Paisley's Pattern Read Online Free PDF

she liked the chaos of family. The Waverlys may not be her family, but she’d never had the compulsion to light in one place the way she was drawn to Nebraska and the people she’d met here as an adult.
    She hooked the fine point permanent marker to the top of her blouse and unfolded the stepladder. A set of nice dishes hid behind the upper left cabinet door, where only a salad plate was missing. They may have been the dishes Linda Waverly stored in the front-room cupboard. Paisley swiped the counter with a damp paper towel, and then set to work marking with the rainbow-hued tags.
    An hour later, the contents of all the upper cabinets were marked, minus the chipped everyday ovenware. She stretched, rotated her neck, and glanced out the window. The gray sky had darkened to dusk. She felt the humidity. Did that mean rain? No matter if the sun didn’t shine every day in this part of the country, the sky still drew a person outdoors, day or night.
    Maybe when Aunt Rainbow returned and no longer needed help with tagging jobs, Paisley would take a few road trips.
    Had the time come for her to settle down? Why not here in Nebraska?
    A footfall from the front room porch interrupted.
    Paisley bit her tongue at the surprise. Why hadn’t she locked the doors? No way would she ignore that safety precaution in California. A few years earlier, a local bank heist turned deadly. Folks were now more cautious, according to Aunt Rainbow.
    “Just me,” Rob said from the next room. “You should lock the doors when you’re here alone.”
    Her heart rate picked up at the sound of his wonderful raspy voice.
    “I checked out the porch addition. Nice carpentry work, thanks to whoever did the renovation. Find anything interesting, or is it all mundane? What is it you’re doing again?”
    “Aunt Rainbow told me Mark Waverly added on the porch. Maybe you inherited fix-it genes from him. I’m tagging household goods for an estate sale. No treasure in this room unless you’re interested in fine china or mismatched drinking glasses. Besides,” she said, stepping into the front room. “I do believe I’ve already found the greatest treasure the place could hold.”
    “Yeah. I’m still trying to wrap my head around it all. I forgot to say thanks earlier for calling me. I’ll owe you forever, even if I am somewhat freaked out.”
    “Who wouldn’t be?” She could smell him now that she stood in his space. Edna Mae must have citrus scented soap in her spare room. Paisley missed the odor of paint or sawdust she associated with Rob. His masculinity was the freshest thing in the room now that she’d shut the window. “You’re welcome.”
    Their gazes meshed and his pulled her forward.
    Rob enfolded her in his arms. She melted into the cuddle, so familiar her eyes clouded. Dare she hope for his outlook on life to change? He tightened his hold and she snuggled in. They fit just right together.
    If only he could replace negativity with happiness.
    But if he still wanted her, did she have it in her to enter a relationship for the long haul?
    As though he read what went through her mind, he eased back. He didn’t totally release her. He moved his hands to cup her shoulders and tipped his head to brush her lips with a kiss as soft as a baby’s cheek.
    “We’ll talk tomorrow. I want to get my bearings on the main streets nearby.”
    “Sounds good. It’s easy to get around. You came in on 275, which turned into West Omaha Avenue. The highway continues west, bypassing the town. That’s where the mall and the big cut-rate businesses are. But I’m sure your GPS turned you north in order to get here.”
    He nodded on a yawn. “Sorry. You’re not making me sleepy.”
    “Maybe tomorrow afternoon you can go through that top drawer of the built-in to your right. Oren wouldn’t have a problem with you taking anything useful. I doubt there’s a thing in there worthy of a tag. But I thought of you immediately because some of the stuff may be good