The Forever Farmhouse--A Small Town Romance by Lee Tobin McClain

Author:Lee Tobin McClain
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HQN Books
Published: 2022-07-18T19:44:12+00:00

* * *

RYAN WANTED NOTHING more than to pull Mellie into his arms.

And not because she looked so pretty, even in that glow-in-the-dark sweater, although she did. Not because she smelled like summer flowers and fit so perfectly against his shoulders, although she did. Not because her closeness brought back the beauty of their kiss, although it did.

But because he couldn’t stand to see her hurting, to hear the pain in her voice. “What happened?”

She lifted her head and looked at him, eyes shiny with unshed tears. “He flipped me off!”

“What?” Ryan had enough distance on the situation to think that was a little bit funny, but he also felt bad that Alfie had disrespected Mellie.

“He’s my baby,” she said, and a tear rolled down her cheek, undoing him. “He’s never done anything like that before.”

His heart ached for her. And he reached out and brushed back her hair, thumbed away the tear. “Hey. I’m sure he didn’t mean it. It’s obvious how close you are and how much he loves you.”

She met his eyes, nodding, and again he wanted to hold her.

Some remnant of his logical brain reminded him that getting too close would only hurt her in the end. The kinder thing was to avoid involvement.

He needed to help Mellie with Alfie and then disengage. Immediately.

She was only leaning on him because she felt hurt, anyway.

“I’ll talk to him,” he said.

“No, I should.” She wiped her eyes on the sleeve of her sweater. “But...come with me?”

“Of course.” He left his arm around her for a minute, letting a temporary fantasy build in his mind. That he lived here, with her and Alfie. That they were married. That they were walking down to the bay to have a word with their son, together.

But that was not ever going to happen. She’d said as much when she’d pulled away from him after their kiss, and she had been right. Maybe Ryan wasn’t the complete loser at relationships that he’d always thought he was, but he was no prize.

Deliberately, he let go of her as they walked toward the bay, slate gray and choppy today, the sky hanging low with threatening clouds.

Alfie was kneeling, poking a stick in the water, not looking at either of them. But Ryan had seen the kid’s quick glance back. He knew they were there.

“Alfie.” Mellie’s voice was stern, with no trace of tears. “You need to apologize for that gesture you made to me.”

He poked at the sand a couple more times. “I’m sorry,” he said, his voice barely audible.

Ryan watched Mellie, and it was like he could read her mind. She was trying to decide whether a weak apology was acceptable, or whether to push Alfie to a more sincere one.

Finally, she nodded. “Okay. Now, let’s talk about this school situation.”

Alfie looked at Ryan and his face reddened.

“He knows about it. What made you run out here, just now, when we were talking about it?”

Alfie’s lower lip stuck out. “Junior’s my friend.”

“I get that. But we were talking about—”

“I need him at school!” Alfie’s words burst out.

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