I’m fine.” She sighed and started making sandwiches for lunch.
         Greg didn’t believe her. He’d hoped that by the time they got to the cottage the tension from the day before would evaporate. Maybe he needed to give her more time. “Uh . . . well, as soon as lunch is over, you think it’d be okay for me to drive around to the east side of the lake to pick up some bait?” Wait a minute! What was he doing asking if he could go buy worms? Still . . . “What I mean is, Bob said there’s a resort over there where I can get some bait. Thought we could take the boat out when I get back and let the kids catch some fish.”
         “They’d probably like that.”
         “How ’bout you? You wanna come along?”
         She wrinkled her nose and poured glasses of juice. “Think I’ll just sit on the dock and read. Catch a few rays, like you suggested.”
         “Sure, that sounds good. Though you could read on the boat, and we could all be together.”
         Nicole shook her head. “I just need some alone time. Besides,” she glanced toward the big windows, “if it clouds over, I don’t want to be stuck out there on the lake.”
         “Suit yourself, but you’d better bring a jacket or . . . ah, forget it.” Greg wrapped a sandwich in a paper towel, picked up his Pro Bass cap from the table, and headed for the door. “The place I’m headed is called Jack and Lydia’s. Be back soon.”
         Greg slammed the door of the Cherokee and took the narrow road a little faster than he intended. Women . Why were they so hard to figure out?
     

Chapter 3
     
     
    Greg eased up on the gas as he drove along the narrow road around to the east side of Deep Lake taking bites of his sandwich without noticing what kind it was. What was going on with Nicole? Why wasn’t she enjoying this mini-vacation? Wasn’t that what she wanted? He was the kind of guy who couldn’t abide tension. He had to figure it out. Her happiness was his responsibility, after all.
         Distracted by his thoughts, he nearly missed the sign announcing Jack and Lydia’s Resort. He