Read Scarlet Fever - Hill Country 2 for Free Online

sweet tooth for a long time.”   As he walked, he rummaged through the bag.  
    “Brownies, M&M cookies, Cowboy Cookies, Oatmeal Raisin. . . .damn girl, Annalise won’t be eating these by herself.”  
    Reentering the kitchen, she let Alex put up the jars as Annalise closely examined each one.   She watched Alex out of the corner of her eye.   He was a bigger distraction than the cookies.  
    “My baby sister is going to fix us a fabulous home cooked meal.”   Annalise announced, happily as she bounded into the room.                  
    “Great.   I’m starving.”   Ethan pulled Annalise into his lap and greeted her with a passionate kiss.   “For you.”  
    Scarlet turned away, embarrassed.   She began to rummage in the refrigerator, pulling out items needed for the flavorful Creole stew.  
    “Let me help.   I make a great sous-chef.”   Before, she could turn him down; Alex had begun to gather knives, skillets and pots.   It was obvious he knew his way around the kitchen.  
    “This is your kitchen isn’t it?” she observed as the obvious truth dawned on her.   “I should have asked before I began pilfering through your things.”
    “Nonsense.   Make yourself at home,” he handed her a shrimp deveining tool, making sure that their fingers brushed.   “Can I chop the vegetables for you?”
    “Sure.”   She smiled at him.   “I think that a man who can cook is very sexy.”   Where did that come from?   The conversation behind them lulled, Scarlet blushed at her unusual candor.
    Alex smiled at her, a bone-melting smile.   “Remind me to pick up on this conversation later.”
    Scarlet made quick work of the shrimp then placed them in cold water until she was ready for them.   “Do you have a cast iron skillet?”   Alex knew right where to look, pulling one out and placing it on the stove for her.   “I make my roux in the oven, how about you?”
    “I’ve always stood and stirred.”   He watched her combine the oil and flour, and then he set it in the oven to brown.   “I like your way better.”
    “Scarlet,” Ethan interrupted them.   “Tell me about your work at the library and the church.   How did you happen to combine the two?”  
    Scarlet finished putting the spices into the tomato mixture.  
    “I’ll finish adding the vegetables, love.”   Alex took the spoon from her, as she turned to answer his brother.
    “The retiring librarian was a member of my church.   She knew me well, and thought I would do a good job at the library.   As for the church; one summer the church secretary ran off to get married.   I filled in as emergency relief, and gradually it became permanent.   I’m fortunate that they are so close in proximity.”
    “She does everything at the church except preach.”   Annalise was on a roll.   “She’s the pianist; she takes care of the food pantry, runs the church office and best of all she conducts an after school program for children.   They all call her Miss Scarlet.”
    “Miss Scarlet, huh?”   Ethan asked.   “So you must be very religious.”   At his question, both Scarlet and Annalise fidgeted.   The soon-to-be newlyweds had not discussed religion in depth, so Scarlet’s answer would come as a surprise.
    Scarlet began to talk, ladling the shrimp into sauce.   “Our parents were; overly so.   In fact, they made our childhood miserable.   They talked about religion, but they rarely ever did anything for anybody.   I don’t talk it, I’m not even sure I actually agree with everything the church believes.   But I try to do for other people, especially children.”
    “Scarlet tries to practice what our parents preached.”   Annalise started to say something else, but stopped.   Then, she started again.   “Our Dad’s dead now, but he was harsh.   Especially to Scarlet.”   Alex went on alert at Annalise’s words.
    “How so?” Ethan asked, curious.
    Scarlet sent her a warning