Page 18 of Stealing Home

“That sounds fair, but we’ve already got wifi in the shop, and it’s not like we’ll be using it when you’re off work,” she counters.

My lips twitch, and I hold out my hand. “You drive a hard bargain, but you’ve got a deal.”

An old lady comes up to the table, dragging a cane with her.

“You’re supposed to use the cane, not drag it,” Wren says.

The old lady harrumphs. “I don’t need it. My hip is all better now. It’s more than better,” she taps said hip, “it’s titanium.”

“Dolores, this is my new friend Harlow. She’s coming to work with us at Hale and Storm,” Wren says, changing the subject.

Wren turns to me. “This is Dolores, also known as Granny D. She’s pretty much my guardian angel, and the one who saved me from my own nightmare.”

“Oh, well, I’d say Griffin did most of the saving. I just pretended to have the house tented,” she laughs at her joke. “I do so love it when the family grows though. Speaking of, I’m going to go find Rainbow Brite and watch the kids play ball.”

“Rainbow Brite?” I ask confused.

Wren rolls her eyes. “My best friend, Bess.” She points to a woman wearing a neon baseball jersey. I didn’t even know they came in those colors. “She is always colorful, so Dolores gave her a nickname. She’s kind of like our adopted grandma. When I caught my ex husband cheating on me, she gave me a place to fall. She’s been family ever since.”

“And she pretended to have the house tented?” I ask confused.

Wren rolls her eyes. “Yeah, she claimed there was some kind of infestation so I had to go stay with Griffin. She’s got a bad habit of match making.”

“My only family is my younger sister, Leena. She’s a junior at a special music conservatory high school program back east. My mom died several years ago, and I’ve been her guardian ever since. It’s why—“

“Why you stay,” she finishes for me.

I nod. “My mom’s insurance money ran out a couple years ago. My husband acts like a martyr because we pay for her tuition now, but I’ve always worked to cover it. She’s graduating next year.”

“And if you don’t have a job, then you can’t leave him,” she says.

“Pretty much,” I agree.

“If I could drink I’d toast to fucking up the plans of shitty men. Can we celebrate with chocolate?”

“Hell yeah,” I agree.

Scott takes the mound with a group of kids surrounding him. He catches me looking, and winks at me.

I blush and look away. Wren bumps her shoulder against mine. “He’s even better than chocolate.”

I shake my head. “He’s too young.”

Wren shrugs. “Someone thought I was too young once. Too wrong for him. Sometimes what seems like the wrong choice is the best one. At least he’ll be a hell of a lot of fun.”

7

Scott

I linger after allthe kids and their parents have left the field. The guys help pick up the equipment and put it back in the locker room, but even they are starting to leave.

Out of the corner of my eye I watch Harlow talk to her new friends. When the last herd of children run over to them, I see my opening to speak to Harlow before I leave.

I only take a couple of steps in her direction when Taylor steps in front of me and puts both his hands on my chest, pushing me back. “Don’t even fucking think about it. You need to get in your truck and leave the coach’s wife alone.”

My jaw clenches, and I force myself to take a couple of calming breaths. I am not prone to lashing out, but right now I could lay him on his ass. “Get out of my way, Taylor.”

He lifts his hands off my chest and holds them out in front of him. “It’s your funeral. Don’t come crying to me when you get your ass kicked off the team.”

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