Until You (The Redemption, #1)(18)

“Like I said, I can’t guarantee that I have brilliant ideas, but I have able hands and will definitely give all the help I can give.”

She reaches out and pats my hand. “We are so very grateful for that.”

She clickety-clacks her heels to the opposite side of the gym where she proceeds to direct and instruct the volunteers there.

I thought her sugary sweetness was going to annoy the hell out of me. That her niceness was going to drive me batty. That her overly cheerful demeanor would get old after three hours of hearing it infused in her southern twang, but to be honest, it hasn’t been all that bad so far.

But I’m reserving judgment.

With that said, I’m more than certain I’ll have reached the limits of my extroversion sooner rather than later.

I’m already trying to find a way to extricate myself when I’m done so that I don’t end up getting roped into going out for cocktails like they are all talking about.

An introvert can only handle so much people-ing.

I get back to work on finishing up stuffing the envelopes I’ve been tasked with completing. The letters will be mailed out to a set radius of the town’s addresses warning the property owners that fireworks will be going off on Founder’s Day so they can move their animals inside.

“So tell me about that dreamy neighbor of yours,” Alma—I think her name is Alma—says as she scoots into the chair beside me. Her personality matches her frame—large and unapologetic—as she winks with an expectant look on her face.

“Dreamy neighbor?” I ask nonchalantly when I damn well know she’s talking about the man I’ve thought about more times than I’d like to admit over the past forty-eight hours.

“Yes. Crew? Isn’t that his name? The nephew or something or other living out in old Ian Madden’s house by you?” She mock fans herself and sighs but continues on before I can even answer her questions. “That man is the definition of sexy. Dark hair. Dangerous looking tattoos. A nice ass. That smile that makes your lady bits take notice. No woman in this town is complaining about our new visitor, I’ll tell you that much.”

“I’m sure they aren’t,” I say, biting back a laugh.

“Nothing is better than a man who screams bad boy but is actually nice and polite,” Tanya says as she leans over her side of the table, obviously excited to contribute to our conversation. She waves a hand in indifference. “Best of both worlds if you ask me and Millie—you know Millie? The owner of Redemption Falls Annex? She said when he stopped in the other day that he was just that.”

“Is it true?” Alma asks. Two eager sets of eyes stare at me. I’m certain there are a few more pairs of ears straining to overhear this conversation as well.

“I’ve only met him once.” I can practically hear their hopes of learning some juicy tidbit deflating with that comment. “But I can confirm what Millie said. Crew is definitely genuine and kind. Or at least from what I’ve seen. Add to that, his girls clearly adore him as he does them.”

“What do you think happened to his wife? A widower, don’t you think? What woman would leave that man and those gorgeous girls of his behind?” Alma adds before looking at me for the answers that aren’t mine to give.

“Sometimes things just don’t work out—”

“Alma? Alma, honey? Can I get your help over here for a bit?” Bobbi Jo yells across the gym.

Alma huffs at the interruption but rises from her seat, clearly pleased at being called over for help.

“Saved by the bell,” Tanya says when Alma is out of hearing range. “I love that woman to pieces, but she’s known for questioning you to death, and then only taking the information she wants from it to help bolster the gossip she spreads.”

“Thanks for the warning,” I say with a smile.

“We all mean well, here. I promise.” She pats my arm as Bobbi Jo’s laughter carries over to us. “We’re all just a little overbearing—that comes from knowing each other since we were basically born—but I assure you that’s a good thing. Overbearing means we like you.”

“Well, it’s always nice to be liked,” I say and begin stuffing my envelopes again.

“It is indeed. So, New York, huh?”

“New York?” I ask.

“Rumor is that’s where you’re from?”

“Sure am. It’s been quite some time since I’ve been there, though.”

“Cold Spring?” she asks, and my smile falters slightly.

“Correct. We lived there a couple of years while growing up.”

“It’s a beautiful town. Perfectly located—rural but close enough to the city.”

“You know it then?” I ask of a town I’ve never lived in but that I know from research.

“Sure do. My sister and her boys live there. Been there more times than I can count. When were you there? Maybe you know her, or we crossed paths at some point. Wouldn’t that be something?”

“Army brat here.” I raise my hand and offer a warmer smile. “We moved around a lot, so much so that the years get all confused at some point.”

“Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it only gets worse as the years add on.” She pats my hand. “Take it from someone who knows. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go see if Jess needs help calling food vendors.” She reaches out, puts her arm around my shoulders, and gives me a quick and unexpected squeeze. “This is just so exciting.”