Red Hills Stranger Excerpt

“But don’t you see? That’s the problem, Charles. He won’t talk to me about it.” Touching his flesh sent a tingling sensation through her body, and she quickly pulled her hand away. “I just thought perhaps you could speak to him about it—to find out if there’s a problem I need to know about. I think he might be more willing to talk to a man about it.”

“I’ll certainly try, Amy. I see Alex almost every morning when he sells his newspapers along the waterfront. I’ll make it a point to talk to the lad tomorrow.”

Amy stood and drew her shawl around her shoulders. “I must be going, then. I don’t like to trouble you, but if you—”

Charles stood to face her. “I assure you, it’s never any trouble to do something to help you, Amy. You’re the kindest, loveliest lady I’ve ever known.” He took a step closer to her and held her arms with his big hands. As their eyes locked, time seemed to stand still for both of them, until . . .