pleasure. It’s kept Mom busy…which is a good thing. The idle hands of an energetic woman, particularly when it’s your mother, are dangerous,” he teased.
His mother brought the coffee pot to the table. “Lisa just arrived from New York. Seeing as how she’s new in town, perhaps we could all get together for dinner and get to know each other better.”
“I need to return to the office.” Eric stood and nodded to Lisa, attempting to ignore her full lips, and big bright eyes. She pushed from the table to stand as well and her coat fell open, revealing the longest legs he’d ever seen. The heels she wore only accentuated every inch of them. Straight chestnut colored hair completed the look, shining under the Halogen pot lights he’d installed last week. “It was a pleasure, but I’m afraid I have a client meeting tonight. Don’t let Mom work you too hard.”
His mother narrowed her eyes with that go-ahead-and-run-away-coward look she’d perfected. Of course, even he had to admit she was right, but it didn’t matter. The last thing he wanted was a woman in his life. Not after what happened with his last girlfriend.
“I’ll walk you out,” his mother offered.
He thought about dissuading her, but she wouldn’t listen anyway. With one last glance at the beauty standing in the middle of the kitchen, he bolted, with a promise to bury himself in work and stay away from Lisa Mortan.
“I told you she was beautiful,” his mother whispered.
“Cultured, long legs, smart, and don’t forget educated. Yes, I’ve heard it all. A few times. It doesn’t matter. I’m not interested,” Eric barked. He didn’t mean to be rude, but Judy Gaylord needed a firm hand or she’d take over quick.
“I’m just saying.” His mother shrugged in a careless gesture.
Eric halted at the front door, clutching the handle. “Don’t. I’m not ready. I’m not sure I’ll ever be ready.”
His mother’s small hand rested between his shoulder blades. “It’s been almost two years. It’s time to let her go.”
“No. I-I can’t.” He turned the knob.
“It wasn’t your fault. You need to stop blaming yourself.”
“Yes, it was. I ignored the woman I claimed to love, and when she needed me most, I wasn’t there.”
Judy stepped to his side. “You didn’t know about the baby.”
“That doesn’t matter. What matters is she’s dead. The baby’s dead. There’s nothing else to talk about.” Eric shoved the door open. “I have to go.” He fled from the shop into the icy downpour, away from his mother’s meddling, from Lisa Mortan and her long firm legs, and from the torture of haunting memories.
Chapter Three
Lisa lifted what felt like the fiftieth box of the day and placed it on the dining table. Rubbing her shoulders, she eyed the last three and sighed. Who knew opening a store would be so tough? Even after all the work Judy and her son had done before she arrived, there was still more staging and unpacking to last another few days.
Judy patted Lisa’s back on her way to the cash register, where she deposited a decorative vase half-full of glass beads. “Girl, you look tired. Sit, take a load off.”
“I’m fine.” When Judy gave her a skeptical look, she said, “Seriously. I know not everyone can be as fit as you, but I’m hanging in there.”
Judy waved the compliment away with her hand then took a handful of sunflower-topped pens from the drawer and arranged them in the vase. “Oh, shush. We both know you’re half my age, and twice the leg height. You ever a model?”
Lisa laughed. “Me? A model? I don’t even like having my picture taken.” She slid the box cutter across the strip of packing tape and yanked the top of the box open, the ripping and popping sounds echoing how she felt. Her world had been torn apart and here she was in a small town, trying to put the pieces back together.
She glanced at all the beautiful merchandise and realized her dream of having a life outside the
His mother brought the coffee pot to the table. “Lisa just arrived from New York. Seeing as how she’s new in town, perhaps we could all get together for dinner and get to know each other better.”
“I need to return to the office.” Eric stood and nodded to Lisa, attempting to ignore her full lips, and big bright eyes. She pushed from the table to stand as well and her coat fell open, revealing the longest legs he’d ever seen. The heels she wore only accentuated every inch of them. Straight chestnut colored hair completed the look, shining under the Halogen pot lights he’d installed last week. “It was a pleasure, but I’m afraid I have a client meeting tonight. Don’t let Mom work you too hard.”
His mother narrowed her eyes with that go-ahead-and-run-away-coward look she’d perfected. Of course, even he had to admit she was right, but it didn’t matter. The last thing he wanted was a woman in his life. Not after what happened with his last girlfriend.
“I’ll walk you out,” his mother offered.
He thought about dissuading her, but she wouldn’t listen anyway. With one last glance at the beauty standing in the middle of the kitchen, he bolted, with a promise to bury himself in work and stay away from Lisa Mortan.
“I told you she was beautiful,” his mother whispered.
“Cultured, long legs, smart, and don’t forget educated. Yes, I’ve heard it all. A few times. It doesn’t matter. I’m not interested,” Eric barked. He didn’t mean to be rude, but Judy Gaylord needed a firm hand or she’d take over quick.
“I’m just saying.” His mother shrugged in a careless gesture.
Eric halted at the front door, clutching the handle. “Don’t. I’m not ready. I’m not sure I’ll ever be ready.”
His mother’s small hand rested between his shoulder blades. “It’s been almost two years. It’s time to let her go.”
“No. I-I can’t.” He turned the knob.
“It wasn’t your fault. You need to stop blaming yourself.”
“Yes, it was. I ignored the woman I claimed to love, and when she needed me most, I wasn’t there.”
Judy stepped to his side. “You didn’t know about the baby.”
“That doesn’t matter. What matters is she’s dead. The baby’s dead. There’s nothing else to talk about.” Eric shoved the door open. “I have to go.” He fled from the shop into the icy downpour, away from his mother’s meddling, from Lisa Mortan and her long firm legs, and from the torture of haunting memories.
Chapter Three
Lisa lifted what felt like the fiftieth box of the day and placed it on the dining table. Rubbing her shoulders, she eyed the last three and sighed. Who knew opening a store would be so tough? Even after all the work Judy and her son had done before she arrived, there was still more staging and unpacking to last another few days.
Judy patted Lisa’s back on her way to the cash register, where she deposited a decorative vase half-full of glass beads. “Girl, you look tired. Sit, take a load off.”
“I’m fine.” When Judy gave her a skeptical look, she said, “Seriously. I know not everyone can be as fit as you, but I’m hanging in there.”
Judy waved the compliment away with her hand then took a handful of sunflower-topped pens from the drawer and arranged them in the vase. “Oh, shush. We both know you’re half my age, and twice the leg height. You ever a model?”
Lisa laughed. “Me? A model? I don’t even like having my picture taken.” She slid the box cutter across the strip of packing tape and yanked the top of the box open, the ripping and popping sounds echoing how she felt. Her world had been torn apart and here she was in a small town, trying to put the pieces back together.
She glanced at all the beautiful merchandise and realized her dream of having a life outside the
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