Page 21 of Accidental Baby Daddy

I wondered if he knew I was staying in his grandmother’s cabin. I assumed she owned the place, since she had offered it to me.

Gillian gave me a big hug before Agnes picked me up and I returned it with a smile. She wasn’t so bad after all, especially now that she was all grown up.

“I’ll come back and visit,” I promised, and Gillian nodded.

Agnes was chatty on the way to the cabin which was located on the outskirts of Wagontown. She talked about her store and gossiped some about Samantha, the girl that was leaving for college and I was replacing.

“She just can’t keep it together, poor thing,” Agnes said as we pulled up to the cabin, which was absolutely beautiful.

Recessed lighting outlined the underlip of the rooftop, making it appear warm and inviting.

“This is so nice,” I breathed. I glanced up the hill where a massive house sat and noticed the outline of a man standing in a second-floor window. I frowned. “The people up the hill?—”

“They keep to themselves. You won’t have to worry.” She said quickly.

I nodded, but I wasn’t sure I liked living so close to someone else. Oh well, I couldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth. Agnes insisted I didn’t have to pay rent for a while, at least the first three months.

I planned to be out of here in three months.

“The kitchen and fridge are furnished with some staples,” she said. “And everything works, far as I know.”

“It’s beautiful. Thank you so much for this, Agnes. You don’t know how much it means to me, what a huge help it is.”

She smiled. “Well, any friend of Oliver’s is a friend of mine.”

I didn’t tell her we weren’t exactly friends. Not anymore.

“I’ll get out of your hair,” she said, patting me on the shoulder. “Call me if you need anything, and don’t forget your shift starts at eight in the morning. Don’t be late!”

“Of course not.”

After she left, I looked around, peering into the huge backyard. It was a cozy log cabin with two bedrooms. It felt warm and homey in a way I couldn’t quite put my finger on.

It was too warm to run the fireplace and besides, the air conditioning felt great on my bare skin after a hot shower. I sat in the living room, sipping wine, and enjoying feeling relaxed.

I didn’t even think about Oliver. At least, not much.

The Stop ’n Go was close enough that I could walk to it, and it only took me about twenty minutes. I arrived around seven-forty-five. I hadn’t wanted to risk being late.

It wasn’t Agnes who met me at the door but a younger woman instead, probably about Gillian’s age.

“You must be the new girl,” she said, smiling warmly, and I nodded, smiling back.

“Lexie.”

“I’m Jessica. I’m the manager here. I’ll show you the ropes.”

The job was simple and straightforward—stocking inventory, taking care of customers, and running the cash register. I’d worked in retail when I was in college, so it wasn’t difficult to get the hang of it.

A couple of hours later, I was stocking milk in the back when a man opened the refrigerator door to grab a gallon. We immediately locked eyes.

As soon as that bright, blue gaze settled on me I instantly recognized him.

“Lexie?” he gasped.

“Tristan,” I greeted, managing a half-smile. Things hadn’t gone well the last time we’d seen each other, but that hadn’t been Tristan’s fault. It had been Oliver’s.

I walked around to greet him, and he pulled me into a quick hug.

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