AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I am happy.”
I snort. He said it with a frown. “Okay.”
After he leaves me, I think about the one woman who has been in love with Wyatt for years, the one having lunch with him and my sister. I shake my head. Wyatt is too stubborn to give into the mutual attraction, and I know part of it has to do with the fact she’s a decade younger than him.
Thinking about their age difference has my mind drifting back to Liv. I’m definitely interested, but I need to take it slowly, make sure that it’s what’s good for meandfor her.
ChapterThirteen
LIV
After a quick meetup with Nancy Howard so I could see the office and get my keys to I can open it up on Monday, I was ordered home. Normally, I would like to get a head start on everything, but Nancy threatened me with spending time with her grandmother if I tried to come in this weekend. Granted, I don’t mind Estella Howard, but Nancy sees it as punishment.
So, I took her at her word. Besides, no one has to tell me twice to go spend time with my kids. I make it home in time to have lunch with my kids and what probably counts as breakfast for Avery. After we clean up, I suggest we get out of the house to see a little more of Juniper.
I park on Main Street, and I smile at the familiar surroundings. There is an ebb and flow of small towns, and lots of small towns in Texas look the same. So many of them have a square of shops around either city hall or some other historic building. The tall red stone was built in the late 1800s from the looks of it. When I realize it’s the county library, I make a note to get the kids in there for new library cards.
“I really love this town,” Avery says. There’s a wistfulness I hear in her voice that has me a little concerned. Granny Pam’s death hit us all hard, but I thought we were all prepared for it. Avery has been acting…weird. And when I say Avery has been acting weird, it’s REALLY weird compared to other people. Before I can say anything to her, she’s popping out of the car.
I join Avery, Callie, and Sammy on the sidewalk. The resurgence in small-town tourism is big in South Texas, and Juniper Springs is definitely benefiting from it. Lots of people, many of them dressed as if on vacation—complete with fanny packs—crowd the sidewalk as we make our way toNerdvana.I promised the kids we would stop by the comic bookstore, so I start there first. Plus, I want to scope out the dance studio, and theMystic Diner.
We slow down in front of the windows to take in the displays, which are amazing. Whoever is doing the work must be a genius. The bright colors have a whimsical feel to them, beyond what superheroes and other pop culture usually represent. Another thing I love is that most of the characters featured are women.
We step into the store and I feel a little off balance. There is so much here, from the music playing to the explosion of colors. Once my brain adjusts to everything, I can see what is so special about this store. The design in the windows works well with the rest of the store’s décor and color template. As I thought before, someone is very talented.
“Good afternoon!”
I glance over at the man approaching us. He’s dressed in jeans and t-shirt that hasRolling with the LOLsacross his chest. His light brown hair is perfectly styled, and I can tell this isn’t something he does normally. I doubt many people who work in a store can afford a Rolex—and it’s definitely not a fake. His eyes sparkle with mischievous glee, coupled with a smile that tells you he’s up to no good.
“Carter Hawthorne! What the fudge are you doing here?” Avery says, giving him a hug and a big smacking kiss.
“I’m filling in for my brother’s baby mama.” He keeps his arm around her shoulders as they both face the kids and me. “And who might you have with you?”
“This is my sister Liv and her kids, Callie and Sammy.”
“Nice to meet you,” he says, then his eyes narrow. “Liv, you say?”
I nod, wondering what he’s about.
“I saw your name somewhere.”
“She’s the new office manager for Nancy and Travis,” Avery says as she turns to me. “Carter’s family owns The Home Network. And his fiancée is the OB/GYN here. I told you about Piper.”
“Oh, okay.” Then my brain finally makes the connections. “You’re the one Avery talked to so we could get a late checkout in Vegas.”
“Yes.” Then his eyebrows shoot up. “That’s where I saw your name.”
I want to tell him there is no way he saw my name there, everything was in Avery’s name, but I let it go. Carter is already bending down to look at Sam.
“DC or Marvel?”
“Both.”
He gives Sammy a fist bump. “A man after my own heart.”
“Avery,” another insanely gorgeous man says as he approaches. This guy I know. Quinn Hawthorne is actually Avery’s client. He’s a big man, with a sweet smile and kind eyes. He hugs Avery, who introduces us.
“I know that Nancy is happy to have you around. I swear, Travis wouldn’t know how to organize an office to save his life.”
