Read Online A Season for Family by Mae Nunn - Free Book Online Page A

Weatherford stepped away from the cab and signaled his partner behind the wheel of the patrol car. The driver matched his nudge bar to the Chevy’s rear bumper and accelerated gently. Olivia popped the clutch and the truck sputtered back to life. She waved appreciation and then quickly closed the window against a burst of frigid air that nearly blew off her ratty old stocking cap.
    â€œAnd that happens all the time?” Heath released the breath he’d been holding.
    â€œSince the very first day Big Red was donated. But all it takes is a push to get her started again and that’s turned out to be a nice way to meet people.”
    â€œMaybe so, unless you’re meeting those people late at night on the end of that dark street where you built your place.”
    â€œIf you’re trying to scare me out of the warehouse district you need to take a number. I’ve been hearing that argument since the day the Realtor showed me the property. God led me to the area of town with the most need and found me the perfect building.”
    He held his palms outward. “Hey, I’m just sayin’.”
    â€œYeah, well, say it to our clients who’ll be desperate to find a warm place to sleep tonight.”
    She swung the creaky red dinosaur into a parking space in front of a multistory brick building on Franklin Avenue.
    â€œThere are at least a dozen companies inside that I can count on for donations and job leads.” She slid to the pavement, locked and slammed the door and pulled herugly cap tight. Heath hurried to keep up. As she headed for the lobby entrance he admired the fearless tilt of her head and the confident strength of her carriage. Olivia wasn’t a woman who cowered with something to hide or slept with one eye open. Her conscience seemed clear, her motives pure.
    He lengthened his stride, reached for the door and swept it wide for her to enter first.
    â€œLead the way, boss lady.”
    Her chin dipped, her eyes cast toward the floor, her cheeks colored with humility.
    It was no wonder her supporters were loyal.
    But if Olivia Wyatt was Mother Teresa’s understudy, who was running drugs through her place?
    Â 
    Olivia hadn’t been around many technogeeks in her life, so it was taking her a while to figure Heath out. He was a lot of help once he finally loosened up, but did he ever have a suspicious nature. No wonder his parents’ efforts to give him a Christian upbringing had been such a struggle. The guy wouldn’t accept anything on say-so, much less faith.
    It was a fruitful day. The truck bed was full of boxes that included seasonal foods as well as badly needed staples. With their Thanksgiving feast only days away, it was a relief to store up cans of yams, cranberry jelly and pumpkin pie filling.
    â€œSo, what did you think?” she asked during their ride back to the shelter.
    â€œI think I owe you an apology.”
    She glanced his way to see if Heath was poking fun at her but no smile creased his face. In fact, his eyes were round, his stare intense.
    â€œApology for what?” she asked.
    â€œFor insinuating that you were wasting your future running a homeless shelter.” Heath sat tall with his arms crossed, no longer hiding in the corner of the cab as he had earlier. “If the effort I witnessed today is a glimpse of how you operate your business, you’d get my vote for city manager if you ever decided to enter politics.”
    Olivia’s cheeks warmed as she returned her attention to the afternoon traffic. “Apology accepted, but there’s a strategic error in your thinking.”
    â€œYou’d never run?”
    â€œYou can’t vote in this city.”
    â€œAh, good point.” He nodded. “But seriously, Olivia, you’re a passionate spokesperson and a gifted networker. You could just as easily be a marketing director with a six-figure salary.”
    She shook her head at the suggestion. “I