One Look: A grumpy, single dad small town romance(57)

Sudden, unexpected tears pricked at my eyes as I rubbed her back. “Love you too, kiddo. Have so much fun.”

Before I could look at Wyatt’s face and dissolve into a puddle of unwelcomed emotion, I gave Red a watery smile and led him down the sidewalk.

Red patted my hand. “Kids always know how to punch you in the gut, don’t they?”

I blew out a breath and squeezed his arm. “They sure do, Red.”





Thankfully, my muddled-up feelings stayed in check for the rest of the afternoon. Wyatt still had things to wrap up after the football camp, so I’d texted him that I was taking Red home and would chat with him later.

Within seconds he responded.

Wyatt



Seeing you on the field was the best part of my day.





My insides went gooey. I’d managed to quell my irrational jealousy on the drive back to Outtatowner. It had been a very long time since a man had made me as mixed up and dizzy as Wyatt had managed to do in a few short weeks.

I dropped Red back at Haven Pines and helped make sure he was settled in his room before wishing him a good night. I was beat from the long day, but keyed up.

As I pulled into my driveway, I paused. Lee was sitting at the base of the steps that led to my apartment. He stood when I pulled the car to a stop.

“Hey!” I smiled back when a goofy grin spread across his face. “Wyatt’s still not back from work. What’s up?”

Lee unclasped his hands and lifted his palms. “Here to see you.”

I closed the car door behind me. “Okay . . .”

“I need someone who isn’t a townie to help me for a little while. You game?”

I crinkled my brows at him. “What’s up?”

Lee rubbed a hand across his chin. “On a scale of one to ten, how opposed to a little small-town troublemaking are you?”

I smiled. “I don’t know . . . I guess that depends. A two, maybe?”

“I can work with that. Let’s go.” Lee reached into the small duffel bag that hung crosswise against his body and tossed something at me.

I caught it, revealing a black knit stocking cap. “Seriously?”

Lee winked, and I looked back at Wyatt’s darkened farmhouse before walking toward his truck. “Just get in,” he said.





Lee turned down a small, dark road and flipped off his headlights. My eyes went wide, and my skin prickled.

“It’s fine. I promise. I’ll have you back to your place in thirty minutes. An hour, tops.” He nodded toward the stocking cap in my hands. “Put that on.”

I pulled the knit hat over my head and peered into the darkness. “Where are we?”

“Just an old two-way stop.” Lee shrugged. He climbed out of his truck, and I followed him toward the truck bed.

We were cloaked in darkness, but down the dark country road, headlights appeared in the distance. I held my breath but exhaled when the vehicle turned.

Lee pointed left and right down the road. “You’re the lookout. Yell if you see anyone coming. Yell louder if you know for sure it’s a King.”

Confused, I watched Lee pull a tool bag and a long rectangular piece of metal from the back of the truck.

“What is that?”

Lee’s childlike excitement was palpable, and my stomach flipped. He turned the sign around, and it read, Poor House Road. I glanced up at the existing sign, which read, Pour House Road.

“I know a guy who works for the road commissioner.” He shrugged and grinned. “In the sign shop. He married a cousin, so technically he’s a Sullivan and did me a favor.”

I narrowed my eyes at him, already knowing the answer. “And who lives down this road?”

Lee’s grin widened.

A King.

Replacing the sign to the house of the richest family in town with Poor House Road?

“This is so childish.” I tried my best to make it sound like a reprimand, but I couldn’t help the laughter that laced through my words.

Lee motioned down the road with the big metal tool. “Just keep your eyes peeled.”

I peered down the dark roadway. It was still warm from the day, but a chill raced across my chest as my nerves started to get the better of me. Far into the darkness, a pair of headlights turned onto the road.

“Lee! Hey, someone’s coming!”

Lee had already removed the old sign with a hammer and another tool he used to punch out the rivets. He was working fast to attach the new sign with bolts. “Almost. Almost there.”

I leaned against the side of the truck, trying to make myself invisible. “They’re still coming. I have no idea who it is. Lee!”

The car approached, and my stomach sank to my shoes as the familiar outline of a police cruiser came into view. I straightened as Lee kicked the tool bag away and stepped to my side.

An officer climbed out of his vehicle, and I froze. “Evening. Car trouble?”

My eyes grew wide as he scanned the roadway by us.

“No, sir,” Lee answered smoothly. “Lark here is new, and I was just showing her some of the sights.” He looped his arm across my shoulder, and I could only look at him with horror as I realized what he was implying.

The officer stifled a knowing laugh as I shot daggers at the side of Lee’s head.