After All These Years Read Online Free PDF

She trailed after him down the aisle and held her breath as he ambled by the collectible figurines. For his mammoth size, his movements were surprisingly graceful. She breathed again. “What’s with the drill?”
    Over his shoulder he threw her what she called his cop glower, a look that said, “I’m asking the questions here, lady, not answering them.”
    She scrunched her nose back at him.
    â€œIzzy!”
    She whirled around. Tony stood there, holding the door open while dear old Mrs. Anderson lumbered through it, thanking him on her way out.
    Here was another reason she had needed to come early this morning…needed to fill her day with busyness… “Hello, Tony.”
    The lopsided grin spread slowly as he leaned against the counter and crossed his arms. “Ah, my day is a success. I’ve tracked you down.”
    â€œHow did you—”
    â€œUh-uh,” he wagged a forefinger, “can’t reveal my sources, but I know you work here on Monday mornings, your day off from the station.”
    He knew more than that. She saw it in his eyes, a glint of familiarity. He had remembered. A dread reality settled like wet cement on her bones. She heard footsteps behind her and turned to see Lia.
    â€œIsabel, do you mind helping out back here? Cal’s going to put a deadbolt on the door and— Oh, hello.”
    Tony extended his hand. “Hi. Tony Ward, old friend of Izzy’s. In town to interview The Author.” He nodded toward a display of Brady’s books.
    â€œLia Neuman, pharmacist. Nice to meet you.” She looked at Isabel. “I hate to interrupt—”
    â€œNo interruption. I’ll be right there.”
    â€œThanks.” She strode back down the aisle and glanced over her shoulder. “Izzy?”
    Isabel shrugged in reply. She hadn’t allowed Tony’s special name for her to surface since college. “Tony, we’re swamped. I need to get to work.”
    â€œRight. You don’t want the blue hairs to get restless. How about dinner tonight?”
    â€œTonight is—”
    â€œOpen. No work. No church service. No book club. No teen group.” He tilted his head, brows raised. “Rib House in town here?”
    Avoiding him would be impossible. With resignation, she gave in to his persistence. “Are you staying in Rockville? I have errands—”
    â€œName the place.”
    â€œHow about the Italian Village, just off Route 18 on Fifty-second.”
    â€œGot it.” He sauntered to the door. “Six o’clock work for you?”
    She took an unsteady breath. “Fine.”
    Like that paper cut, Tony Ward wasn’t going to go away.

    â€œCal, you didn’t have to do this.” Lia followed him into the back room.
    â€œNo problem. Comes under the job description of keeping Valley Oaks citizens safe.”
    She studied the back of his head as he knelt on a knee, emptying tools from the paper bag onto the floor. His hair was a light brown, the type that would age into silver. Its bristly texture hinted at shorn curls similar to that on a teddy bear. “How about that coffee now?” she asked.
    He looked up, and she noticed his eyes were a vivid green. “You’ve got a store full of—”
    â€œOh, I always have a pot going right here.” She went to the laundry corner that contained a sink and a counter just large enough for the coffeemaker. “I keep a carafe out in the shop for the customers.” She handed him a large mug. “Which you would know if you’d ever been a customer here.”
    He gave her a guilty smile. “Guess I’m just on the healthy side.”
    â€œWhat, you never need toothpaste?”
    With a sideways glance, he sipped his coffee. “Mmm, great coffee. Hey, don’t let me keep you from your
customers
.”
    â€œRight. Oh, if Chloe comes downstairs, just tell her you’re the teddy bear who carried her