Out of Eden by Beth Ciotta Page B

time. She gripped the doorknob of McGraw’s just as someone said her name. That someone was Jack. Drat , she thought as she turned to face the man of her dreams. She’d hoped to avoid running into him until after her meeting with the HPS. The man mucked up her concentration. Although, she hadn’t run into him. He’d sought her out—along with the dog that wasn’t his.
    Flashing back on their last confrontation, she hiked a brow. “Want to see my driver’s license?”
    “I’d like to buy you a cup of coffee.”
    Kylie’s heart fluttered, which was nuts. It’s not like he was asking her out for drinks and dinner. This was…she didn’t know what it was. She furrowed her brow. “You made that same offer yesterday.”
    “Is that a ‘no’?”
    “It’s a ‘why’.”
    “I need to talk to you.”
    Her frown deepened. “What did I do now?”
    His lip twitched. “Nothing. As far as I know.” He sobered then. “It’s about my sister.”
    “Jessica Lynn?”
    “Her life’s in turmoil, and since we’ve been on the outs, I don’t know specifics.”
    “It’s not like she confides in me.” Kylie tried to wrap her mind around this unexpected conversation. “We don’t even run in the same circles.”
    “But you both live in Eden and this town feeds on gossip. I’m sure you’ve heard talk.”
    She’d heard talk, all right. Mostly about Jessica Lynn’s husband, Frank Cortez. It wasn’t pretty. “You won’t like it.”
    “Better than being in the dark.”
    He sounded so earnest, looked so sincere, and just the teensiest bit desperate. Never in a million years would she have expected Jack Reynolds—super-man, super-cop—to come to her for help. “Why me? You could ask Deputy Ziffel, or Boone or—”
    “Because I know you’ll keep whatever’s said between us private. Because if you needed help with Spenser, I’d have your back.”
    Well, dang. How was she supposed to say no to that? Especially since just yesterday she’d declared them friends. It’s just that this talk struck her as awfully intimate and she was trying very hard not to fall for Jack. Again . Lust was one thing. Love…she didn’t want to think about it.
    She covered her heart, a silly protective gesture. She glanced at the store, wishing Travis would stick his head out and call her inside, any excuse for a getaway.
    “Heard Travis Martin is a competent, hard worker,” Jack said, as if reading her thoughts. “I’m sure he can do without you for a half hour.”
    Dang.
    “Kerri’s Confections is a short walk away.”
    “Not Kerri’s,” Kylie blurted. “First, no dogs allowed.” She glanced down at the mutt sitting quietly at Jack’s side. “Are you sure she’s not yours? She seems awfully attached.”
    “She attaches herself to whoever offers food and affection.”
    Meaning Jack must dote on her. Kylie smiled at that. “Second,” she said, keeping the conversation on track, “do you know how busy Kerri’s place is in the morning? How many ears would strain in our direction? If you don’t want Jessica Lynn to know we were talking about her, we should go somewhere private.” Just not too private. “Although I could use a cup of tea.” And a moment to gather my wits .
    She’d known Jack all her life, but she’d never had a private, serious discussion with him regarding family or anything else for that matter. Her birthday exchange didn’t count—she’d been drunk. Yesterday’s heated exchange in McGraw’s didn’t count—he’d been lecturing. Even the many-moons-ago, never-to-be-mentioned exchange didn’t count because they’d both been walking on eggshells.
    Nope. This was a first. It felt weird and important. He wanted her help and she didn’t want to let him down.
    “What about one of the park benches near City Hall?” Jack asked.
    The Appleseed Memorial. A beautified area maintained by the Garden Club. Not too private, but private enough on a weekday morning. Kylie nodded.
    “I’ll get the