Seer's Choice (Book 3 of The Seer Trilogy) - Excerpt Only

Seer's Choice - Excerpt (Chapter Four)

SEER'S CHOICE (BOOK THREE OF THE SEER TRILOGY)

By Maree Anderson

CHAPTER FOUR

Rowan couldn't get him out of her head. As she walked home, occasionally yanking Laptop's leash to curb the dog's desire to explore some fascinating new scent, her lips kept curving into a secretive smile. She was headed for the backyard when her neighbor hailed her.

"Good afternoon, young Rowan."

"Hi, James. How's your day been?" She let Laptop off the leash and the Malamute bounded over the low fence separating the properties to visit with James.

"Just lazing round—as befits a decrepit old coot like me." He tussled with the dog and then gave her a command to sit. Laptop planted her butt and gazed up at him expectantly.

Rowan shook her head, impressed as always by the way the elderly man handled her overly enthusiastic canine.

"How's the job hunting?" he asked. "Any luck?"

"Yes. As it happens I've just returned from a successful job interview." She ambled over to fill him in.

"Oh? That's good news—especially this close to Christmas. What will you be doing, and who will you be working for?" He shook a finger under her nose. "Make sure you get paid what you're worth, too."

She took no offence at his fierceness. James was a sweetheart who treated her more like a daughter than a neighbor. At first she'd tried to stay aloof, fearing what could happen if they became friends, but he'd been so persistent she'd reluctantly given in. Nowadays she made a habit of sharing tea and biscuits with him in the weekends. And prayed he'd live a very, very long life. "I'm working as an assistant for a, well, a healer, I guess you could call him. I was up at Seaview Children's Home acting as his assistant today."

James knit his bristly brows and the corners of his mouth turned down. "He better not be some shyster."

"He's not. You should've seen him with those kids. Incredible."

"Hmmm. A healer, you say?" He scratched a patch of stubble on his chin that had escaped his razor. "I'm sure the folks up at the Home wouldn't take on anyone who didn't have something genuine to offer. Maybe I'll go see him myself sometime. Does he have a name?"

"Ryley. Ryley—" The bottom dropped out of her stomach. How on earth could she not have gotten around to asking his full name? Heck, she didn't even know how to contact him to cry off this date tonight. Not that she wanted to but....

She laughed, but it carried an undertone of unease. "I didn't get his surname but I'll find out for you tonight."

James winked knowingly at her. "On a first name basis, eh? And you're seeing him tonight? Man's a fast mover. You watch your step, young Rowan."

"It's purely business," she protested quickly. Too quickly.

He quirked a brow at her flushed face. "So long as the two of you don't get busy, hey?"

"James!" Her face felt like it was on fire.

The old man peered more closely at her and then drew back. A smile drifted across his lips and he nodded. "He's good for you, Rowan."

"Whatever do you mean?"

"You're all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. Glowing."

"Oh, you!" She wagged a finger at him. "Stop flirting with me, James Woodford. You know I'd marry you in a hot minute if you weren't so stuffy about our age difference."