Read Online Man of the Month (Willowdale Romance Novel) by Lisa Scott - Free Book Online
Authors: Lisa Scott
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responsibility, Aunt Betty’s solution was to be as strict as possible. Dinner was at six o’clock sharp, and if you were a minute late, you didn’t get dinner. Chores took all of Saturday morning. Wasn’t a lot of talking or laughing in their house growing up. Jeanne’s only joy had been cooking fancy dinners and desserts, hoping to bring a little happiness to their strange family.
She’d been shocked to find out Brad had coped with his dysfunctional family the same way. She always thought that was part of the reason they had such an immediate connection when they started working together. Emotions fueled their cooking.
Maybe her sad childhood did make Jeanne more desperate for a family than most single women facing down thirty, but Becca was mistaken. She wasn’t afraid of that. She was afraid she wasn’t going to have it. “You’re wrong.”
Becca closed her eyes, probably trying to summon the patience needed when talking with her about Brad. “Just think about it. It seems like you’re trying to fix the past with the totally wrong guy.”
Jeanne tilted her head. “He’s the perfect man for me.”
Becca frowned. “How can he be your perfect man when he doesn’t want children? Shouldn’t that take him out of the running?”
Jeanne wrapped her arms around herself and tucked her feet underneath her on the couch. “When you know, you just know. Like with you and Rick.”
Becca laughed. “I don’t really know he’s the right one, but he’s the father of my child, I do love him, and we’ll see what the future brings.”
Jeanne was stunned. “You don’t know if you want to marry him?”
“I’m not going to marry him just because we have a baby. Not if we’re not really in love. This wasn’t exactly what I planned, but I’m not going to screw up three lives by getting married if it’s not the right thing to do.”
Jeanne closed her eyes and tried not to cry again. Becca had the man and the baby, but wasn’t sure she wanted them. Jeanne knew she wanted that with her entire being and, of course, she didn’t have it—and probably would never get it. It was like a recipe she wanted to cook without having the right ingredients.
Jeanne tried to lighten the mood with a chuckle. “This is ridiculous, my little sister counseling me. Isn’t it usually the other way around?” She wondered if their mother would’ve been able to help her sort this out. She sniffed.
Becca set down the bottle and wiped a dribble of milk from the baby’s chin. “No luck with the blind dates he’s been setting you up with?”
Jeanne shook her head.
“Doesn’t that right there make you stop and wonder why he’d do that if he wanted to be with you? Would he really set up a woman he loved with a bunch of different guys?”
Jeanne chewed on her lip. Maybe Becca had a point. She sometimes wondered if he had feelings for her, hidden underneath, like she had for him. Like the night before. She shivered, remembering how it felt to be in his arms, so close to kissing. But maybe she was mistaken about any passion on his part because he sure seemed like just a friend most times. He’d been the one to pull away when they were caught up in each other’s arms after that food fight. And Becca was right. If he ever had wanted more from her, this was a real clue he was doing his best to move on.
Becca interrupted her inner pity party. “You’ve got to get over this. Give Mr. March a chance.”
Jeanne nodded and tried to convince herself she could picture her happily-ever-after without Brad. But she just couldn’t conjure up any scenario without him. It was like trying to bake cookies without baking soda. They had no chance of rising.
Chapter 7
BRAD WENT over the proposal for the residential center party one more time. It was a great gig, but the upfront costs were huge. The down payment would cover it, but it wouldn’t help cover their other bills. Their standing orders at the local diners and his lunch rush
She’d been shocked to find out Brad had coped with his dysfunctional family the same way. She always thought that was part of the reason they had such an immediate connection when they started working together. Emotions fueled their cooking.
Maybe her sad childhood did make Jeanne more desperate for a family than most single women facing down thirty, but Becca was mistaken. She wasn’t afraid of that. She was afraid she wasn’t going to have it. “You’re wrong.”
Becca closed her eyes, probably trying to summon the patience needed when talking with her about Brad. “Just think about it. It seems like you’re trying to fix the past with the totally wrong guy.”
Jeanne tilted her head. “He’s the perfect man for me.”
Becca frowned. “How can he be your perfect man when he doesn’t want children? Shouldn’t that take him out of the running?”
Jeanne wrapped her arms around herself and tucked her feet underneath her on the couch. “When you know, you just know. Like with you and Rick.”
Becca laughed. “I don’t really know he’s the right one, but he’s the father of my child, I do love him, and we’ll see what the future brings.”
Jeanne was stunned. “You don’t know if you want to marry him?”
“I’m not going to marry him just because we have a baby. Not if we’re not really in love. This wasn’t exactly what I planned, but I’m not going to screw up three lives by getting married if it’s not the right thing to do.”
Jeanne closed her eyes and tried not to cry again. Becca had the man and the baby, but wasn’t sure she wanted them. Jeanne knew she wanted that with her entire being and, of course, she didn’t have it—and probably would never get it. It was like a recipe she wanted to cook without having the right ingredients.
Jeanne tried to lighten the mood with a chuckle. “This is ridiculous, my little sister counseling me. Isn’t it usually the other way around?” She wondered if their mother would’ve been able to help her sort this out. She sniffed.
Becca set down the bottle and wiped a dribble of milk from the baby’s chin. “No luck with the blind dates he’s been setting you up with?”
Jeanne shook her head.
“Doesn’t that right there make you stop and wonder why he’d do that if he wanted to be with you? Would he really set up a woman he loved with a bunch of different guys?”
Jeanne chewed on her lip. Maybe Becca had a point. She sometimes wondered if he had feelings for her, hidden underneath, like she had for him. Like the night before. She shivered, remembering how it felt to be in his arms, so close to kissing. But maybe she was mistaken about any passion on his part because he sure seemed like just a friend most times. He’d been the one to pull away when they were caught up in each other’s arms after that food fight. And Becca was right. If he ever had wanted more from her, this was a real clue he was doing his best to move on.
Becca interrupted her inner pity party. “You’ve got to get over this. Give Mr. March a chance.”
Jeanne nodded and tried to convince herself she could picture her happily-ever-after without Brad. But she just couldn’t conjure up any scenario without him. It was like trying to bake cookies without baking soda. They had no chance of rising.
Chapter 7
BRAD WENT over the proposal for the residential center party one more time. It was a great gig, but the upfront costs were huge. The down payment would cover it, but it wouldn’t help cover their other bills. Their standing orders at the local diners and his lunch rush
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