Page 17 (1/2)

It was true—he didn’t have any traffic tickets Possibly because since he’d turned eighteen, he hadn’t been in the country for more than a week or two at a time until earlier this year And even then, it had been months before he’d been released to drive

Fighting the heaviness that settled onto his shoulders at the aze He’d justabout her that made it easier to pull hi Maybe it was the quilt, or the joy-filled note she’d attached to it describing a life he’d barely been able to i met Sarah, seen Pine Hill first hand, he knew her joy was real Sarah Smith loved life and that love flowed from her

She said, “I didn’t have you pegged as someone who so closely adhered to the laws of the land”

Her tone was alht that heHe eyed her with renewed curiosity

“Maybe I’ht”

Her full lips curved “I can see how that would be the more likely scenario”

Whoa Sarah looked at hiht in her eyes that drew hi him want to know ht of hi smile “Explain”

Her big brown depths shining with so and full of interest, she eyed him as she slowly chewed the bite she’d just taken “I’mental”

Giving in to his hunger, he took a bite of his burger It was so good that he would’ve forgiven Lou on the spot if there’d been anything to forgive He didn’t bla hi to let hiround first Just because she was full of goodness, she seemed to expect that the rest of the world was, too Bodie knew better He’d rarely dealt with goodness over the past decade

“Try”

She ate a couple of bites, then lowered her dark lashes as she said, “It’s just, well, I get the ie bear”

Her explanation wasn’t what he’d been expecting Not that he was sure exactly what he’d been expecting her to say Then again, she’d just agreed that it was ht rather than that he was a rule-follower Whatever it was, he found her answer huri

nned “You think?”

She went fro on her burger When she kept coughing and sputtering, he worried He stood from his stool and slapped her across the back Not hard, but enough that if she had food stuck, it would hopefully be dislodged

Apparently, Harry was ready to act, too—the dog juave a loud ruff of concern