Read Online Baby, Come Home by Stephanie Bond - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Stephanie Bond
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murmured.
“It doesn’t matter anyway. One of the reasons we split in the first place is because he wanted me to stay here in Sweetness, and I wanted to get away from this place. And on that matter, nothing has changed.”
Nikki’s jaw suddenly dropped. “Your connection to Sweetness—is that why the ad for single women was run in the Broadway newspaper?”
Amy chose her words carefully. “According to the website, Broadway was chosen because of its high unemployment rate and distance from Sweetness. The Armstrongs theorized that women who traveled a long distance and with friends would be more committed to stay.” She didn’t want to raise suspicion on why Marcus might have been keeping tabs on her and wanted to lure her home.
“They were right,” Nikki said, glancing around the bustling kitchen. “The women have become very close, even more so after their children arrived.”
“Did any fathers come?”
“A few of the women’s exes came and signed on to work on a crew. I know one couple that even got back together after the ex-husband relocated here to be close to his daughter.”
“That’s nice,” Amy murmured.
“There’ve been a few squabbles, but for the most part, everyone tries to get along.”
Porter walked up carrying more dishes. “We’ve got this,” Nikki said, shooing Amy away. “You must be exhausted—you should rest.”
“I am tired,” Amy admitted. Plus she felt like a third wheel and wanted to give the lovebirds some time alone. Besides, the emergency chocolate store in her suitcase was calling. “I think I will call it a night.”
Nikki gave her a hug. “I’m glad you’re here.”
Amy was far from glad, but she didn’t want to upset her friend. So she just smiled and said good-night. On the way to the stairs she bypassed the great room to avoid the scene of a happy community, voices raised in laughter. She was a visitor here, no more.
As she entered her darkened bedroom, her thoughts flickered to Kendall and Rachel, and what they must be doing at this moment in the blonde’s room. She wasn’t jealous, really. She was glad that Kendall was occupied with someone else, that he had no delusions about them picking up where they’d left off.
She opened the closet door, leaned over to reach into a side pocket of her suitcase and pulled out a dark chocolate candy bar. Amy tore off the wrapper, then crammed the entire bar into her mouth.
No delusions at all.
Kendall stood at the door of Rachel’s room, reluctant to step inside.
“Come on in,” she invited with a smile. “I have a bottle of wine open.”
Kendall took in the bottle of wine and the single glass sitting on the low table in front of the television. He imagined Rachel sitting on the couch watching romantic-comedy movies and drinking wine alone, and he felt contrite. He hadn’t considered that the woman was probably lonely. Rachel was the talk among the workers, but as much as they enjoyed looking at the striking blonde, they were all intimidated by her.
“No, thank you,” he said with true remorse because he didn’t want to hurt her feelings. “I’ve had enough to drink for tonight.”
“We could watch television,” she suggested.
“Maybe another time.”
Rachel sauntered up to him, then walked her fingers up the buttons of his shirt. “You don’t have to be in such a hurry to leave.”
He shifted and the door slipped out of his hand, closing with a thud and sealing them inside…alone. Kendall’s pulse jumped, more out of nervousness than desire. “Actually, I have a long day tomorrow.”
“Oh, come on, you have a few minutes,” she cajoled, stepping closer. “After all, I can’t keep you too late. Men have to be out of here in forty-five minutes. But that’s enough time to do something fun.”
She smelled so good. Kendall’s mind raced for a graceful way to extricate himself. “I…I really need to get going.” He closed his hand around hers to pull it away from his
“It doesn’t matter anyway. One of the reasons we split in the first place is because he wanted me to stay here in Sweetness, and I wanted to get away from this place. And on that matter, nothing has changed.”
Nikki’s jaw suddenly dropped. “Your connection to Sweetness—is that why the ad for single women was run in the Broadway newspaper?”
Amy chose her words carefully. “According to the website, Broadway was chosen because of its high unemployment rate and distance from Sweetness. The Armstrongs theorized that women who traveled a long distance and with friends would be more committed to stay.” She didn’t want to raise suspicion on why Marcus might have been keeping tabs on her and wanted to lure her home.
“They were right,” Nikki said, glancing around the bustling kitchen. “The women have become very close, even more so after their children arrived.”
“Did any fathers come?”
“A few of the women’s exes came and signed on to work on a crew. I know one couple that even got back together after the ex-husband relocated here to be close to his daughter.”
“That’s nice,” Amy murmured.
“There’ve been a few squabbles, but for the most part, everyone tries to get along.”
Porter walked up carrying more dishes. “We’ve got this,” Nikki said, shooing Amy away. “You must be exhausted—you should rest.”
“I am tired,” Amy admitted. Plus she felt like a third wheel and wanted to give the lovebirds some time alone. Besides, the emergency chocolate store in her suitcase was calling. “I think I will call it a night.”
Nikki gave her a hug. “I’m glad you’re here.”
Amy was far from glad, but she didn’t want to upset her friend. So she just smiled and said good-night. On the way to the stairs she bypassed the great room to avoid the scene of a happy community, voices raised in laughter. She was a visitor here, no more.
As she entered her darkened bedroom, her thoughts flickered to Kendall and Rachel, and what they must be doing at this moment in the blonde’s room. She wasn’t jealous, really. She was glad that Kendall was occupied with someone else, that he had no delusions about them picking up where they’d left off.
She opened the closet door, leaned over to reach into a side pocket of her suitcase and pulled out a dark chocolate candy bar. Amy tore off the wrapper, then crammed the entire bar into her mouth.
No delusions at all.
Kendall stood at the door of Rachel’s room, reluctant to step inside.
“Come on in,” she invited with a smile. “I have a bottle of wine open.”
Kendall took in the bottle of wine and the single glass sitting on the low table in front of the television. He imagined Rachel sitting on the couch watching romantic-comedy movies and drinking wine alone, and he felt contrite. He hadn’t considered that the woman was probably lonely. Rachel was the talk among the workers, but as much as they enjoyed looking at the striking blonde, they were all intimidated by her.
“No, thank you,” he said with true remorse because he didn’t want to hurt her feelings. “I’ve had enough to drink for tonight.”
“We could watch television,” she suggested.
“Maybe another time.”
Rachel sauntered up to him, then walked her fingers up the buttons of his shirt. “You don’t have to be in such a hurry to leave.”
He shifted and the door slipped out of his hand, closing with a thud and sealing them inside…alone. Kendall’s pulse jumped, more out of nervousness than desire. “Actually, I have a long day tomorrow.”
“Oh, come on, you have a few minutes,” she cajoled, stepping closer. “After all, I can’t keep you too late. Men have to be out of here in forty-five minutes. But that’s enough time to do something fun.”
She smelled so good. Kendall’s mind raced for a graceful way to extricate himself. “I…I really need to get going.” He closed his hand around hers to pull it away from his
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