At Home in His Heart Read Online Free PDF

fair share.”
    “That’s what I thought.” He shook his head, not quite understanding how he let her push the projects off on him. He should have stood his ground. Backed her down when she started in with that “it seems only right” stuff. Not let her manipulate him the way she’d done poor old Keith.
    She’d made it no secret back then that she wanted her husband out of the service—and out of Canyon Springs. Grandma said she still lived in that house trailer Keith bought at the end of his third year in the service, back when he dreamed of spending hard-earned leave time in the mountains fishing from dawn until dusk. Bryce always figured Keith’s bride would vacate right after his buddy was settled six feet under.
    So what was she still doing here?
    Kara glanced toward the Warehouse entrance, her smile widening. “Looks like someone’s checking up on you, Sergeant.”
    He followed her gaze to the door, where Sandi had just entered, looking mighty pretty in a pair of below-the-knee shorts and blue knit top. Proceeding to the back of the store, she didn’t look his way. Hadn’t seen him. He could sneak out. Come back later. He couldn’t let her think she had only to snap her fingers and he’d come running. He should have put the supply trip off a few days. Weeks. Made her wait.
    “Would you mind holding this stuff for me up front, Kara?”
    “Be happy to.”
    He walked with her to the checkout counter, where she had him place his items off to the side. “I’ll be back shortly.”
    Almost to the door he halted. He’d likely see Sandi at church tomorrow, wouldn’t he? Did he want her dogging him about the repairs in front of other people? Maybe he should let her know he was on top of things. Didn’t need a drill sergeant tokeep tabs on him. Remind her he was his own boss, set his own time lines.
    He headed toward the back of the store with determined steps. Rounding the corner in front of a towering paper towel display, he almost collided with Sandi. In one arm she cradled two cereal boxes, a bag of bagels and a loaf of bread. Her other hand clutched a gallon milk jug.
    Startled, she stepped back, directing a frown at him.
    “Sorry, Sandi. Let me help you with that.”
    With some reluctance—or so it seemed to him—she relinquished the armload. She was probably still mad that he’d told her she needed to get a life. It was the truth, but maybe he shouldn’t have been so brusque. Then again, if
she
could be bossy, why couldn’t
he
be blunt?
    “Thanks.” She gripped the milk jug tightly, an uncertain gaze flitting to his.
    He gave the grocery items a once-over. “Looks like breakfast.”
    She ran a hand through her silky hair. “It dawned on me as Gina and I were heading home that I didn’t have a single breakfast item in the house.”
    He glanced around but didn’t see the kid.
    “She’s outside talking to a friend,” Sandi said, correctly interpreting the question in his eyes. She snagged a jar of peanut butter off a nearby shelf. “So are you still looking for a patch kit?”
    “Actually—” Should he grab a bottle of orange juice and a carton of eggs to camouflage his intent? Naw. “I’m picking up stuff for museum repairs. Hitting the hardware store next.”
    Although filled with disbelief, her eyes brightened. “Wow. Thank you. I didn’t expect you’d get to it quite this fast.”
    “Is that a problem?”
    “No, no. Not at all. Marking things off my checklist is never a problem.”
    “I’m booked for the rest of the weekend assisting Trey at the equine center, so the repairs won’t happen overnight.”
    “I understand. Totally.”
    “Didn’t want your checklist waiting with bated breath—although I did take down the wasp’s nest first thing this morning.”
    “You did?” Pleasure lit her face as she did that cute little head-tilt thing. Her smile sparkled with genuine appreciation.
    Oh, man, she was looking up at him as if he was the king of the world. No wonder poor