The Chocolate Garden (Dare River Book 2) by Ava Miles

Author:Ava Miles [Miles, Ava]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary Romance
Published: 2014-08-11T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

Tory had declared they needed a family meal, and even though everyone would likely only push the food around on their plates, preparing the fixings lent an air of normalcy to the overly quiet house. While Tory busily readied ingredients in the outdoor kitchen, John Parker helped Rye with the smoker situated at the far end of the patio.

The kids sat in the sandbox, and Annabelle had Barbie tucked against her side while Rory poured sand out of his shovel over and over like he was hypnotized. He’d asked again about visiting Bandit, but Rye had told him tomorrow before Tammy could answer. While Rye had immediately apologized, her hands had balled into fists at her sides.

John Parker’s frustration over her refusal to let him stay with her and the kids had returned. Why couldn’t she see they were only trying to help?

The woman he’d now kissed twice didn’t look like a woman in the new grip of attraction. She was seated on the sandbox’s timber frame, watching the kids and brushing away an occasional mosquito. Even though it was as hot as Hades outside, everyone was enduring it. They all wanted to help the kids feel safe and happy again in what had been their own slice of country heaven, as Rye called it.

Hampton and Amelia Ann were sitting in the shade in a pair of matching red-cushioned patio chairs. Her short, frayed jean skirt; sleeveless, form-fitting navy top; and red cowboy boots were a stark contrast to Tammy’s navy Capri pants, white shirt, and gold sandals. She’d changed since this morning, apparently not liking the clothes the police had picked out for her.

He’d seen pictures of both women before they’d broken free of their mama, and he knew how far they’d come in escaping her influence.

Especially Tammy.

She still wanted to go further, become more independent, and he wasn’t sure where that left him. A man helped the woman he loved, and she him. Would she mark her territory so starkly that there wouldn’t be any space for him?

Rye elbowed him in the side after loading the mesquite wood chips into the hopper. “You look about as grim as a possum with an upset stomach.”

“Don’t ever use those lyrics in a song,” he tried to joke, but it was difficult to muster any humor when there was a hard ball in his stomach. “Tammy doesn’t want me to stay at the house,” he finally admitted.

His friend swore softly and kicked the smoker. Bullet and Banjo raced over as if they’d been summoned, and he gave them a rough rubdown before they tore off to join Clayton, with whom they’d been playing tug-and-pull with a giant frayed rope. John Parker had brought the dogs back with him earlier at Rye’s request, and the plan was for them to stay. In his down time, Rye had been working on obedience signals with them intently. It was like his friend was preparing his prized dogs to play their own part in protecting the house while he was on tour.

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