LITMIR.BIZ

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help pull Mom out of this phase she was in.

      A blur of red seeped into her peripheral vision, and she shifted to watch a shiny red pickup truck pull into the adjacent driveway.

      Her pulse spiked as a tall, broad-shouldered man dressed in jeans, boots, and a cowboy hat stepped out and then turned her way. “Seriously? Could this day get any worse?” she muttered.

      “Why? What happened?”

      With the phone still pressed to her ear, she sank farther into her seat with no intention of leaving her vehicle. At least, not until Jed Gilbertson was no longer standing less than fifty feet away. Staring at her.

      She turned to the box of office junk on the seat beside her to avoid making eye contact. “Jed just pulled up at his grandmother’s.” It’d been too long, and her heart had been too shattered, for him to still have such a pull on her.

      “I thought you were over him.”

      So did she. “That doesn’t mean I want to see him.”

      “I doubt you can avoid that, considering the close relationship he has with his grandmother.”

      As did Paige. At least, she had, before moving away. She loved that woman dearly and wanted to see her, to reconnect—without Jed hovering nearby.

      “He’ll probably be paunch bellied and balding in another five years.” Mira laughed. “Does that help?”

      Paige envisioned him in his junior year, sneaking extra cookies off his grandma’s counter, something he’d done often. Laughter danced in his chocolate-colored eyes, and a scruff of a beard was just beginning to fill in.

      He’d filled out some since then, though he’d always been muscular, and his features had sharpened. Other than his Stetson—he’d traded his signature black one for a tan variety—he dressed as she’d always remembered. Simple T-shirt, faded jeans and boots that were scuffed and worn but not tattered.

      The man who had once been her entire world. For a while, she’d thought she’d been his, as well.

      She hated to admit it, but he’d only grown more attractive, while she’d noticed the first hints of crow’s-feet on her own face.

      “Your breakup was a long time ago, Paige. Let it go. Maybe you two can become friends again. You used to be so close. And if not, who cares? Guys like him peak in high school.”

      And apparently women like Paige peaked in their thirties, then regressed.

      As much as she wanted to remain in her car for the rest of the evening, Paige needed to get out before she looked even more foolish than she felt. “I should probably get going.”

      “You’ve got this.”

      “Thanks, Mira.”

      “And don’t forget, you, me, coffee or dinner. Soon.”

      “For sure.”

      After ending the call, she took a quick glance at her reflection in the rearview mirror. Hair the color of a new penny, in a slightly frizzed bob that cost little more. The spider veins accumulated from three nights of poor sleep contrasted sharply with her pale blue eyes. And her peach-toned skin made the flush in her cheeks all the more noticeable. She eyed her yoga pants, which were splotched with bleach stains, and cringed. Of all the times to choose comfort over appearance...

      Just then, little Ava began to fuss. “Mama’s coming, sweet girl.” She fluffed her humidity-flattened hair and stepped out into the hot August sun. Footsteps scuffed toward her.

      Ignoring the tall, handsome figure standing an arm’s length away, she unfastened her daughter from her car seat and positioned the little one on her hip.

      “Howdy.”

      She turned to find Jed looking as handsome—and country—as ever. His chocolate-brown eyes made a visual sweep of her, pausing a fraction on little Ava, before locking onto hers. “Haven’t seen you in a spell. You...you look good.” He lifted his hat to scratch his head, revealing those wavy chestnut locks she’d always loved. Like she’d expected, he wore his hair short, almost shaved on the sides, but longer and fuller on the top.

      Heat rushed to her cheeks. “Thanks.”

      “Who’s the little princess?”

      “Ava Marie, my daughter.” As if he hadn’t heard all about Paige’s relationship troubles and her gem of a baby-leaving ex-husband. She had to be on every prayer chain in Sage Creek, if not all of Texas.

      “Need help?” Stubble covered his square jaw, and his lips curled upward in his characteristic crooked smile. The one that had captured, then shattered, her heart when she’d needed him most.

      She took a deep breath, hoping her voice wouldn’t reveal her rush of emotions. Emotions she’d thought were long buried. “I’ve got it, thanks.” Then, to prove the point, she grabbed her computer bag from the back and slung it over her shoulder. “How are you?”

      “Oh, you know, same ol’, same ol’.”

      His response provided the perfect end to an awkward conversation. She forced a smile. “If you’ll excuse me...”

      Little Ava squirmed in her arms.

      He eyed her U-Haul. “You moving back?”

      She swallowed but held his gaze, though his question zeroed in on all of her insecurities.

       Divorced.

       Rejected.

       Discarded.

      Proving she stunk at relationships. And choosing men—something she’d do well to remind herself of every time Jed’s deep brown eyes spiked her pulse.

      “For a while. To help my mom.” Which was true. He didn’t need to know the rest. “How’s your grandmother?”

      “Putterin’ around, as ornery as ever. She’ll be glad to see you. Does she know you’re back?”

      Paige gazed toward Mrs. Tappen’s house. “Probably.” Her mom likely mentioned something to her. Still, Paige really needed to stop by, see how she was doing.

      “Bet she’d even make a batch of those snickerdoodles you always loved.”

      The mention of her favorite cookies brought back a slew of memories—of her sitting at Mrs. Tappen’s breakfast counter with her cold hands wrapped around a hot mug of cocoa that was topped with miniature marshmallows. Of her parents’ fighting, the reason Paige had always ended up at the sweet woman’s home. After her father had bailed and Mom had shut down completely, when Paige had been in desperate need of a friend, Jed’s grandmother had opened wide her arms and her house.

      But the memories that most squeezed her heart were of the hot summer nights she and Jed had sat on Mrs. Tappen’s back porch, sipping lemonade. They’d talked about everything, from pop music to where they wanted to land as adults.

      Back then she’d felt certain Jed’s future would include her.

      He stepped closer, and his cologne teased her nose. “What can I carry for you?”

      “I’m good, but thank you.” She marched up the walk to her mom’s house, locking her car en route.

      She’d unload the rest of her things later. On her own.

      Because despite Jed’s little welcoming act, she had no intention of being friends with the man.

      Her heart couldn’t take another rejection.

      * * *

      With his hands in his pockets, Jed watched Paige march into her house. She was more beautiful than ever. Her auburn hair, streaked with blond, was cut in one of those modern, windblown styles. Her teeth were straight and white. Way back then, she used to wear braces.

      She looked classy,

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