Hold Me Read Online Free PDF Page B

knew they hadn’t met. Her name tag said Shelby.
    “Morning,” Shelby said with a smile. “You’re up early.”
    “Not as early as you.” Destiny motioned to the display case full of pastries. “Unless these were baked last night.”
    Shelby laughed. “No such luck. I was here at three.”
    Destiny winced. “Okay, I like to get up early, but that would challenge even me.”
    “I know. When I have a day off, I sleep late. Which means four-thirty. It’s an odd schedule, that’s for sure. What can I get you?”
    Destiny chose a half-dozen Danish. She would leave most of them for Starr and maybe take one to work.
    Shelby put the pastries in a silver-and-white-striped box. “Are you new in town or visiting?”
    “I’m new. Here for the summer to set up software for the search and rescue program.”
    Shelby nodded. “HERO.” She laughed again. “My brother is Kipling Gilmore. I don’t know if you’ve met him yet. He’s running the program. And totally hates the name, by the way. If you want to torture him or something, just keep saying it out loud.”
    “I have met him, and I appreciate the advice.”
    Destiny studied the other woman, realizing now why she looked familiar.
    Shelby handed over the box. “You know, you don’t have to come here for Danish. Not that I don’t appreciate the company. But most people want coffee, too, and we don’t do that. You can get our baked goods over at Brew-haha.”
    “I’m not much for coffee. Just sugar.” Destiny thought about her conversation with Kipling and what Mayor Marsha had said about the program. “Have you lived in town long? I got the impression that Kipling was a relatively new addition to the population.”
    “Nearly a year.” Shelby’s smile faded. “I moved here last summer. My mom died and, well, it’s complicated. Kipling was in rehab until January. Physical, not the other kind. Oh, do you know who he is? The skiing and all that?”
    Destiny nodded. “I figured it out. The accident was pretty bad. I’m glad he’s okay now.” She hesitated, not sure what to say about Shelby’s mother. “I’m sorry about your mom.”
    “Thanks. It never goes away, but I’m dealing with it. Having Kipling around helps. I mean he’s totally annoying, but I love him. He’s the only family I have left. I’d be lost without him.”
    “It’s nice to have family around,” Destiny murmured, thinking of Starr. The girl was only fifteen and pretty much alone in the world. It was good they were going to have the summer to get to know each other.
    A couple of guys walked into the bakery. They were tall and broad-shouldered and wearing shorts and T-shirts. They looked familiar, too, although she couldn’t place them. Was everyone in this town related?
    “Loser buys,” the dark-haired guy said. “That means you.”
    “Nice, Sam. I am so kicking your ass on the court today.”
    “See you tomorrow,” Destiny told Shelby and headed for the door.
    She passed by the two men. They were both wearing wedding rings. Not that she’d been attracted to either of them. She was strong and powerful and never sucked in by something as temporal as sex. She had goals and rules and a plan. And if all that failed, she had Danish.
    She started back for the house. There were more people out on the street now, and the sun was rising in the sky. She smiled and greeted those who waved at her. She liked the friendliness of the town.
    At the corner, she checked before crossing. As she glanced to her left, she saw a man jogging away from her. His stride was slightly uneven, and his pace slower than most. As the information registered in her brain, she recognized Kipling.
    There were scars on his legs and a hitch to his gait. She thought about all that he would have gone through after his accident and wondered about the courage it took to recover from something like that. No, not recover. Thrive. It spoke highly of his character.
    She crossed the street and made her way to her