Lolly's Wish by M. Lee Prescott

Author:M. Lee Prescott [Prescott, M. Lee]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781733021791
Publisher: M. Lee Prescott

Lolly walked through the farmhouse’s backdoor and then out the east door that led down to the barns and stables. She wanted to crawl out of her skin, turn invisible, and disappear. Thoughts of Jack Faulkner moving to the village along with her happily remarried ex-husband were almost too much to bear. Lost in thought, she rounded the stables and ran smack into him.

“Oh!” she cried. “Perfect.”

He caught her, wrapping her in an embrace that prevented them both from tumbling to the ground. “Hey,” he said softly.

Sputtering, she grounded herself, savoring ten blissful seconds in his arms before pushing back. Her knees wobbled, and she realized she’d been holding her breath, which she let out with a whoosh. “Sorry…so sorry…was…I don’t know.”

He smiled, the gorgeous smile that only increased his magnetism. It felt to Lolly as if he still held her pressed against him, and she feared she might actually swoon. This is really too much! She struggled to collect herself.

“You were somewhere else,” he said finally. “Happens to the best of us.”

She brushed imaginary straw from her sweater, refusing to meet his gaze. “I thought you were on a tour.”

“Just finished. Richard’s in the barn talking with his trainer. Listen, Lolly, I’m glad we bumped into each other. I wanted to explain about last weekend.”

She raised her arms, pressing her palms facing him. “As I said, there’s no need to explain.”

“Well, I think there is. There was a woman, Marsha. We’re not together and haven’t been for many months, but her daughter fell ill, and the hospital called me. I had to pick up Poppy, that’s the daughter, and drop her at Marsha’s. That and a meeting with my boss kept me in the city, even though I’d much rather have been with you.”

“It’s fine, Jack. You really don’t owe me an explanation, but thank you.”

“Don’t ’spose you’d consent to dinner tomorrow?”

“Can’t. I’m busy.”

“Lunch?”

“Sorry, we’re swamped getting ready for Mystery Weekend, which I understand you’re attending.”

“Yes, we—” he started, just as their host stepped out of the barn.

“Hello, my dear,” Richard said, giving her a hug and kiss. “You okay? You look a bit flushed.”

“I’m fine, just taking a walk.”

“Would you like company?” Jack asked.

She linked arms with their host and turned toward the farmhouse. “No, thanks. Walk’s over. I’ll go back with you guys.”

As they headed up the path, the four children flew past them, followed by Marta, Ava and Dan’s nanny.

Lolly called, “Marta—do you need help?”

The dark-haired twenty-something laughed, waving. “No, we’re fine. Just coming to say hello to the horses. Then we’re under strict instructions to come back to have supper.”

Jack followed, a bemused expression on his face as they joined the others. Lucy was standing with her sister Harriet. Such a lovely woman, with intense green eyes. As he came alongside Richard and Lolly, his host noticed his gaze. “Have you met Harriet, Lucy’s sister? She’s a brilliant teacher at Hampton Meeting, a Quaker school north of here. She’s married to our village vet, Kyle Morgan.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.