Letters From Al by Pieper, Kathleen (i am reading a book txt) 📗

Her frown didn't deter his teasing, or from him following her into the big, dark living room to the left of the stairs.

"Thanks, but I'll pass. What's this? Everything's covered in sheets."

"Maid's night out, I guess." Alec looked around, partly interested and always professional. "I haven't been inside for ages. It’s been closed up since she went into the nursing home."

"I'm so glad the electricity is on." Having light was having a little control of the situation.

"Guess Leland should have paid more attention. I saw him here just last week. Hey, I bet the gas and water are on, too." He walked back into the kitchen.

"Leland checked in here just last week, you say? Then why did he say the utilities had been cut off?" Alec evidently didn't hear her and she shrugged, too tired to care. Maybe the realtor just forgot, but it seemed strange.

Maddy pulled several sheets off a couch and some chairs while she heard Alec puttering around in the kitchen. He returned with a satisfied look on his face.

"Good news, gas and water are both on, and what's more important, no bogeymen." He held up his hands in a scary pose.

"You're not going to let that one die, are you? Thanks, Sheriff." Maddy teased him back.

Scrunching his eyebrows together in mock frustration he replied patiently, "That's deputy sheriff, and all kidding aside, if you need anything, I hope you call me. The number is by the phone. Oh, that's working, too, even though it’s old. You have my card. But tell me this, are we still friends?"

He held out his hand and she paused only a moment before taking it. He had an innately captivating presence.

The firm grip captured more than her hand, her heart seemed to flutter again.

"I admit I'd like that, Alec. I still don't know how long I'm going to be here, but a girl can’t have too many friends. I’ll just bet you have the girls in town lined up waiting on you. I wouldn't want to horn in or anything." Maddy gently extracted her hand and eyes from his.

He threw her a well-polished look and shook his head "No, they all know me too well."

"I'll bet. Say, how did you know I'd be coming back here to the house? Don't tell me you waited? Did you wait for me to come back?" She didn't know whether to be flattered or irritated.

"Oh, that. Well, it has to do with your nosy neighbor, Mrs. Smith. She's like a one-woman neighborhood watch. You were right about having a witness. She called me tonight about you. She was worried about prowlers again."

"There have been prowlers here before?" Maddy rubbed her arms uneasily.

Deputy McKay brightened as if with a sudden idea.

"Say, if you're uneasy about staying here alone, I’m free." He began but she interrupted him. He was a little too eager.

"Thanks, but, I'll manage."

"Well, if you change your mind. Oh, and as for the prowlers, it was probably just some kids goofing off but maybe it's not a good idea for you to stay here alone."

"Yes, probably," she said weakly, "but I am, so quit trying to convince me to leave. I'm beat and I'm still puzzled why Leland didn't tell me about any of this."

Alec shrugged, looking around. He pulled a well-worn Nebraska baseball cap out of his back pocket and put it on, his eyes glinted in the reflection of the mirror above the fireplace.

"It sure is a nice house."

"Did you know my aunt very well?"

"Everyone in town knew Miss Madeline. She was a classy lady, always helping someone. I felt bad when she got sick, didn't see her much after that." He was looking around absently. "Don't you know your own relatives?"

"Not really. She was my father's aunt, I'm named for her but we were here such a short time. Don't you remember when we left? It was awful. I didn’t want to leave but it's strange. Since I've arrived, I sometimes feel a connection just being here around her things. My great grandmother hated Aunt Madeline for some reason, and the rest of the family was all so scared of her they never spoke of Aunt Madeline except to call her the Black Sheep of the family. All but my father, he loved her."

"Sounds like something Miss Madeline would have planned. She was really smart, very creative."

The pensive sound of his voice was gentle, caressing. "You said something about a boyfriend before, is it serious?"

Maddy flushed and ignored his question. Feigning interest she picked up some of the knickknacks sitting around her aunt's living room. Apparently everything was just as she left it. It suddenly dawned on Maddy she'd confided a lot of personal things to Alec just now. It amazed her she did that, even if he had been, or, was, a friend. If there ever was a time she needed someone to talk to, it was now. But could she trust him?

"I would rather not talk about that any more. Are you off-duty now?" Maddy changed the subject, fingering heavy satin tassels that tied back velvet curtains framing the archway to the living room. Deputy McKay's blue eyes didn't miss anything and he nodded.

"Yes, on my way home when Aunt Polly caught up to me. So, thought I'd be neighborly and drop by. I explained the situation with you and the house to her, too."

"You know, you take after your aunt some. I think it's the red hair maybe, or the eyes. But it's there." He made a frame with his fingers like a photographer, head cocked at an angle as he toyed with her heart. The grin slowly faded as his breath came out a little ragged. Rubbing his chin, he stepped back as if breaking a spell, the impish grin returning.

"You know, I'm beginning to remember more and more about you, about us, and that semester at school. You sure, you don't want me to stick around for a while?" His eyes were playing tricks on hers,