Page 9 of The One I Want
“Just fine,” I say, thankful for the conversation distraction. “This house is amazing. Thank you again.”
“I’m glad you’re liking it.” Peggy pauses and turns to Wes. “Wes, this is Betsy, our new tenant. Betsy, this is our son Wes.”
“Hello,” I say, giving him a small wave. Should I have done that? Should I have offered my hand? No, that would have been weird. Why am I overthinking a wave?
“Hi,” he says, keeping his hands firmly in the pockets of his jeans.
Jeans that are clinging to muscled thighs. Jeans that I need to check out more when he turns to walk away, because if his thighs look like that, imagine his ass.
Stop it. Stop it right now.
I need to stop staring at him. Even though I caught him staring at me. Or did I? I’m not sure anymore. I feel like I’m looking at the sun. I know I shouldn’t, but I can’t help it.
“Congratulations!” I say, doing anything I can think of to break the awkward silence.
He gives me a confused look. “For what?”
“Your retirement announcement?”
“Oh,” he says. “Thanks.”
He might have said thanks, but his tone clearly doesn’t convey that. In fact, between his clipped word and his now-blank stare, I’m pretty sure I hit a sore spot.
Good job, Betsy. Way to go.
Okay then…talking is out.
“Am I your first stop?” I ask the kids. I’m pretty sure they like me better.
“Yup!” Harry Potter chimes in. “And Dad says we can getallthe candy we want. As long as we say thank you.”
Oh my gosh, I love this kid. “That’s a very good rule. It’s always nice to say thank you.”
“Kids, we shouldn’t be taking all of Miss Betsy’s candy,” Wes says, his voice now more even. “We should be going.”
Oh the Southern manners…Mama Peggy raised this man right.
“Are we going to more houses?” Rapunzel asks.
He walks to the porch steps, taking the sweet girl by the hand. “We are. And, Uncle Ollie told me earlier that he has special treats for you.”
“Woo hoo!” Rapunzel squeals, turning back to me. “Bye, Miss Betsy! Thank you for the candy!”
I can’t help but smile as I wave goodbye to this little angel. “Bye! Have an amazing night!”
All three kids wave goodbye to me, and of course say thank you, as Wes leads them away.
Peggy hangs behind, taking a few steps closer to the porch as her group heads toward the next house. “Don’t mind him. He’s been through a lot lately. I promise you he’s usually more talkative.”
“Okay?” Why is she telling me this?
“You have a nice night, dear. Don’t eat too much candy. Oh, I love the costume. It’s very you.”
* * *
“These are the nights I missed,”Whitley says as she holds up her wine glass.
I clink mine with hers. “More than you know.”
