Linked by Love by Roz Denny Fox

Author:Roz Denny Fox
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2011-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

COLE SKIPPED breakfast and waited by the window for the golf regulars to pile into Tibby’s coffee bar. Not long ago Fred, Joe, Pete and the others had given him the impression that they didn’t know anything about the passing of his grandfather’s land into Tibby’s hands, or her grandmother’s, as the case might be. Tibby insisted that they did. Today Cole planned to confront the whole group and ferret out who was blowing smoke.

“Ah, there they are.” He charged out the front door and made a beeline for Mack’s General Store.

Through the side window he saw the men milling around pouring coffee and helping themselves to muffins, which Tibby carried in on a tray. As Cole stepped inside, the enticing odor of fresh baked goods surrounded him. His stomach growled loudly.

Talk stopped and everyone turned.

It wasn’t quite the entrance Cole had in mind. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and did his best to appear nonchalant.

“If that isn’t the sound of a forlorn bachelor, I don’t know what is,” Fred teased jovially. “Come on in here, boy. Tibby, bring that tray. Put Cole out of his misery.”

Cole glanced at her, realizing she hadn’t joined in the camaraderie. She brought him the tray reluctantly, probably out of deference to Fred. Her eyes weren’t just unfriendly, they looked right through him. Cole figured the minute he made his selection she’d bolt. If he hoped to keep this group together for answers, it was now or never.

“Joe,” he said as he pretended to inspect each row of muffins, “last night Tibby told me she won the property for the post office in a golf match with Gramps. I remember Winnie said you taught Tibby to play golf. Since my grandfather normally shot par, you must be some teacher, you sly dog.”

No one said a word while Cole deliberated between the zucchini and the carrot-raisin muffins. As soon as he picked one up, Tibby turned to leave. Circling her wrist, he smiled. “Don’t run off, ace. I might sample both kinds.” He found it interesting that the men had formed a protective semicircle around Joe.

“Behold, the fine golfers you said would back you to the hilt, Tibby. They aren’t exactly rushing to your defense.” Cole’s fingers slid up to her elbow. He loosened his hold when he encountered the bruises from last evening’s tumble.

She wrenched her arm away. Angry color fired her cheeks as she waded into the group. “Tell him the truth. He thinks I ripped off that land.”

The men shifted and rolled their eyes. “Now, Tibby,” Fred chided. “We didn’t see any need to embarrass a man to his grandson over some fluke.”

“Yeah,” Pete muttered. “Everybody has an off day. Cole’s building this course as a tribute to Yale. Why sully his good name…well, you know what I mean.”

Tibby smacked the tray down on the table closest to Cole. “No, I don’t know what you mean. I know Yale never spoke of it after that day, but the fact is, we bet on an eighteen-hole game and I won.

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