Lakeside Hero (Men Of Millbrook Lake Book 1) by Lenora Worth Page A

his newest recruits. Alec watched as Annabelle Banks took her time climbing out of her tiny car, all legs and blond hair as she curled and lifted her tall frame and then reached back inside for her huge designer purse.
    Annabelle had grown up in Miami and she’d followed a military man to Northwest Florida. They’d parted ways after a few months. After being around her a few times, Alec could understand why. Some people just never adjusted to small-town life.
    Annabelle was one of those people.
    “Hello there, handsome,” she called as she waved her red-tipped nails in the air. “I haven’t seen you in a month of Sundays, you sly dog.”
    Alec motioned, pointing to his chest. “Who, me? I’ve been around.”
    “You’ve been hiding out in that gorgeous old house, is what I hear,” she retorted as her high heels clinked against the hot asphalt. “I have my sources.”
    “I’m out in the daylight now,” Alec replied. “And since it’s hot out here, let’s get inside.” He glanced at his watch and refrained from telling her she was ten minutes late.
    She knew that already. Just as she knew the asphalt wasn’t the only hot thing out here—in her mind, anyway.
    “Oh, stop frowning. You won’t melt.”
    “I might,” he replied with a smile.
    Once they were inside, Annabelle went into professional mode. “It’s a good space, Alec. Reggie thinks you’d be crazy not to make an offer. You can probably name your price. You know the dealership went bust and the owner had to take an early retirement. It’s just sitting here empty.”
    “So I’ve heard.” Alec wanted to make this place new again, to bring it back to life. He hated seeing vacant, run-down buildings all around town. But with the bad economy, there wasn’t much anyone could do. Or maybe he had that wrong. Maybe he could at least try to bring life back to the outskirts of the town proper. If Lake Street could revive itself into a quaint little village on the square, surely he could do something about the strip malls and other commercial buildings.
    “Whataya thinking?” Annabelle asked, her baby blues moving over his face with way too much interest.
    “Let’s take a look around and then I’ll let you know,” Alec replied, ready to get on with his busy day.
    Annabelle giggled and walked him through the rest of the vast property. Alec had a few questions so she tapped notes in her mini-electronic tablet. About thirty minutes later, they were back outside and Alec hurried to open her car door. Annabelle dropped her bag in the seat, then turned and leaned on the door, her face inches from his.
    Tossing her long locks, she gave him a brilliant smile. “When am I gonna see you at the country club again?”
    “I’m not a golfer.”
    She leaned even closer. “I wasn’t necessarily talking about golf.”
    Alec grinned and tried to back up.
    And that was when he glanced up and saw the white van that chased him in his dreams. Marla’s marvelous van made its way along the nearly deserted road. And Marla herself gave him a long, surprised glance before the van sped away.

Chapter Six
    “Y ou’ll stay and have tea and sandwiches with us, of course.”
    The command was steeped in such a sweet smile, Marla wondered how she’d be able to decline Hattie Marshall’s request. She’d planned for this delivery to be an in-and-out kind of thing. Just place the requested food in the huge kitchen and let the hired staff do the rest. Not that Marla minded helping out, since her name was on all the delivery boxes, but she didn’t want to linger too long at Caldwell House.
    “Marla, I insist,” Miss Hattie said with that smile made of steel and sugar.
    Marla didn’t intend to cave, so she gave Miss Hattie her best shot. “I can’t stay. I mean, I’m the caterer and I’m not dressed—”
    Hattie took her by the arm and tugged her toward the big double doors to the back veranda of Caldwell House. “We’re having this shindig out in the garden. You