Hide in Plain Sight - Harlequin.com

40 Hide In Plain Sight
relieved. “I understand he’s been around for about a
year?” She made it a question for both of them.
“Just about,” Grams agreed. “He stayed over at the
Zimmerman farm for a while, I think, when he first
came to the area.”
“You never mentioned renting the barn to him when
we talked.” Grams and Rachel had come into the city
for dinner just a month ago, but in all their talk about
the inn, they hadn’t brought up their resident tenant.
“Didn’t we? I thought you knew about him.”
The vagueness of it got under her skin. “Where did
he come from? What did he do before? What does
Uncle Nick think of him?” Her grandfather’s business
partner had a solid, no-nonsense attitude that Grams
lacked.
“I don’t know. Does it matter?” Grams frowned a
little, as if Andrea had said something impolite. “And
it’s not James Bendick’s business.”
Rachel moved slightly. “He’s a nice guy. That’s all
we need to know.”
It wasn’t all she needed to know. Perhaps the truth
was that Grams hadn’t mentioned him because she’d
known exactly the questions Andrea would ask and
didn’t want to answer them. Grams did things her own
way, and she’d never appreciated unsolicited advice.
“I believe I’ll get some coffee.” Grams stood,
picking up her handbag.
“I’ll get it for you, Grams,” she offered.
Her grandmother shook her head. “You stay here and
talk to Rachel. I want to stretch my legs a bit.”
Andrea watched her leave, her heart clutching a little.