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suppose a real estate broker like Smith Burnett could help you but the best way is to just put out the word that you’re looking and wait.” She grinned across the narrow, Formica-topped table at him. “Want me to ask around for you?”
    “Sure. I’m willing to consider almost any kind of place as long as it’s bigger than the caretaker’s rooms. I don’t like hanging out at the jail all the time. I have no real off-duty time when I’m that handy.”
    “I understand. Sometimes I feel as if I might as well sleep at the card shop.” She checked her watch. “Which reminds me. Would you mind dropping me off there? I have a few things to do that I didn’t finish on Saturday.”
    “Then how would you get home? It’s still too cold to walk and your house is at least a mile from the square.”
    “A mile and a quarter,” Rachel said. “I don’t mind walking. I love the exercise and the fresh air.”
    Jace shook his head. “No way am I leaving you like that. If you want to go by the shop, fine. I’ll wait for you.”
    “Have it your way,” she said, hoping that she didn’t sound too happy about his decision. The last thing she wanted to do was inconvenience him, yet the notion of being the only one in the empty store and then having to walk home, unescorted, gave her the shivers.
    That reaction angered and disgusted her. Someone had done this to her, had stolen her peace of mind and left her unsure of everything. It wasn’t fair. It also wasn’t easy to push those feelings aside and ignore them.
    Perhaps her strong craving for Jace’s continuing company was the Lord’s way of taking care of her, she thought, slightly amused by the convenient rationalization. Nevertheless, she did want him with her and was well aware that that was the smartest move.
    “I would be delighted if you stayed with me,” she finally admitted. “I really don’t relish spending a lot of time alone in the shop. Not when we’re closed, at any rate.”
    His resulting grin warmed her cheeks to the point where she knew she could never deny the telling reaction. She averted her gaze and busied herself picking up her purse and grabbing her good coat off the booth bench. “Well, shall we get going?”
    “As soon as I get a box for our snack later,” he said.
    Later? Her eyebrows arched as she watched him walk to the counter and speak to the clerk.
    Yes, later, she told herself. It was evident that Jace was planning to spend the whole day with her. Why she had not realized it sooner was a tribute to her closed mind. The man had appointed himself her guardian and was not about to leave her to fend for herself.
    To Rachel’s surprise, she was not only in total agreement, she was thrilled.
    Chalk up another point for my stalker, she thought, sighing and shaking her head. In less than a week my whole outlook has changed and I don’t like it. I don’t like it one little bit.

    Jace wasn’t too concerned about Rachel’s safety as long as they were together but he sure wasn’t looking forward to the moment when he had to bid her goodbye.
    One problem at a time, he lectured himself. As the Good Book said, “The cares of the day are sufficient.”
    Pulling to a stop in front of the card store, he asked, “Is this okay? I won’t be taking up customer parking on a Sunday.”
    “It’s fine.” Her smile warmed his heart. “Being such a recent transplant, I’m surprised you remembered that most places close on the Sabbath.”
    “How could I forget? I figure we were fortunate to find a decent place to eat.”
    “The grocery mart used to be closed Sunday mornings,” Rachel told him as he escorted her from the truck. “Lately, though, more and more businesses are staying open seven days a week. I’m kind of sorry to see that happening.”
    “You have no plans to do it, do you?”
    “Absolutely not. I think it sets a bad example. Besides, even store managers need a little time off. I want my day of rest.” She put the key in the