LITMIR.BIZ

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spend on the ladder Adam had warned her about—hit her, and she just couldn’t face the task today. In truth, she didn’t feel as if she could face much more than a hot shower, dinner and a face-plant into her bed at the Wildflower Inn.

      But mommy duties awaited, and the thought of seeing her smiling babies gave her a boost of energy. At least two wonderful things had come from her relationship with Phil.

      She promised herself she’d tackle the windows tomorrow, then grabbed her keys to lock up. As she drove the short distance to the inn, her thoughts wandered through the names and faces she’d met since her arrival in Blue Falls. Everyone seemed nice and she could see why Papa Ed had fond memories of the place. Though she’d been hesitant initially about placing her flagship restaurant here, now she could see that it would fit in perfectly with the community’s other offerings.

      Thankfully, no one else had mentioned Phil or the trial, so they either didn’t know about it or had decided not to bring up the topic. She’d prefer the former but would take either. What she wanted more than anything was to forget Phil even existed and that she’d ever been so blind that she hadn’t seen through to his real motive for wanting to marry her. She would never make that kind of mistake again.

      For some reason, she wondered if Adam Hartley now knew all the details. After meeting him and Tim Wainwright, she’d done an internet search on both their companies. So it would stand to reason they’d done the same for her. She felt sick to her stomach thinking about Adam sitting in front of his computer reading about the trial. He seemed like a nice guy, but she detested the idea that someone learning about her past might see her as an easy mark.

      She shook her head, not wanting to be so cynical. Instead, she’d rather think of Adam as a potential friend. She didn’t want him to know about what Phil had done, because it might taint the possibility of a friendship without the accompanying pity she’d seen in the eyes of more than one person she knew. Their hearts were in the right place, but those reactions had only served to make her feel like an even bigger fool.

      When she reached the inn, she didn’t immediately get out of her car. Instead, she sat in the quiet, looking out across Blue Falls Lake, its surface painted gold by the slant of the setting sun. This area was pretty now, even with winter approaching. She’d bet it was gorgeous in the spring, when all the wildflowers were blooming and carpeting the roadsides throughout the Hill Country.

      Hopefully, all the busloads of tourists who visited the area in search of the iconic bluebonnets would fill her restaurant to bursting and keep the cash registers busy. Maybe it was petty or needy of her, but she wanted her first venture since leaving Phil to be so successful he choked on the idea of all the money not going into his pockets. And it would provide undeniable proof that his claim she would be a failure without him was complete garbage.

      Not wanting to think about her ex anymore, she made her way inside.

      She heard the girls giggling before she even opened the door to her room. When she stepped inside, she smiled at the sight that greeted her. Papa Ed was playing peekaboo with Bethany and Harper, much to their mutual delight.

      He straightened from where he was sitting on the edge of the bed next to the girls’ travel crib. “Look who’s home,” he said in that special voice he used with his great-granddaughters.

      Lauren didn’t point out that nice as it was, the Wildflower Inn wasn’t home. Instead, she headed straight for her little blonde bundles of grins and baby claps. She lifted Bethany from the crib and booped her nose with the tip of her finger.

      “Have you been good for Papa Ed today?”

      “They were angels, of course,” Papa Ed said as he picked up Harper and delivered her into Lauren’s other arm.

      “I think Papa Ed is fibbing, don’t you?” she asked Harper, drawing a slobbery smile.

      “Well, you can’t fault them for being fussy when they’re cutting teeth.”

      “Yeah, probably a good thing that’s something none of us remember doing.” Lauren sank onto the chair in the corner of the room so the girls could use her as a jungle gym. “So, what did you all do today?”

      “Before the rain, we went for a stroll through the park and played in the sandbox they have down there,” he said, referencing the public park at the bottom of the hill below the inn. “We had a picnic and watched ducks on the lake.”

      “That sounds like quite the exciting day.” She dropped kisses on the top of both her babies’ heads. “You must be worn out,” she said to her grandfather.

      “Not at all. We had a nice nap this afternoon. Plus, reinforcements are on the way. Your mom called and said she was coming down to see the new place.”

      Lauren laughed a little. “I think it’s more likely she’s coming to see these two.”

      “Can’t say that I blame her. She’s never been away from her grandbabies this long.”

      “My girls are going to be spoiled so rotten they’ll stink all the way to Oklahoma.”

      “There is no such thing as too much spoiling.”

      Lauren outright snorted at that comment, making the girls startle then giggle at the strange sound Mommy made.

      “I’m pretty sure that’s a recent change in opinion. I don’t recall it being in place when Violet and I were growing up.”

      “When someone becomes a great-grandpa, he’s allowed to change his mind.”

      Lauren smiled and shook her head.

      “How did your day go?” he asked.

      She gave him the rundown as well as what she hoped to get accomplished tomorrow.

      “I wish you had some help.”

      “I will eventually. I just need to be conscious of my expenses right now and do everything I can myself. Plus, Violet will be here soon. She’s almost caught up with everything on the to-do list that needs to get done before she can work remotely.”

      “I’m so glad you two work so well together,” Papa Ed said.

      “I don’t know what I’d do without her, especially over the past year and a half. But don’t tell her that or she’ll get a big head.”

      Papa Ed chuckled. “You’re probably ready for a shower.”

      “That I am. And then some food.”

      He took Harper from her just as there was a knock on the door. Lauren carried Bethany with her as she went to open it. Her mother’s face lit up as soon as she saw Bethany. She immediately held out her hands for her granddaughter.

      “Gammy’s here,” her mom said, resulting in some excited bouncing by Bethany.

      “Well, I see I’ve been usurped,” Lauren said as she handed over her daughter.

      “Someday you’ll enjoy being the usurper when they have babies of their own.”

      “A long, long, long time from now.” She was barely used to the idea of having two children of her own. There wasn’t enough room in her mind to even contemplate grandchildren someday.

      Once the girls were safely ensconced with her mom and grandfather, Lauren grabbed clean clothes and headed for the shower.

      After washing away another day of dust and sweat, she was surprised by how much better she felt. She came out of the bathroom to find a note saying for her to join her family in the dining room. When she arrived, she found them talking with Skyler Bradshaw, the owner of the inn.

      “Good evening,” Skyler said. “I couldn’t resist stopping to see these little cuties.”

      Harper held Skyler’s finger as if she’d known her from the day of her birth.

      Lauren gently caressed the pair of downy heads. “They do have the ability to stop people in their tracks.”

      “Is

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