Read Online Lakeside Hero (Men Of Millbrook Lake Book 1) by Lenora Worth - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lenora Worth
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Family Life, Religious, Christian, Danger, Inspirational, Strangers, Daughter, Single Mother, Healing, Faith, marine, Veterans, scars, wounded, Return, Retired, Pastry Chef, Thrill- Seeking, Wounded Hearts
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Silently sending up a prayer of gratitude, she had to admit the highlight of this day had been the private tour Alec and his aunt had given Marla and her mother. Caldwell House was three thousand square feet of Victorian charm, with five bedrooms and four bathrooms, a large office and den, a sunroom that served as an extra dining room and a formal dining-room-and-living-room combination. Not to mention this kitchen and all the bay windows that brought in light on both floors. She’d love to curl up with a book and some hot tea near one of the windows. She’d found charming nooks that allowed the sunshine to pour in and also highlighted a good view of the lake.
“Thank you,” Alec said now. “And thanks for leaving me that huge plate of leftovers in the fridge.”
They were alone together in the kitchen. Miss Hattie had insisted on taking her mother out to the greenhouse to give her some cuttings from her prized angel-wing begonia.
His dog, Angus, brushed up against Marla’s leg and she leaned down to pat his thick golden fur. The dog had been allowed out of Alec’s office after all the other women had gone home.
Alec called Angus over and offered him a treat from a jar on a small counter by the back door. “I think my loyal companion has his eye on one of those cupcakes.”
Marla gave Angus a questioning glance. “He’s not allowed, but the least I could do is to leave you and Angus some treats, since you’ve been a walking advertisement for me since I gave you that piece of wedding cake.”
His gaze held hers, his smile comfortable and self-assured now. When he smiled like this, Marla hardly noticed the jagged scar along his cheekbone. “I know a good thing when I see it.”
Marla didn’t know what to do with her hands since she’d packed everything up and even loaded the van. She’d sent Brandy home early, but she intended to run by the shop to unload and wash up her pans and utensils—her way of unwinding after a day’s work. Gabby was with Marla’s dad, riding around on the golf cart—another step in her daughter learning to trust again—but her mom had promised to hurry home and round them up for a light dinner. Marla would meet them there.
“The luncheon was really nice,” she said, nerves clanking like spoons inside her stomach. “I know my mom misses her garden, so she’ll appreciate the cuttings Miss Hattie’s giving her.”
“Do they like the retirement village?” he asked, his eyes a rich amber in the late afternoon light.
She laughed. “They love it. I mean, we lived on a farm and our neighbors were miles away. I thought my dad would hate the close, tight-knit patio homes, but he’s in charge of the community garden and he’s on the homeowner’s association board. My mom is thriving, too. She’s in a quilting circle and she loves going on the shopping and beach excursions the ladies have each month. They go out to dinner and they often have big cookouts at the clubhouse. I think they’ve both taken up water aerobics in the pool, too.”
“I’m glad they’re happy, then.” He rubbed his scar then shook his head. “Maybe I should encourage Aunt Hattie to join in some of the events, if that’s possible.”
Marla glanced out the big window over the sink and saw her mother and Miss Hattie laughing as they strolled through the garden. “The activities director—Cindy—encourages bringing guests since she considers them prospects for residency one day.”
He grinned at that. “Aunt Hattie might surprise me and move out there. She’s threatened before.”
“Do you like having her here with you?”
“I do,” he said. Leaning into the marble counter, he stared out the window. “My mother never recovered from losing my father and, well, unlike her sister Hattie, she didn’t like group events. Aunt Hattie knew how to deal with my mother’s mood, so she was always around when I was growing up. It’s only natural that the two of us
Silently sending up a prayer of gratitude, she had to admit the highlight of this day had been the private tour Alec and his aunt had given Marla and her mother. Caldwell House was three thousand square feet of Victorian charm, with five bedrooms and four bathrooms, a large office and den, a sunroom that served as an extra dining room and a formal dining-room-and-living-room combination. Not to mention this kitchen and all the bay windows that brought in light on both floors. She’d love to curl up with a book and some hot tea near one of the windows. She’d found charming nooks that allowed the sunshine to pour in and also highlighted a good view of the lake.
“Thank you,” Alec said now. “And thanks for leaving me that huge plate of leftovers in the fridge.”
They were alone together in the kitchen. Miss Hattie had insisted on taking her mother out to the greenhouse to give her some cuttings from her prized angel-wing begonia.
His dog, Angus, brushed up against Marla’s leg and she leaned down to pat his thick golden fur. The dog had been allowed out of Alec’s office after all the other women had gone home.
Alec called Angus over and offered him a treat from a jar on a small counter by the back door. “I think my loyal companion has his eye on one of those cupcakes.”
Marla gave Angus a questioning glance. “He’s not allowed, but the least I could do is to leave you and Angus some treats, since you’ve been a walking advertisement for me since I gave you that piece of wedding cake.”
His gaze held hers, his smile comfortable and self-assured now. When he smiled like this, Marla hardly noticed the jagged scar along his cheekbone. “I know a good thing when I see it.”
Marla didn’t know what to do with her hands since she’d packed everything up and even loaded the van. She’d sent Brandy home early, but she intended to run by the shop to unload and wash up her pans and utensils—her way of unwinding after a day’s work. Gabby was with Marla’s dad, riding around on the golf cart—another step in her daughter learning to trust again—but her mom had promised to hurry home and round them up for a light dinner. Marla would meet them there.
“The luncheon was really nice,” she said, nerves clanking like spoons inside her stomach. “I know my mom misses her garden, so she’ll appreciate the cuttings Miss Hattie’s giving her.”
“Do they like the retirement village?” he asked, his eyes a rich amber in the late afternoon light.
She laughed. “They love it. I mean, we lived on a farm and our neighbors were miles away. I thought my dad would hate the close, tight-knit patio homes, but he’s in charge of the community garden and he’s on the homeowner’s association board. My mom is thriving, too. She’s in a quilting circle and she loves going on the shopping and beach excursions the ladies have each month. They go out to dinner and they often have big cookouts at the clubhouse. I think they’ve both taken up water aerobics in the pool, too.”
“I’m glad they’re happy, then.” He rubbed his scar then shook his head. “Maybe I should encourage Aunt Hattie to join in some of the events, if that’s possible.”
Marla glanced out the big window over the sink and saw her mother and Miss Hattie laughing as they strolled through the garden. “The activities director—Cindy—encourages bringing guests since she considers them prospects for residency one day.”
He grinned at that. “Aunt Hattie might surprise me and move out there. She’s threatened before.”
“Do you like having her here with you?”
“I do,” he said. Leaning into the marble counter, he stared out the window. “My mother never recovered from losing my father and, well, unlike her sister Hattie, she didn’t like group events. Aunt Hattie knew how to deal with my mother’s mood, so she was always around when I was growing up. It’s only natural that the two of us
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