worried yet. Luke was religious about his physical therapy and hit his exercises hard. When the World Championship came, he fully intended to shove those words right back down Hanson’s throat.
Luke heard the door open behind him. He pocketed his phone and turned around, expecting to see Shannon, only to see another woman walk in. She wore skintight jeans with rips all over them. Luke couldn’t tell if she was being fashionable or she just hated to throw away a pair of her favorites. Her hair was bright red, flowing across her shoulders and down her back. She wore a T-shirt that read, “Everyone is Entitled to My Opinion.”
“Hi, there,” she said with a smile. “I’m Eve. Shannon’s sister.”
Even though Luke had known who Eve was when he lived there before, recognition came slowly. She was one of those people who changed dramatically from one day to the next, unlike Shannon, who he’d be able to spot on a crowded street from now until they were a hundred.
Eve grinned. “I know, I know. Don’t look for it to make sense that we’re sisters. Genetics can only explain so much. And you’re Luke.”
“That’s right.”
“I remember you. You used to let the air out of the vice principal’s tires.”
“I remember you, too. You used to wear a black cape and vampire fangs to school.”
Eve groaned. “You remember that?”
“You were hard to miss.”
“Is a little selective amnesia too much to ask?”
“Tell you what. If you forget my transgressions, I’ll forget yours.”
Eve grinned. “Deal.”
Luke only wished it would be that easy with the rest of the citizens of Rainbow Valley.
“I hear you have an antique shop,” he said.
“Resale. More unique than antique, but I have some of both.”
“Not open today?”
“My assistant is running the place. I came here to take some photos for the shelter’s new brochure for the festival.” She pulled a camera out of the tote bag she carried. “Act like you’re working. I’ll take a few shots.”
“How about I just work rather than acting like I’m working?”
Eve smiled. “Suit yourself.”
Luke shoved a bowl of food into one of the cat’s cages. “How’d you get drafted for this job?”
“I sell a lot of stuff on eBay in addition to in my shop. Requires a lot of photos. I’ve gotten pretty good at it.”
“You’d better think twice about putting me in your brochure,” Luke said, dishing up another bowl of cat food. “I’m not exactly Rainbow Valley’s favorite son.”
“This is for the out-of-towners, so nobody will care. Though I don’t know why I’m even bothering with photos. I should just put together a single sheet that says ‘We’re broke. Give money.’” She snapped a photo. “So how does it feel to be back in town?”
“It’s been an experience.”
“Getting reacquainted with some of the people?”
“Well, Sheriff Sizemore is just thrilled to have me back.”
“I can imagine.”
“I also saw Myrna Schumaker at the Pic ’N Go. She gave me a regular hero’s welcome.”
Eve winced. “Yeah, Myrna’s like that.”
“In all fairness, I did do a little damage to the Pic ’N Go at one time, so it’s not surprising that she’d have a little leftover hostility.”
“Actually, Myrna’s having a hard time these days. Her husband died a few years ago and left her with a lot of debt, and then her daughter ran off, so she’s raising her grandson. She’s always been a little crabby, but with the added pressure…” Eve shrugged. “I guess I’d be crabby if I were in her shoes, too.”
Luke remembered the little boy he’d seen in the store a few days ago. So he’d been right. The boy was Myrna’s grandson. The question was, what kind of girl took off and left her own son behind?
Eve lifted her camera again and snapped. “Perfect! Now take off your shirt.”
Luke lifted an eyebrow. “Why would I take off my shirt to feed cats?”
“Uh…sex sells?”
“Isn’t this supposed to be G-rated?”
“Hey, I’m not getting paid for this. I need to get something out of it.”
“Eve? What are you doing?”
Luke spun around to find Shannon behind him, and she didn’t look happy.
“This is supposed to be about the shelter,” she said to Eve. “Not about Luke.”
“Can I help it if he’s photogenic?”
“Go take a few photos of the llamas. That’ll make us look interestingly exotic.”
Eve made a face of disgust. “No way. They spit.”
“Yes, but not very often.”
“All it takes is once to gross you out forever.”
“That’s what telephoto lenses are for.”
Eve turned to Luke. “Looks like I’m being dismissed. It was nice to see you.