Stay with Me by Jules Bennett

Author:Jules Bennett [Bennett, Jules]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2018-01-30T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

With the kitchen and living room painted, the bathrooms up next, Olivia was pleased with the progress they’d made in just a few short days. She had stopped to get flooring samples this morning, so with those taking up the trunk of her car, she focused on another project. The birthday party.

She guided her car toward Jackson’s house. He’d explained that he lived in the subdivision behind the school at the end of the cul-de-sac. As she turned onto his road, she glanced to her red sundress and wondered if she’d gotten too dressed up. She’d only brought a limited supply of clothes because she hadn’t planned on staying too long, so she’d had to go buy something for this toddler spa party.

What grown adult went and bought a dress for a child’s birthday party? Olivia didn’t know any of the people who were going to be there.

Dread curled in her belly as she realized that she most likely would know people. As Jackson’s two-story house came into view, Olivia had to fight back a panic attack. Haven wasn’t a large town by any means, so most likely there would be people there she went to school with. What had she gotten herself into?

She wasn’t an extrovert—she lived in her office in Atlanta and cranked out killer marketing deals for companies. Her interaction with others tended to be via e-mail or social events with associates. What did she know about children?

“You can do this,” she whispered to herself as she pulled into the drive.

She wasn’t sure what she expected out of his home, but the porch swing and the bright flowers along the sidewalk were a pleasant surprise. His home nestled back against the woods, almost giving it a feel of being all alone and away from neighbors. Old mossy oak trees surrounded his property and for a moment, Olivia envied the quiet, peaceful setting. She didn’t have plants or trees or flowers at her condo. She certainly didn’t have a porch or a swing. She did have a killer view of the city, though. That was something . . . wasn’t it?

Olivia pulled in a deep breath. She’d clearly been in this town too long if she was growing envious of her surroundings. She needed to remain focused on getting some concrete decisions made and getting out of Haven.

As she stepped out of her car, Piper ran onto the porch. “You’re really here,” she squealed. “I didn’t know if you’d actually come.”

The way Piper ran off the porch and raced down the drive had Olivia smiling and bracing herself. Tiny arms flew around Olivia’s waist as doe-like brown eyes stared up at her.

“You’re going to be the prettiest one there,” she said. “I don’t own a dress, but I wore my favorite new sandals.”

Didn’t own a dress? Because she didn’t like them or Jackson just didn’t buy them? She never thought too much about the dynamics of a single father raising a little girl. Were there things she wanted and missed out on simply because he never thought of such things?

“Of course I came.

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