Page 103 of Meet Me in Ivy Falls

When we reached the first corner, a flash of black caught my eye.

‘It’s Mr Beck!’ Iris cheered as the sleek Mercedes pulled up.

What the hell was he doing here?

The window inched down and I was not prepared for the chaotic crash of my heart when he smiled in my direction.

‘Sally Mae giving you trouble again?’

There were many words flying through my head. Some were gushy like I’ve missed you. And God, you’re beautiful. Others were more of the sailor-type variety which I’d never say in front of the girls.

‘Mr Beck, we’re going to your house to see our grandpa,’ Rose exclaimed.

‘Will you take us there? My feet hurt after soccer practice,’ Iris added.

‘Of course. Climb in.’ He beamed at them and I hated the way my ovaries did a little dance.

No. I was still confused and angry. He couldn’t pull up, flash that panty-dropping smile, and think he could save us.

Before I could protest, Rose and Iris scrambled into the back seat.

‘You go ahead and take them,’ I grumbled. ‘I’ll meet you there.’

‘Tor, come on.’ He gave me a pleading look.

‘I need the walk to clear my head,’ I insisted.

‘Torran.’ His voice went firm. ‘Get in the car. Please. I’m headed in that direction anyway.’

‘Why?’ The hairs rose on my neck.

‘As soon as we get to the house, I’ll explain everything.’

Those whiskey-brown eyes went soft. The girls waited for me in anticipation. I yanked open the door cursing the fact that Sally Mae had put me in this incredibly awkward position. I’d wanted to talk to him on my own terms. Set the time and place. Not have to climb into his shiny and expensive car for a damn ride.

After I ordered the girls to put on their seatbelts, we drove in silence. Only a block from the house, cars lined both sides of the street. The drywallers had finished the last of the patch work yesterday. Manny talked to the painters and they weren’t scheduled until next week which gave us just enough time before the production crew for Hearth and Home returned. So why was the street jammed like there was some kind of block party going on?

‘Why are there so many people in the house?’ I breathed out as we pulled into the driveway behind Manny’s truck.

Beck turned in his seat and flashed a smile at the girls. ‘Hey, will you run inside and tell your grandpa we’re here? I need to talk to your Aunt Torran for a second.’

‘Sure,’ the girls chirped together.

‘No,’ I spit out.

I wasn’t ready for this. My mind was still spinning from my conversation with Tessa yesterday, and I wasn’t sure how I was going to explain to Beck all my fear, anger and frustration over what was happening between us. How I wanted him to stay despite all the things he’d said in the hospital. That I knew my heart would shatter into ten thousand pieces if I lost him again.

‘The girls can’t go inside alone. There are too many dangerous tools and pieces of equipment out.’ I undid my seatbelt and waved them out of the car.

The closer I got to the house, the more anxiety crammed into the corners of my chest. Voices I recognized – Barb and Susan, Isabel, even Miss Cheri and Old Mrs Vanderpool – floated out the open windows.

I swung back to Beck, and the grin he gave me said he was responsible for whatever chaos I was about to find inside.

Chapter Forty-Seven

BECK

So Much For A Sneak Attack.