Page 30 of Single Mom's Mountain Men
"No problem."
She smiles and tells the girls, "OK girls, now I want you to be on your very best behavior for Mrs. Weatherby. You do exactly what she says, and I'll be right back just as soon as Wes and I have done the groceries shopping, okay team?"
"Okay Mommy," Maddie calls out. She gives them both a last hug and then we wave goodbye and head back to the truck.
We need to back out of the parking lot for the preschool and drive around the corner to access the grocery store entrance. Craig's is an at best average-sized grocery store by most people’s standards, but it's the largest one we have around, unless you want to go further afield and drive as far as the next town which is called Medla and which is a little larger in population and has its own Walmart and a cinema.
As we park up and grab a shopping cart, I instantly notice some of the locals’ eyes on me. I even catch a few folks in the act of ogling, but they look away the minute I try to stare them in the eyes. I want to hurry up and get back to the car. I don't really mind the stares, but I'm anxious that Patty will start to notice and feel some hostility.
She doesn't say anything as she quietly selects items, mentally running calculations for what would be the most affordable choice before placing each selection carefully into the cart and ticking it off the list. She seems totally preoccupied with her process, and by the time we pay for everything and head back to the truck, I think maybe we’ve made it without her noticing anything.
Until we're done loading the groceries into the car, and she walks over to the passenger side.
I hurry to hold the door open for her and as she gets in, she finally asks, "Is there a reason why everyone in there was eyeballing us?"
Darn.
I shrug. "Not sure. Maybe because you're a new face?"
I close her door behind her and go over to my side trying to look as casual as possible.
"Oh," she says as I get in. "And here, I was thinking that the women around here are just jealous to see a hot young thing with a fat older lady."
I wrinkle my eyebrows and it takes a second before I realize who she's referring to. My jaw drops when I do. "Wait, is the fat old lady here supposed to be you?"
She shrugs. "I mean yeah. They probably thought I was your sugar mommy or something." She chuckles to herself but I don't laugh with her.
"First off, I'm pretty sure we're around the same age. Second of all, where the fuck did you get that from? You're neither fat nor old, and even if you were, I don't appreciate you talking about yourself in that way."
"Alright, alright, no need to get your panties in a twist. I was just trying to make a joke."
"I don't see how it's funny," I say firmly. "And I'm not letting it go until I get it through your head. You're a gorgeous woman, Patty Cole."
Her face heats and she ducks her head. "You don't have to say that."
"That’s right, I don’t. I'm saying it because I want to. And I need you to believe it."
"Sure, I believe it." But there's a hint of sarcasm in her tone that I don't like.
"Say it, Patty," I say.
"Say what?"
"Say you’re beautiful."
"You're beautiful," she jokes and I’m done, absolutely done with watching her disparage herself.
Before I can stop myself, I drag her across the bench seat, my own growl of desire drowning out the sound of her gasp as I arrange her into my lap.
"I guess I'll just have to prove it to you," I say and press my lips against hers.
CHAPTER 11
Patty
Igasp when Wes’ lips land on mine.
It’s not a forceful kiss and he gives me more than enough chances to pull away. He nips my lower lip in warning, or maybe as a punishment for what I said.
