Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 70061 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70061 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
She walks away, in the direction of the city park down the street, and I walk into Dress It Up to see if I can find something new. I’ve shopped like a pro today, I might as well keep it going.
“Hannah,” Willa says with a smile. “It’s nice to see you. Can I help you find anything?”
“I’m just out shopping today,” I reply. “I know I said this the other night, but I have to say it again. This store is so pretty.”
“I know. My inner girlie girl went crazy when we were decorating. And I just can’t be sorry.”
“You shouldn’t be. It makes me want to buy pretty things, and I would think that was the intention.”
“Absolutely, and it’s good to hear that it worked,” she says, nodding. “Plus, when you’re a single mother of a little boy, it’s nice to be around girlie things sometimes.”
“I’m sure. You have a son?”
“I do. He’s eight.” She reaches behind the glass display case that she uses for the cash register and grabs her phone, pulling up a photo. “Alexander, but we call him Alex for short.”
A brunette boy with dimples and a mischievous grin stares back at me. “He’s a cutie.”
“He’s a terror,” she corrects me and tucks her phone away. “But he’s eight, and he’s a boy, so I’m told that being a terror is normal.”
“I think so.”
“So, you’re dating Brad?” she asks without apology. Her chin is up, her eyes on mine, and I respect her even more. She’s not trying to gossip, she’s asking for information.
“We’ve been dating for a few weeks. Geez, more than that now, I guess.”
“I’ve known the Hulls for a long time, and I can tell you, they don’t get better than Brad.”
“I’m glad you think so.”
“Don’t worry,” she says, waving me off and straightening a shirt on a hanger. “I don’t have a crush on him. If anything I feel sisterly toward him. I dated Max for a while a million years ago.”
“I heard,” I reply and then shrug when she raises a brow. “Small town, Willa, and I’m friends with Jenna.”
“That’s right.” She nods and then laughs. “Max was a long time ago, but I still have a soft spot for his family. They were nice to me.”
“They’re nice people.”
“Exactly. So, I just wanted to let you know that Brad is what you see. He’s a good man, hard worker, handsome fella. And good for you for snagging him.”
“Dating in this town is hard,” I reply and she emphatically nods her head.
“Tell me about it. I’m either related to half the town, or I know too much about them. Or they’re only here on vacation. Not to mention, I have a kid, and he comes first. Always.”
“As it should be.”
“A lot of men don’t get that.”
“A lot of men aren’t worth your time then.”
She stops and smiles at me. “I like you.”
My phone pings with a text from Brad. Meet me at your place at 5:00?
“Speak of the devil,” I murmur and reply with sure.
“Enjoy him,” Willa says. “Make him loosen up a bit. He’s so stuffy.”
I nod and wave as I leave her store and decide to head home for a shower before Brad arrives.
Funny, he’s not stuffy with me.
Hot. Sexy. Funny. But not stuffy.
Chapter Fourteen
~Brad~
“THIS IS… INTIMIDATING.” I’m standing next to Jenna and Max, staring up at the tree houses that are currently under construction. They are about thirty feet in the air, supported by metal beams that will eventually be hidden by faux bark, making the supports look like trees.
“Tree houses,” Max murmurs and then smiles down at Jenna. “Only you would come up with something like this.”
“It’s been in my head for years,” she replies with a shrug. “And it’s going to be so cool. If I can get the contractor to stay on budget. This is the second one I’ll have to fire in less than a month.”
“The budget is a million,” Max reminds her with a frown.
“I know. And he’s almost reached it already and we’re only half way there. I would take over and just do it myself, but these buildings are off the ground. I need an expert for this.”
Max and I share a look of concern, and then we go off in search of the contractor together. We find him, sitting on the circular staircase in the biggest of the three houses, sipping coffee and laughing with a colleague.
“Oh, hi there, Max and Brad.”
He doesn’t acknowledge Jenna at all, which has me balling my hands into fists.
“We need to talk,” Jenna says, but he won’t make eye contact with her. “Mr. Jefferson, we need to discuss the budget.”
“Oh, no need to worry,” he says, but Jenna sets her hands on her hips and glares at him.
“You’ve almost reached my top budget and you’re only half way finished with the project.”