Page 47 of More Than a Helping Hand

Once Anderson and I are back in the living room, I whisper, “We can’t do that when she’s here.”

“Do what?” That eyebrow is quirked, making his tease evident.

“You know what.”

“Sorry. I’ll behave.” He brushes a finger down my cheek. “I should go.”

After checking to be sure Bailey isn’t peeking out her door, I hug him. “Thank you again.”

His warm embrace is a momentary escape from the weight of the world.

When he pulls back, he smiles, then blows me a kiss. “Sweet dreams.”

I pat his chest. “Text me when you get home, please.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He picks up his hat off the table and sets it on his head. After a wink, he steps out the door.

I watch until he climbs into his truck, then head to my room to change. By the time I’m in my jammies and ready for bed, there is a text waiting.

Clarence:Back at my cabin. And for the record, I think you are a fantastic mom.

He follows his text with a kiss emoji.

And I send one back.

Anderson always knows the right thing to say. But I’m afraid he’s like the last chocolates left in the assortment box. The chocolate coating on the outside looks yummy, but when you bite into it, the center is something nasty, like coconut or raspberry cream.

It’ll take time before I know for sure he isn’t like Derek and Kyle. But getting to know him is the only way I’ll discover what’s underneath the chocolate.

So I send off another text.

Me:On our next date, I want to hear more about you raising your sister. And I’ll tell you about Bailey’s father. Thanks for watching her and for the back massage.

Clarence:Let me know when and where. And my magic fingers are available whenever you need them.

I set my phone aside because the man needs to sleep, and I could easily see us sending messages back and forth until sunrise.

Oh, how I hope he has an ooey gooey caramel center.

* * *

A week later,I’m driving home from my parents’ house with Bailey in the back seat. She’s telling me about all the fun things she did with grandma. I keep a smile on my face while I listen, but hearing all that makes me wish I had more time to spend with her. It hasn’t always been this way, and I miss how life was before Derek. He chased off my close friends, and I was so blinded by love, I didn’t speak up. That’s still a huge regret of mine.

My thoughts snap back to reality when Bailey says, “I asked Grandma if DeeDee could come to dinner on Saturday. She said that was fine, but I had to ask you. Is that okay with you? We can pick him up if he doesn’t know how to get there.”

Anderson and I have been texting daily, but I haven’t told him that Bailey is staying at Paisley’s this Saturday. I want to go on another date with him, but I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop.

I’m glad Parker isn’t next to me because my brother would be laughing out loud right now.

“That’s fine. Do you want me to call him and invite him? Or maybe we should tell Uncle Parker to invite him since they work together.”

“I think you should call him.” She swings her feet into the back of the passenger seat. “Mason’s mom died.”

“What?” I resist the urge to slam on the brakes and pull over.

She uses her sad voice. “Yeah. He loved her. But it was a long time ago, he said. Then he came to the ranch, and now he has a dad.”

I make it back to the apartment without dissolving into tears. Then I turn and face her. “It’s sad that his mom died, but I’m glad he lives on the ranch now.”

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