Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79197 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79197 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
“You have a little one in Hadley’s class?” I asked.
“Yep, Jennifer and Hadley are the bestest of friends. Their word, not mine. She wasn’t with me at the grocery store, or I’d have introduced you, but they love having playdates, so you and I are going to get to know each other really well.”
Tammy looked down for a moment, an unsure expression crossing her face before glancing back up at me. “Full disclosure, Lisa and I didn’t get along so well. She ran with a different group of friends. I’m not trying to make her out to be the bad person, so please don’t take it that way. It’s been hard on all of us, the last couple years, but Aiden and Hadley the most. She was a good mom, but she and Aiden were like oil and water as they grew older. She didn’t treat him the way she should have, and I always disliked her for that. But our girls loved each other, so we made it work for their sake.”
This time, my smile was genuine. “I appreciate you giving me some of the backstory. And I look forward to the playdates. Thank you so much for inviting me this morning, as well. I’ll talk to Aiden and see how he feels about me being more involved in Hadley’s school. I don’t want to cross any lines.”
Leaning back in her chair, Tammy studied me.
“What?” I asked with a nervous chuckle.
“There’s something about you, Emma Middleton, something that I really like. You can honestly tell that you have both of their best interests at heart. Thank you for that.”
I attempted to swallow the lump in my throat. “Well, like I said, it’s my job.”
Tammy shook her head. “No, you could just do the minimum, but you’ve already gone above and beyond. Dalton texted me right before you got here and said Aiden walked in with a packed lunch today. The man has never brought a lunch to work before. It’s the little things that make a difference. I want you to know that.”
I shrugged off her compliment but couldn’t fully ignore the comment about him never bringing lunch to work. I wondered if Lisa had worked full time and wasn’t able to do small acts of kindness for Aiden. “Well, if I’m going to be living there and taking care of his daughter, I figure I might as well take care of him as well.”
Her brow rose, and my cheeks instantly heated.
“I mean food-wise, that’s all. Not like…any other kind of taking care of him. I was already making a lunch for Hadley. I’m not the least bit interested in how hot he is.” I slapped my hand to my forehead and groaned. “No! I mean—wait. Lord, I’m making this worse.”
She laughed, and I let out a nervous bubble of laughter myself. Tammy tilted her head and regarded me, her eyes shining.
“Do you find Aiden attractive? I mean, you did just say he’s hot.”
I blushed further. Of course, the woman would ask me that, after the word vomit I’d just spewed. Not to mention the fact that she was good friends with him.
“I think he’s an attractive man; no woman could deny that. But the last thing I want is a relationship, especially when the previous one nearly killed me.”
Her smiled dropped. “What?”
Lifting my hands, I tried to casually wave off my careless comment. “Nothing, that came out wrong. Sorry.” Glancing at my watch, I stood quickly. “I really need to get going. I wanted to swing by the store to meet Mr. and Mrs. Bishop, then head on back to the house to finish getting settled in before picking up Hadley. Thank you again for filling me in on Nancy, and some of the backstory on Aiden and his wife.”
Tammy stared up at me. I could see the concerned expression. “Sure. But you don’t have to rush off, Emma.”
“I have a lot to do. Have a wonderful Monday, and I’ll let you know about the volunteer thing.”
“Wait!” Tammy said, standing and reaching for my arm. “Let me give you my cell number.”
“Oh. Right. That would be great.”
After we exchanged numbers, I turned and practically ran out of Starbucks before she had a chance to stop me again.
CHAPTER SEVEN
AIDEN - ELKS AND WOMEN
Pulling up behind a group of people parked on the side of the road, I jumped out of my truck. “You’re too close, folks. I need you to back up. Please, let’s remember these are wild animals.”
The two guys halfway down into the meadow started walking back my way. I smiled, but what I really wanted to do was knock the hell out of them. No matter how many times we told people not to approach the wildlife, they did it anyway. Even after hearing stories of other people being attacked by animals, they risked it all for the possibility of a viral video or photo. No thought for their own safety or that of the animals.