Special Delivery (Mountain Meadow Homecoming 1) by Laura Browning Page A

said he’d help with any heavy lifting, and I’ve got a garage where we can store whatever doesn’t fit in the house.”
    “Okay.”
    He set his cap on his head. “Right. I’ll just go to the station. You can call there if you need anything.”
    * * * *
    Holly nearly called him back. He was incredibly sweet. She thought again about the blush she’d witnessed. She never would have guessed from their first meeting he was shy. He seemed too much the local football hero type. What would her life be like had she met Jake Allred before Spence Dilby? As she crossed over to the rocker and sank onto its padded seat, she fantasized.
    While Noelle nursed, Holly imagined the baby was Jake’s. They were a family—her, Tyler, Noelle, and Jake. He’d make a wonderful dad. She’d seen how patient he was with Tyler, yet he never talked down to him or treated him like he couldn’t do things. Then he was so careful with Noelle, but so natural, like the way he’d rocked her in the hospital room yesterday.
    Holly sighed. His offer tempted her, and not just for security. Just thinking about Jake made her heart beat faster in ways it never had for Spence. Where Spence had always scared her just a little, as soon as she’d gotten past Jake’s uniform, his presence had made her feel safe. And now? She had no doubts about her safety, but she there were plenty of unsafe things she’d like to try with him. She needed to be careful not to read too much into Jake’s actions. What he was doing for her, he’d do for anyone. He was just that kind of guy. She’d said friends and he’d agreed.
    * * * *
    No matter how Jake tried to mask it, he knew his voice held an edge of irritation as he spoke to the reporter from the Messenger . “Look, Amanda, there are facts you don’t know, things I can’t tell you. Isn’t there any way you could just forget the story and replace it with something else?”
    “Jake, we go to press tonight. This is a major feature this week. My editor would fire me if I told him the story needed to be pulled.”
    Jake drummed his fingertips on his desk. That was a no, so he tried a different tack. “Would you at least consider using a picture of me instead of Holly and Noelle? After all, the premise is supposed to be hometown heroes,” he pointed out.
    “May I ask why?” she asked and Jake went on the alert. He had to remind himself the woman was first and foremost a reporter.
    “No. It’s not my story to tell.” Jake waited her out. He’d been around enough to know she would be reluctant to burn a possible source for future stories.
    “I’ll swing by and take your picture, but I can’t promise anything. Rick has the final say.”
    “Fair enough.”
    There was a pause on the other end. “You know, I appreciate the fact you didn’t threaten to go to him over my head.”
    Jake drummed his fingers. “That doesn’t do either one of us any good. You burn me, you lose. I burn you, I could lose.”
     

Chapter 5
     
    Almost home. Just a couple of minutes and he’d see Holly again. It scared him to realize how much he looked forward to that. Jake pulled his truck into the driveway just as Tyler bounded up the walk. No doubt the kid had stopped off at Tarpley’s store. Evan was standing on the porch, leaning against one of the pillars. Jake exited the truck, keeping one eye on Tyler. Evan intimidated a lot of people, let alone a kid. The boy’s steps slowed as he noticed Evan. Jake hung back next to his truck to watch.
    “Who’re you?”
    “Evan. Who’re you?”
    “Tyler. Whatcha doin’ here?”
    “Helping Jake. What are you doing here?”
    “I live here.”
    Evan stuck his hand out. “Nice to meet you. ’Bout time Jake got some company.”
    Jake moved forward as Tyler’s gaze traveled over Evan from head to toe before he grasped the outstretched hand. “Nice to meet you, too. You’re real tall, but I s’pose you know that.”
    Jake halted next to them. “Hi, guys. Why don’t you go on in?