Sweet Caroline by Becky Lower

Author:Becky Lower [Lower, Becky]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, sweet, basketball, small town
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2017-10-17T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Caroline took an extra measure of care with her outfit and makeup the Monday after her dinner with Grant. Her day would be full with a morning stint at the shop before she spent a couple hours at school in the afternoon. The thought of seeing Grant again after their delicious kiss Saturday night made her tingly, jumpy, and happy. She should keep him at arm’s length to preserve her sanity, but after hearing about his experiences growing up in Lobster Cove, he had stolen a little piece of her heart.

She supposed this town had been no different from any other in the country during the late 90s, and he would have had a hard time in school regardless of where he’d grown up. Bullying was an unfortunate fact of life to some kids in every school. Grant had been no exception, at least until he’d grown into the tall, strapping man he’d become. Her heart softened when he explained how he’d been looking out for her, too. She’d never even considered that some in their group would take offense by anyone befriending him. Even a Cleveland girl could be ignorant of the facts of life.

Caroline appreciated the knowledge that Tony Dillard now spent his days behind bars so she wouldn’t encounter him on the sidewalks of Lobster Cove. If she’d run into him now, with the knowledge of his involvement in the worst night of her life, she’d be tempted to use her martial arts training. The thought of delivering a swift roundhouse kick to Tony’s midsection made her smile as she entered through the back door of the shop.

“Good morning, Caroline.” Penny rose from her desk to give her a brief hug. “Nice to see the smile on your face again.”

“I see you’re already hard at work.” Caroline canted her head to the computer screen and toward the pile of new merchandise in the cart beside Penny.

“Inventory waits for no woman. I’m only grateful the cards and the other merchandise from the Baxter Company are already encoded into this program, and all I have to do by hand is the other stuff Abbey and I decide to carry.” Penny resumed her seat but cast a glance Caroline’s way. “So, how did Saturday night go?”

Caroline tied the strings of her apron before she answered. “Is the entire town already aware Grant and I had dinner together over the weekend?”

Penny grinned and cackled. “Just about.”

Grimacing at the thought of other people knowing her business, Caroline hesitated, her heart racing. “I’m scheduled to work at the school this afternoon.”

“Be prepared for an onslaught of questions,” Penny laughed.

Caroline picked up on the underlying note of caution and her racing heart galloped.

“Evidently a majority of the teenage girls and some of the teachers at school have been mooning over Grant all year. They’ll be eager for the scoop on how you turned his head so quickly.”

“Turning his head has been years in the making,” Caroline smoothed the apron over her jumping stomach. “And we’re just friends.

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