Read More Than Cookies (The Maple Leaf Series) for Free Online

onto the little tray. “I’m sorry it didn’t work out. I’m still not convinced it can’t.” He produced a business card from the pocket of his jeans and pushed it across the table to Sage.
    She picked it up. Detective Scott Henrison, St. Jamesbury PD. His phone number and email were below the police department’s emblem of a golden balance scale and a green maple leaf. It screamed, “THIS GUY COULD BE PERFECT FOR YOU, SAGE STANNARD,” but she ignored that proclamation.
    How long before I realize this moment was a grave mistake?
    “Thanks again.” She put her hand out to shake his and tried her best not to see the disappointment in his eyes.
    He obliged her with a reciprocal handshake then stood as she did. “I hope our paths cross again.”
    She smiled and thought maybe she would call him after she saw Orion again. After she realized she couldn’t be interested in a chainsaw artist she’d just met.
    Once outside The Golden Maple, she drew in a deep breath. The scent of lavender and warm earth filled the night. She checked the time on her phone, jingling her car keys as she waffled between going home and swinging by the hospital to check on Orion.
    “You’re being ridiculous,” she mumbled to herself. Of course she should go home. She said she’d visit Orion in the morning and that was more than she needed to do. In fact, she’d gone above and beyond. Not freaking out when she found him and his trail of blood had given her points in the “nice” column. Not letting Danielle report him to the police for basically breaking and entering Cressen’s house had gone beyond cordial. Making sure he was settled in his hospital room and spending a little time chatting with him had boosted her into semi-saint status.
    She’d done enough for today. Time to go home, pull her profile off Soul2Soul.com, and have that sugary dessert she didn’t allow herself to have on Scott’s dime. With any luck, her mother, Hope, Rick, and Lily had not eaten all the maple peanut butter cookies she’d made earlier. She was thinking vanilla ice cream between two of those babies would hit the spot and get her mind off sexy chainsaw artists.
    At least in theory.
    ****
    Orion awoke to the sound of hushed voices and a beam of sunlight shining in his face. As he blinked, something blocked the sunlight.
    “Orion?” a worried voice asked.
    “Hey, Dad.” Orion offered Ian Finley a smile. “Where’s Adam?”
    “Right here.” Adam walked around the foot of the bed and closed the blinds on the window. “That better?”
    “Yeah. Thanks.” Orion pushed up to sitting and rubbed his eyes. He felt as if he had a hangover, only he hadn’t had the pleasure of the drinking part.
    “I’m scared, Orion.” His father wrung his hands and rocked back and forth.
    Shit.
    “It’s okay, Dad.” Orion sat up straighter, trying his best not to wince at the ache in his right thigh. Focusing on his father he said, “I’m okay. See?” He gently coaxed his father’s hands apart, giving one of them a squeeze he hoped showed some strength. “I just need a little rest and I’ll be home with you.”
    “Home.” That word settled Ian. His rocking stopped, but he had a tight grip on Orion’s hand as if he were afraid to let go. “I want to go home and have cookies. Cookies and milk.”
    You should want a baseball game and some beer. That’s what most retired men wanted when unwinding, but Ian Finley wasn’t like most retired men.
    “You know what?” Adam dug in the front pocket of his jeans and extracted a few dollars. Waving them at Ian, he said, “I think I saw a vending machine down the hall. Why don’t you get started on the cookies?”
    Ian dropped Orion’s hand and snatched the money from Adam. “Oreos and Nutter Butters?”
    “Sounds like a plan. Go ahead.” Adam guided Ian out the door and pointed him in the right direction. When he turned around, he rubbed his hand over his buzz cut where a hint of blond stubble still existed.