Here Comes Trouble Read Online Free PDF

affinity for anything
green. Too bad he hadn't been filled with chlorophyll instead of teenage hormones.
    He looked up at the oak tree and couldn't believe his eyes. Not only was their tree house still
there, it looked to be in even better shape than
when they'd first built it. Walking beneath the
structure, he noticed repairs had been made to it
over the years. Amazing.
    The trap door was open and he took it as an
invitation to visit. He scaled the ladder and raised
his head through the opening, wondering if there'd
be cobwebs.
    The first things he saw were flowery drapes over
the window tops, then he spied a love seat with
matching cushions and pillows with lace and frilly
stuff. Glancing in the other direction, his gaze
locked with Stella's.
    He grinned.
    " `Welcome to my cobweb,' said the spider to
the fly," she said.
    "Thanks." He pulled himself the rest of the way
into the tree house, then had to duck to avoid hit ting his head on the roof. "This place has shrunk
in my absence."

    "I think you've grown, Quin," Stella said in an
amused voice. "Quite a bit, in fact."
    Still ducking his head, he wiggled his brows at
her, then held out his arms and pivoted slowly.
"You like?"
    "I'm relieved you grew into those huge feet."
    Quin looked down. "They're not so huge now."
    "Oh, I don't know. They take up an awful lot
of floor space." Stella smiled. "You look great."
    "You're a sight for homesick eyes, yourself."
Quin checked himself. "That was a lie."
    "It was?"
    "You're heart-stoppingly lovely, Stella. You
haven't aged at all."
    "Flatterer." Stella directed her gaze out the window. If only she were the type who could accept
a temporary relationship. But she wasn't. She was
constitutionally unable to engage in shallow flirting-she was an all-or-nothing type of person.
Since Quin would be going on his way soon, it
would be better for her peace of mind if she didn't
start something he wouldn't be in town long
enough to finish.
    After a moment, she turned back and asked,
"How are your ribs?"
    "Not too bad." Quin began poking about the
room, picked up one of the throw pillows, then checked out the books on the shelf. "The complete
works of Jane Austen? You're still a romantic,
then."

    "Always was." Stella laughed, wondering why
she didn't feel her space was invaded by Quin being in the tree house. No one had ever visited her
here. In fact she'd discouraged it. Perhaps it was
because she and Quin had shared so many childhood hours here, so many childish secrets. "But
then, I never tried to hide the things I'm most interested in."
    "What are you most interested in these days?"
    "Oh, my job. I enjoy teaching the kids. I love
gardening, sewing, cooking. And books, of
course."
    He looked at her skeptically. "That's it?"
    "That's a lot."
    "Haven't you ever longed for excitement?"
    "All I've ever wanted were the small things life
has to offer. A family, good friends, a rewarding
job, a home that feels like a home."
    He shrugged. "I want the same things."
    "Only if they come with a dash of excitement
and risk."
    "Don't you get bored by the same routine day
after day? Isn't it a little dull here after all these
years?"
    "I'll bet your routine isn't much different from
mine. Like me, you probably get up and shower in the morning. But instead of heading off to
browbeat kids into learning the rudiments of science, you knock heads with drug dealers or egomaniac monarchs in Third World countries, trying
to get them to give you information."

    "You have a point." Quin seated himself
crossed-legged on the throw rug. "It's good to be
home."
    "Have you seen many of your old friends since
being back?" she asked.
    "Not really. I stopped by to see Brendan at the
sheriff's office. It was a little surprising."
    "Yeah, he's gone from Littlemouth's chief hellion to revered deputy sheriff."
    "Littlemouth doesn't seem to have changed
much."
    "Only if you're looking at it from the outside, I
suppose. Believe