Home to Sparrow Lake

“But I was safe,” she said reasonably. Maybe if she kept her voice moderate and friendly this time, he would back off. “There weren’t any vehicles coming. I checked. In fact, there aren’t any now.” Town traffic was moderate at its worst.

“I’m afraid you’re going to have to pay a one-dollar fine anyway.” He started filling out the ticket.

“One dollar?”

“Yep.”

Reason lost out to irritation. Why was he doing this? And how did he happen to be here at the exact time she went out to get lunch? Was he trying to persecute her because she wouldn’t go out with him? Is that why she’d seen his patrol car crawl by so often over the past week? So he could find a way to irritate her for refusing his invitation to dinner?

Crossing her arms, she glared at him. “I won’t pay it.” She wasn’t going to throw away even one dollar because he had an issue with her decision to not see him. “This is ridiculous.”

“Let me get this straight. If I write a ticket for one dollar, you won’t pay it?”

“Absolutely not.”

“You’re sure?”

“Positive!”

“All right, then.” He actually smiled as he pulled out his handcuffs and indicated she should hold out her hands.

“I will not.”

“Right now, you’ve only committed an infraction subject to a small fine by jaywalking. But unless you cooperate, I’ll have to add resisting arrest to the charges. Then you’ll have to go before a judge.”

“Oh! I never—”

“Me neither.”

Kristen was horrified. Townspeople were stopping to watch the spectacle, and they were tittering at her plight. She recognized several people she knew, including Emily Auerbach. Undoubtedly the mayor’s wife would make a big deal of this. And Heather was standing in front of Sew Fine, her expression alternately shocked and amused.

Indignant, Kristen held out her hands, and Alex locked the handcuffs around her wrists, then said, “Now if you’ll come with me...”

She tucked her chin into her chest so she wouldn’t have to look at any of the bystanders and rushed toward the patrol car. He opened the back door and put his hand on her head. She ducked away from him and clunked the side of her head on the metal frame.

“Ouch!”

“I was trying to avoid that happening,” Alex said, but he was grinning at her.

Refusing to be baited, she slid into the backseat of a police car for the second time in less than a week. She couldn’t believe he thought this was funny. Or anyone else. She heard the chuckles and joking comments around her. Small towns were supposed to be friendly. Kristen choked back a sound of frustration as the patrol car moved down the street, past residents who were trying to get a better look at her.

She simply wasn’t feeling the love.

* * *

HE DIDN’T KNOW what made him do it.

Alex knew he was going to hear about this—probably from everyone, including the mayor—but he didn’t care. He hadn’t been able to figure out another way to get to know Kristen better, and when he’d seen her cross the street illegally he just hadn’t been able to help himself.

“Comfortable back there?”

Kristen made a rude noise in response.

“The jaywalking infraction and fee are listed on the town books,” he told her, lest she think he was making this up.

Owen had explained that it was to protect seniors and kids, the violators most vulnerable to getting hit by a moving vehicle. Neither seniors nor kids wanted to part with their dollar, so jaywalking had gone way down after the possible citation went on the books. Alex had never enforced the law before, but he hadn’t been able to resist doing so. Now, at least, he had Kristen’s full attention.

“Where were you going when you crossed illegally?” he asked.

“To the restaurant directly across from Sew Fine. I had no idea you had a rule against it.”

“It wasn’t a rule against your getting something to eat.”

“Well, you didn’t let me, did you? So you’re honestly going to take me to the station because I won’t pay the fine?”

“I never said that.”

“Then where are you taking me?”

“To do a little community service.”

“Entertaining you is considered community service?”

He laughed. “Nope. That’s just a bonus.”

A minute later, he pulled up to the Sparrow Lake Community House, a two-story building with terraces on both levels overlooking the lake. Opening the rear door of the vehicle, he helped Kristen get out, then he removed the handcuffs.

She rubbed her wrists as if the metal had chafed them. “I don’t understand what we’re doing here.”

“Good works. Your alternative to paying the fine. I hope you don’t object to that, too.”

She frowned at him but followed when he headed for the entrance to the building. He went straight to the kitchen, which was at the end farthest from the lake. Two gray-haired women wearing dresses and sensible thick-soled sandals were filling one of three cardboard boxes.

“Kristen,” Alex said, “Have you met Nellie?”

“Of course. I used to live here, remember. How are you doing, Nellie?”

“Pretty well. It’s nice to see you again. Though I thought you were coming by my consignment store.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll make it there soon.”

Alex relaxed a little.

Kristen was smiling as she informed him, “I know Louise, too. She works part-time at Sew Fine.”

“Kristen!” Louise’s dark face lit up and she laughed with delight. “You’re here to help Alex deliver the meals! Bless your sweet heart.”

“Yes, the meals,” Kristen said, moving closer to take a better look at the filled boxes.