Page 27 of Follow My Heart

If you want to cut down a tree, I can take you to my family’s farm.

That would be amazing. I bet you know all about which tree is best and how to cut one down.

I chuckled, even though she couldn’t hear me, and I was by myself in a dark car.

I do.

I’d love to. Thanks for offering.

I can repay you for your ice-cream class.

No repayment needed. But I’ll still take you up on the offer. I’ve never had a real tree before.

A tree virgin.

Not for much longer.

Faith is with me most weekends now.

That’s great! I bet you love spending extra time with her.

It’s the best.

I wondered if she’d mind that I spent most weekends with Faith, and time alone wouldn’t be possible.

It will be nice to see her again.

Why had I waited so long to reach out to her? I was grateful that Violet had taken that step.

I’m sorry I haven’t reached out. I’ve been busy with work.

You don’t owe me an explanation

But I did.

I was worried I’d waited too long. That you wouldn’t want to hear from me.

The bubbles popped up then disappeared, and when I’d almost given up on her responding, the text finally came through.

I do.

I let out the breath I’d been holding.

Another group of kids is stopping by for candy. I’ll talk to you later.

She’d sent me a picture of her costume, and even though I wasn’t in one, I wanted to return the favor. I tipped the phone so that she’d get a glimpse of my chin with few days’ old scruff and the color of my white shirt and suit jacket. Then I sent it over with a text.

Not a costume but thought you’d enjoy.

Love! You look sexy in a suit.

Was she flirting? Did I want her to be? Why else had I sent her that image as a tease. Sometimes I felt like my body wanted something my brain wouldn’t let me have. That it was racing ahead of logic and reason, and I couldn’t rein it in. I wasn’t sure I wanted to.

My phone started buzzing with case-related messages, and I put Violet out of my mind. I needed to focus on work. I couldn’t stop thinking about how she looked in that Dorothy costume with her hair curled. I wondered how much cleavage was visible.

I wanted more. And the best part was, I didn’t feel as guilty about those thoughts when we first met. Maybe I was finally moving on from Stacy and the idea of the perfect marriage. That wasn’t what we had. And I could see that we’d grown apart over the years.

My brain was reluctant to think a relationship could withstand the test of time, but my heart and body was a different matter.

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