day?”
I debate on how much of my story to tell him. Would he be fascinated to know that just a short time ago I myself was a CFO? Of course, Dale’s company wasn’t nearly as big as Treyhune Automotive, but the responsibilities had to be close to being the same.
I never realized the pressure I was under to make a profit until I was no longer under the pressure. It had become a normal way of life.
“I don’t see it as hiding. I’m taking a different direction in life for a little while.”
“Shelby! Watch!”
Bristol kicks a pine cone to Darling, and they start playing like it’s a soccer ball. Bristol looks over her shoulder, I guess to make sure I’m watching. I wave at her and smile. “I’m glad you’re having fun.”
“So,” Jared continues. “You’re a lady of mystery.”
I look at him and raise my eyebrows. “Mystery?”
“You’re not real forthcoming with information.”
His hands are in his pockets, his smile is warm, and his face is beautiful. I wonder why his eyes tell a different story. Maybe they’re hanging out with his scent.
I’m not keen on relaying my past to anyone, much less these people I’ve just met. “There’s not much to know. I’m a simple girl.”
He laughs. “Nobody who looks like you is simple.”
I’m not sure why he’s trying to press information from me. Maybe he wants to have a topic of conversation. “How about I try my best to keep it simple.”
“Now that I can believe. We all would like things to be simple, but somehow they end up being so complicated and out of control that it becomes ridiculous.”
His tone takes on a wild edge, and I wonder what is driving his statement.
I try to look at him, but he’s intent on staring straight ahead. Bristol and Darling are still kicking that pine cone.
And their hair is still a mess.
Maybe when we get back I can tackle it with a brush.
“I do have a question for you.”
He now turns my way, his face calm, his gaze searching. “Yes?”
“Why is this town called Bear’s Cave?”
Shrugging his shoulders, he kicks a stick that is apparently in his way. A few strands of pine straw fly along with it. “Not sure. Maybe because there are bears here?”
His answer clearly says he has no clue. “No old town legends or anything, huh?”
“Not that I know of. Now Storm, when he’s awake and running on full steam, he might be able to tell you about any legends. Shoot, he is a legend.”
Jared’s tone is back to normal now. The wildness about him has diminished, leaving me more than curious about him.
But again, my heart can’t go where he is.
Not now.
It’s a good thing we’ve got two kids in tow.
WE ARRIVE BACK at the house to full-blown chaos.
Chaos that doesn’t seem to be bothering Storm, as he’s snoring loudly on the couch.
Vera, who apparently didn’t sleep long, is talking to another lady, who appears to be in her forties, maybe. She’s very attractive, thin, and stylishly dressed. And there are three children, ranging from what looks to be about ten to fifteen, ransacking the kitchen looking for who knows what.
Vera stands. “There you are. We were beginning to worry about you.”
Bristol and Darling spy the other kids and take off screaming into the kitchen. The two girls in the kitchen scream as well, and all the girls start hugging. The boy, who looks to be the oldest, stands off to the side, looking thoroughly annoyed.
He grabs a bag of chips off the counter, shoves his hand into the bag, then fills his mouth with a handful of chips.
“This is my youngest sister, Crystal,” Vera says. “Much younger. Almost twenty years between us. Crystal, this is Shelby, Bristol and Darling’s new nanny, and you know Jared, of course.”
“Good to see you again, Jared. So nice of you to come up here to be with Court. He needs good friends right now. Shelby, it’s nice to meet you. How long have you been the girls’ nanny?”
The question is getting old. How many nannies
I debate on how much of my story to tell him. Would he be fascinated to know that just a short time ago I myself was a CFO? Of course, Dale’s company wasn’t nearly as big as Treyhune Automotive, but the responsibilities had to be close to being the same.
I never realized the pressure I was under to make a profit until I was no longer under the pressure. It had become a normal way of life.
“I don’t see it as hiding. I’m taking a different direction in life for a little while.”
“Shelby! Watch!”
Bristol kicks a pine cone to Darling, and they start playing like it’s a soccer ball. Bristol looks over her shoulder, I guess to make sure I’m watching. I wave at her and smile. “I’m glad you’re having fun.”
“So,” Jared continues. “You’re a lady of mystery.”
I look at him and raise my eyebrows. “Mystery?”
“You’re not real forthcoming with information.”
His hands are in his pockets, his smile is warm, and his face is beautiful. I wonder why his eyes tell a different story. Maybe they’re hanging out with his scent.
I’m not keen on relaying my past to anyone, much less these people I’ve just met. “There’s not much to know. I’m a simple girl.”
He laughs. “Nobody who looks like you is simple.”
I’m not sure why he’s trying to press information from me. Maybe he wants to have a topic of conversation. “How about I try my best to keep it simple.”
“Now that I can believe. We all would like things to be simple, but somehow they end up being so complicated and out of control that it becomes ridiculous.”
His tone takes on a wild edge, and I wonder what is driving his statement.
I try to look at him, but he’s intent on staring straight ahead. Bristol and Darling are still kicking that pine cone.
And their hair is still a mess.
Maybe when we get back I can tackle it with a brush.
“I do have a question for you.”
He now turns my way, his face calm, his gaze searching. “Yes?”
“Why is this town called Bear’s Cave?”
Shrugging his shoulders, he kicks a stick that is apparently in his way. A few strands of pine straw fly along with it. “Not sure. Maybe because there are bears here?”
His answer clearly says he has no clue. “No old town legends or anything, huh?”
“Not that I know of. Now Storm, when he’s awake and running on full steam, he might be able to tell you about any legends. Shoot, he is a legend.”
Jared’s tone is back to normal now. The wildness about him has diminished, leaving me more than curious about him.
But again, my heart can’t go where he is.
Not now.
It’s a good thing we’ve got two kids in tow.
WE ARRIVE BACK at the house to full-blown chaos.
Chaos that doesn’t seem to be bothering Storm, as he’s snoring loudly on the couch.
Vera, who apparently didn’t sleep long, is talking to another lady, who appears to be in her forties, maybe. She’s very attractive, thin, and stylishly dressed. And there are three children, ranging from what looks to be about ten to fifteen, ransacking the kitchen looking for who knows what.
Vera stands. “There you are. We were beginning to worry about you.”
Bristol and Darling spy the other kids and take off screaming into the kitchen. The two girls in the kitchen scream as well, and all the girls start hugging. The boy, who looks to be the oldest, stands off to the side, looking thoroughly annoyed.
He grabs a bag of chips off the counter, shoves his hand into the bag, then fills his mouth with a handful of chips.
“This is my youngest sister, Crystal,” Vera says. “Much younger. Almost twenty years between us. Crystal, this is Shelby, Bristol and Darling’s new nanny, and you know Jared, of course.”
“Good to see you again, Jared. So nice of you to come up here to be with Court. He needs good friends right now. Shelby, it’s nice to meet you. How long have you been the girls’ nanny?”
The question is getting old. How many nannies
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