Read Online Run Wild With Me by Sandra Chastain - Free Book Online Page A

have to worry about Sam’s father. Sam was named for FarleyGranger, a handsome movie star in the old fifties movies. Millie was a fan. Sam doesn’t know who his father was.”
    “Pretty personal conversation you must have had. Do you think Sam’ll pay the taxes?”
    “No. I don’t think so.” Andrea sat down on a bench by the door, fanning herself listlessly as she watched a small black dog lick a half-eaten ice-cream cone on the sidewalk.
    “What makes you so sure, Andy?”
    “He walks into town, carrying his belongings on his back. Says he’s a carpenter who likes to roam the country, picking up the jobs that pay the most. Everything about the man is temporary.” Andrea found herself remembering his eyes, those dark eyes that teased and seemed to make a joke out of everything, then covered his emotions with a frown.
    She sprang restlessly to her feet and pushed the screen door open. “Think I’ll walk down to the post office and get the mail,” she called over her shoulder. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
    “Don’t be long,” Buck agreed vaguely. “I’m meeting Otis at the café.”
    Andrea felt Buck watching her as she crossed the street, nodding to Brad Dixon. If he was reading the widow Tolbert’s meter, it had been moved into the barber shop.
    Andrea picked up the mail and started back down the sidewalk, coming to a stop when she spotted Buck already in the truck with Otis Parker.
    “Eh, Andy,” Buck called out guiltily, “I’m going with Otis to check on his brakes before we eat.”
    “Good idea,” Andrea agreed seriously. “I’d rathereat Louise’s fried chicken and biscuits too. Need a ride back?”
    “Nah. Don’t worry ’bout that, Andy,” Otis said, pumping the truck’s brakes vigorously, “I’m going to run on over to Cottonboro and pick up a kit to rebuild these consarned brakes. I’ll pick Buck up—no trouble.”
    She laughed. “Uh huh. I’m glad they didn’t put you in traction, Pop, or Otis would have to push you down the highway in a hospital bed.”
    It was past one o’clock when she heard the screen door open. If one more person happened by the police station to ask about the “wild-looking” stranger, she’d put her bullets back in her gun. Andrea sighed and turned around.
    “Hello, darlin’. I’m going to give the future governor a break. I’m going to take you to lunch instead.”
    Andrea groaned. Sam Farley,
again
. He was leaning lazily on the counter that separated the reception area from the office and cells. She wasn’t prepared for this. She hadn’t expected him.
    “What are you doing here?” Andrea asked.
    “I came to apologize,” he said softly. “The last thing I want right now is trouble with the law in your town.”
    Andrea took a deep breath and felt all her resistance melt away. They were three feet apart, gazing at each other wistfully. She didn’t know about him being in trouble with the law, but with those dark eyes scorching her with hot intensity,
the law
was in big trouble of her own.
    Andrea was glad the counter was between them. They were in the middle of the Arcadia Police Department, it was high noon, and she was being faced down by her own private outlaw.
    “I’m on duty, Sam,” she said quietly.
    “And police officers on duty don’t eat lunch? Look, we don’t have to go in the patrol car. Let’s just walk to the café down the street.”
    “I appreciate your apology, but I don’t need this constant upheaval in my life. It used to be calm and serene before you came to town. Why are you doing this?”
    He looked confused. “The truth is, I thought taking you to lunch would be fun.”
    “Fun? I think you like your life to be chaotic. You need the challenge of the game, don’t you. Why?”
    Why indeed? Sam asked himself, not at all sure. He’d walked into town under a broiling sun, in the middle of lush, green, humid country where hardly a breath of air stirred, all to see this woman. He truly didn’t know why