Page 9 of A Simple Life

“Like a questionnaire. They want to know about us so they can let us live there.”

“Good thing we’re nice,” she mumbled.

I pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Good thing.”

She fell asleep, her breathing deep and even. I watched her for a while, my thoughts racing.

For some reason, I couldn’t get the jerk out of my head. How kind he’d been at first. His concern for my well-being. His low, rich voice. The way he made me feel safe by simply walking beside me.

I had felt something spark between us. I was certain of it. The warmth of his touch had held me captive.

Then I recalled his reaction to hearing I had a daughter.

I sighed. Single mothers weren’t for everyone.

Even knights in shining armor who seemed wonderful.

I had learned my lesson that not everything was the way it looked.

It wasn’t a lesson I was planning on repeating.

JOHN

The next morning, I woke up angry. I had been furious since I’d stormed away from the pretty Quinn at the fair. The pretty, married Quinn with a child. Hearing the deep male voice on the other end of the phone had hit me, my past playing out in a warped sort of replay. I had to leave before I did something I regretted. Although, the truth was, I already had. I should have walked away after helping her. Instead, I’d acted like an idiot, walking the fair with her, winning her a teddy bear like a lovestruck teenager.

I sighed as I poured a cup of coffee. At least I wouldn’t be seeing her again. She was only visiting, and aside from a quick trip to the bank later, I had no plans on being anywhere I would run into her. I hoped her visit was a short one.

Draining my coffee, I set the cup in the sink and headed out to the fields. Some hard work and sweat would help clear my head.

I needed that.

Hours later, I stepped from the shower, running a towel over my torso and roughly drying my hair. I dressed in jeans and a shirt, rolling up the sleeves as I headed downstairs. My phone was ringing, and I answered my sister’s call.

“Hey, Laura.”

“Hi. Bob needs a favor.”

“Sure.”

“The delivery truck broke down in Mitchell. There’s an order on it he really needs today. The store is still short-staffed, and I have three meetings⁠—”

I interrupted her. “Not an issue. I’m headed to the bank, then I’ll head to Mitchell and pick it up.”

She sighed in relief. “I owe you.”

“I’d accept dinner.”

She laughed. “I should have known.”

I chuckled. “Tonight is spaghetti night. I love your spaghetti.” I paused. “And I want to give Cody his bike. There’s a meetup in the park tomorrow, and I know he’d love to go.”

“His birthday is soon,” she admonished me. “But you’re right, he’d love it, so go ahead. Not that I could stop you,” she added.

“Nope.”

“See you later.”

The sun was high, shining in the cab of the truck as I drove back to Richton, the delivery Bob required in the back cab. I planned on dropping it off, loading up the bike, heading to Laura’s place and surprising Cody. I would wait until his parents were both home to see his reaction, but I was excited to give him the bike. He was a good kid, and he deserved it.