“Might be too common for her.But I’ll mention it.”
“Sam has the osprey in the truck.Mabel is welcome to come visit it whenever she likes.She has mine and Danica’s numbers in her phone now.”
“Thank you.”
He nodded, then turned to make his way toward the driver’s side door again but paused right in front of the headlight.“How old are you, my friend?”
“Not old enough,” I replied with a heavy sigh.
His gaze drifted toward the house, and understanding flickered across his face before he bobbed his head, gave me a wave, and opened his door.“Ciao.”
“Thank you again.”
I stood on the porch as they backed out, then returned inside once the taillights disappeared.Mabel was standing over the sink, eating a piece of pizza.I grabbed one of my slices and joined her.
“Panic attack?”she asked nonchalantly.
“Yep.”
“Over Kyla?”
“Nope.”
She glanced at me sideways.“I think that’s what Harvey would call ‘progress.’”
CHAPTER NINE
Naomi
Sunday,itwasmyturn to check all the barrels and demis in the barn.I was two-thirds of the way through when the barn door opened.The bright sunshine pierced the dimly lit space like a shiny sword, and I glanced toward the tall, broad-shouldered figure ambling toward me.With the sunlight behind him, I couldn’t make out his face, but I knew who it was just by the way he walked.
My belly stirred in both good and bad ways.
He left so abruptly last night after finding out my age.
Was it because of my age, or entirely unrelated?
I knew a panic attack when I saw one.
Not that I was prone to them myself, but Sam had them from time to time, and Mabel said that’s what her dad had.
She was an interesting kid.
Very well-spoken, very direct, incredibly smart, if not a little socially awkward.But she was polite, helped clean up the kitchen before she left with Tom and Danica, and thanked all of us for having her.
She was welcome back anytime.
He slowed his roll as he approached me, hands in his pockets, biceps bunched, making those sexy tattoos pop.My mouth grew a little dry as I gave myself an extra half a second to ogle his muscles before bringing my gaze to his face.“Hi,” I said softly.
“Hi.”
I set down my clipboard on the shelf and faced him.“Everything okay?”
“No.”
Oh no.
“Is it Mabel?”
