Page 17 of Lead Me Knot

He keeps walking, then stops to look back. “I miss you, too,” he says, picking up where we left off earlier in the conversation. I move in, pulling him to me and wrapping my arm around him. He wraps his arms around me and looks up. “Why can’t you live here?”

We start walking again. “My life is in New York, buddy.”

“Your life can be here. We’d have so much fun. I’ll even share my bunk beds. You can pick the one you want, and I’ll take the other, though I prefer the top.”

“Why is that?”

“Because the light from my booklight can’t be seen under the door.”

“You’re sneaking to read books at night?” This kid is better than I ever was.

“Yeah. When I’m on the bottom bed, Dad said he sawthe light shining under the door and I shouldn’t be up that late.”

I see a structure made of branches ahead, but don’t say anything because I want him to be the one to show me, but there look to be some good architectural skills on display. “I got your back. You can have the top bunk.”

“Here it is.” He runs around a tree and then stands in what looks like the start of a horse stall. With his arms wide, he smiles with pride and then points up. “I want to build a treehouse up there.” When he looks at me, he asks, “Will you help me?”

“This is impressive, Beckett. Have you drawn up plans?”

“This is homebase but up there will be for members only. It’s all in my head.”

I cross my arms over my chest and look up. “There are some good branches up there. We can test the weight load and put a plan together.”

He crosses his arms over his chest, mimicking me. “That’s what I was thinking.”

Grinning, I hold out my palm to him. “You sketch out your ideas and I’m in.”

When he slaps his hand down on mine, we shake on it. “Really?”

“Really.”

“Does that mean you’ll move here like Daddy and me did?”

I see what he did there.Clever kid.But I’m not sure how to answer that other than to reply, “I’m thinking it will take a few visits. Maybe three to get the job done. How’s your schedule this summer?”

He laughs. “Wide open.”

And just like that, this kid got me to commit to hanging around Peachtree Pass more often. That sends thoughtsback to last night and how this morning feels a little empty without Lauralee around. That’s a new feeling. Finding an excuse to see her again, I ask, “Hey, want to go into town this afternoon and get some ice cream?”

We start heading out of the woods. “Can I get bubble gum ice cream?”

“You can get two scoops if you want.”

He takes off running with his arms out like an airplane, and yells, “Yes,” into the wind.

I’m a fucker for finding a reason to see her. Guess I’m about to find out if she’s happy to see me again, too.

CHAPTER 7

Lauralee

The timer goes off justas I start frosting a cupcake order for pickup in one hour. I set the piping bag down and grab the oven mitts on the way to the oven. The delicious smell of freshly baked cookies escapes the oven as soon as I open the door. I take a deep breath as I pull the tray out and set it on the counter, never tiring of my job.

I get to bake and create for a living. What more could a girl ask for?

I hear the bell chime over the front entrance. “Be right out,” I call, hoping they can hear me. I’m quick to wipe my hands on my apron before pushing the door that leads to the front counter. Said door whacks my ass, scooting me forward when my feet failed to do the job.

Looking more ruggedly handsome than ever in his T-shirt and jeans, Baylor says, “We came for ice cream.” The smirk on his face says a whole lot more than that, reminding me exactly where that mouth was last night, causing me to squirm in place.

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