Lone Oak Feud (Harlequin Heartwarming) Read Online Free PDF Page A

have called you.”
    He sized her up, seemingly trying to decipher her motives, as if she were hiding something. The only thing she hoped to hide was how he made her feel like she’d been shot back in time.
    Zach stepped forward, not taking his eyes off Lindsey. It was a stare down. She definitely had the advantage on that one, as he felt slightly off-balance just being close to her.
    She was still a beauty. Still had the looks of the town sweetheart, of the girl who could do no wrong. Heart-shaped face with skin like fresh peaches and cream, brown eyes with a glimmer of spirit in them, prominent cheekbones and long brown hair that’d been tossed around by the wind. The only thing missing was that irresistible dimple. As long as she didn’t smile, he’d be okay. And at the present moment, she didn’t seem to be much in a smiling mood.
    “I’m still trying to figure out why you did call me. Why would you care about anyone in my family?” He kept his voice steady. No need to show how unraveled he felt.
    She whipped her hair back behind her shoulder, clueing him in to the fact that she was upset. Welcome to the club.
    “Your grandma could have a serious problem. Dementia. Alzheimer’s. Something entirely different. Family members are often the last to admit there’s anything wrong.”
    What kind of psychobabble was she rattling on about? What did she know about families and dementia and...and then it hit him. She was a social worker of some kind. He remembered hearing it vaguely—one of the thousands of downfalls of coming from a small town—you heard stuff you didn’t want to know about people you tried not to think about even once you’d moved on.
    “We don’t need social services, so you can quit hovering like a vulture, waiting to swoop in.”
    Her eyes flashed with emotion. “My job has nothing to do with my concern for that boy. He’s a sweet child who deserves more than he might possibly be getting.”
    A dark-haired kid popped out of the bush at the end of the driveway and came barreling toward them. “You didn’t find me! I’m gonna make it to base!” he singsonged as he zipped past.
    Lindsey took off after him, letting him beat her. Once they hit the back steps, they both collapsed in laughter.
    “I winned! I winned!” The kid Zach assumed was Owen bounced on the bottom step, pleased with himself. Lindsey congratulated him with a hug. Zach could tell she was used to being with kids. The total opposite of him.
    “You’re too good for me, Owen,” she said. “That was a tricky hiding spot.”
    She gave Owen a high five. Zach felt like an outsider standing by the home where he’d grown up.
    He watched the kid with concealed interest, unable to fully grasp he was Josh’s flesh and blood. Zach’s nephew. Owen seemed full of energy and in no danger. He was scrawny, but then, Zach and Josh had both been rail-thin as kids, too.
    Lindsey, on the other hand, wasn’t rail-thin. Her modest curves and tiny waist were apparent through the snug fit of her sweater and jeans. She was a far cry from the teenage girl who’d approached him in the backyard shop. He’d been intrigued by her then, but this version of Lindsey threatened to send his thoughts in all kinds of directions he hadn’t allowed them to go in for a long time.
    Zach had grown up, gotten serious. Figured out the important things in his life. And a woman wasn’t one of them. He was more interested in practical, uncomplicated things, like his career. He was no longer a sucker for a pretty face. Especially not one with such a load of emotional baggage, who lived in a place he vowed to never call home again.
    The back door was out of sight from where he stood, but Zach heard the old screen door squeak open.
    “Owen! Come over here! Salinger girl, get your skinny self off my property!”
    Lindsey’s eyes closed and even from where he stood he could see her take a deep breath. She didn’t give his grandma a glance, but bent down to Owen.