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Laughing, I stand up and wipe my hands on my pants. “You got a lotta questions, wee man.”
“Mommy calls me curious kitten.”
“That you are. So I’ll make you a deal, Tobs. I have a lot of work to do, but you can ask me one big question a day. Sound good?”
He nods and puts his hand out for me to shake. “You got yourself a deal, Mister Cody.”
Laughing, I ruffle his hair and point toward the driveway. “Let’s get you back home before your mom starts to worry.” I turn to my dog and whistle. “Let’s go, Dagda.”
The three of us walk down my driveway, Tobias talking the entire time.
“You got any kids?”
“Nope. Just the dog.”
He nods. “You got a wife?”
Laughing, I shake my head. “Nope. Just me and Dagda. You got a wife?”
Tobias scrunches his face up. “Ew. Girls have cooties, Mister Cody.”
“Yes they do, bud. So is it just you and your mom? Or is your dad coming as well?”
He shrugs, kicking a rock as we near his house. “I don’t know my dad. It’s always been me and mommy. But can I tell you a secret?”
I nod and kneel as he looks around. “My mommy says he’s a bastard. That’s a bad word.”
“It is a bad word, but sometimes those are the only words you have. But listen, we don’t have to talk about that anymore. Let’s get you inside.”
He smiles and runs toward his house, Dagda in tow. I can’t help but smile at the two, already best friends. Not much brings a smile to my face anymore, but seeing the innocences of Tobias and Dagda brings a joy to my heart.
Tobias comes running back, grabbing my hand as he tugs me toward the house. “Come on, Mister Cody! Come see my house!”
I chuckle to myself as he drags me up the front steps. I know this will be a disaster after my encounter with his mother. But part of me wants to see that fiery brunette again.
I may be the town grump, but the new woman in town and her kid certainly bring a warmth to my icy heart.
He drags me through the front door and stops. “You wait right here. I’ll go get my mommy. Then I can show you my room!”
Tobias runs up the stairs and I take the chance to peek around. For somebody who just moved in, Juniper has unpacked a lot. She already has pictures hanging on the walls, rugs down the main hallway, and all the little nooks and crannies that fill this old home have something on them.
Plants are on every surface you can imagine; windowsills hanging from the ceiling, tables, bookshelves. And speaking of books… I browse through the color coordinated books on the narrow built-in bookshelf.
Women of Wine Country series, Blue Blooded Brother series, motorcycle romance books, more books with half-naked men on the cover. All damn romance books.
I hear footsteps on the stairs above and quietly move toward the kitchen to find Juniper, Tobias, and Dagda.
Juniper’s eyes are red and her cheeks blotchy.Was she… crying?
Shaking my head, I remind myself she’s just the new neighbor and to go back to not caring. Just me and Dagda. No other connections, nobody to care for and then suddenly lose… just how we like it.
Standing tall, I enter the kitchen as Juniper turns to see me.
Chapter three
No Rain, No Flowers
Juniper
