Passion and Promises: A Dogwood Cove Novella Collection by Julia Jarrett

Author:Julia Jarrett [Jarrett, Julia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: library and archives of Canada
Published: 2023-10-17T18:30:00+00:00

Thank God the kids leave soon after Reid wound me up tighter than a spring. Layla gives me a hug before she climbs on the bus, and she doesn’t seem to realize her mother is a hot mess. When the bus pulls away, my shoulders sag.

“Alright missy, care to share what’s got you all flustered? I haven’t seen you like this since that summer I hired the Walters boy to help out.”

I drop my head with a groan. “I had forgotten about that.” Cameron Walter was two years older than me, and at fourteen, I was obsessed. Watching him lift heavy hay bales was my favourite pastime that summer.

“It’s the principal, isn’t it? That Reid Corser?” I sit down on the bench next to my uncle and nod. “He is a handsome fella, I’ll give you that, and obviously good with kids. But it might not be the best idea to start something up with him.”

“Trust me, I know. It’s all kinds of inappropriate,” I mumble.

“Now, I didn’t say that. You’re two consenting adults, and it was certainly obvious to me that the attraction goes both ways. I just meant that it might make things awkward for Layla.”

I let my head fall back against the wall behind us with a thud. “Trust me. Every decision I make, I think about Layla. This is no different. Nothing is going to happen between Reid and I. It can’t.”

But here’s the funny thing about words. They don’t mean much unless you put the actions behind them. And for the rest of the afternoon until it’s time for me to drive into town and pick Layla up from school, Reid is never far from my thoughts. I thought it was bad enough picturing him when I’m alone in bed at night with nothing but my trusty vibrator for company. That’s nothing compared to how awkward I feel while working alongside my uncle and training the seasonal employees hired to help with Christmas tree sales. I swear every time Uncle Steve walks past, he chuckles or shakes his head. When I catch a glimpse of myself in the bathroom mirror, I realize why. My face is flushed and my hair is a mess where I keep pulling at it and twisting it around my fingers. I try to quickly tame the wild waves back into a braid and splash some cold water on my face. It’s slightly better. But really, what are the chances I’ll even see him? I’ve been picking Layla up from school for weeks now, and I had no idea Reid even lived in Dogwood Cove.

Turns out the universe is against me today because when I pull up to the front of the school, who’s chatting with my daughter? Mr. Corser, the principal. Neither of them notice my head drop down to the steering wheel, but when I hit the horn by mistake they both look over. No big deal, just totally mortifying. It’s fine. I’m fine.

Reid strolls over, looking cool, calm, and collected.

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