Read Online She's Got a Way by Maggie McGinnis - Free Book Online Page B

Before her was a large, flat expanse that looked like a former garden. To her left, over a split-rail fence, the view of the lake was incredible.
    â€œWow.” She tried to wipe her forehead subtly. “It’s gorgeous up here.”
    â€œYup. Maybe this is the best view on the property.” He nodded, then turned toward the grassy area. “Ever had a garden?”
    â€œI tried doing herbs in a pot last year.” She shook her head. “It didn’t go well.”
    He laughed. “Well, we plant this every spring, and whatever we don’t eat goes to the food bank in town. We haven’t had time to get to it this year, but I was thinking maybe you and the girls could use a little project. I hate to think of good growing land going fallow.”
    â€œReally?” Gabi stared at the expanse of weeds and dirt. This looked like more than a little project.
    â€œReally.” He shrugged. “It’s a little late to plant, but we could still get some good stuff out of it. Girls could pick out the seeds, and I’d be happy to show you how to make it all work.”
    Gabi nodded slowly, picturing her four girls industriously hoeing and shoveling and exclaiming in delight as their little green sprouts appeared.
    She rolled her eyes internally. Because yes, that’s exactly how it would go.
    But still. It was a good idea.
    â€œYou know what? I think this is an excellent idea. Thank you, Oliver.”
    Oliver laughed quietly. “Now, don’t go getting all starry-eyed about it. Gardens are a serious project. There’s a lot to it, but I’ll teach you, if you think your girls could benefit from the work.”
    â€œOh, they could definitely benefit from the work. Thanks, Oliver. This is great.”
    He nodded, looking out over the lake. “Y’know, it might not be my place to say this, but if you’re willing, Luke’s been dealing with teenagers for a long time, and he’s been doing camp even longer. Boys, mostly, but the skills are pretty transferable. He might be able to help you, if you find yourself wishing you had some extra hands around here.”
    Gabi frowned. “Am I giving off some sort of desperation vibe today?”
    â€œNope.” He shrugged. “We’re just used to working as a team here at Echo. We help each other out. Seems you’re now part of the team, whether you intended it or not, so we’re here if you need us. We can’t all be experts at everything. There’s no shame in asking for help, is all I’m saying.”
    Gabi took a deep breath, her eyes catching on the sailboats. Oliver had no way of knowing her independent streak had already been six miles wide before she’d ditched her family, her home, and her trust fund ten years ago. Since then, she’d had exactly one person in her life that she could fully trust … one person she could rely on, no matter what the circumstance, and that was the only person she ever wanted help from.
    Herself.
    Yes, she watched rom-coms every weekend. Yes, she loved the whole knight-in-shining-armor shtick, just like the rest of Hollywood’s target audience. But she didn’t need one. She’d figure this out.
    Because if she didn’t, she had a feeling Luke was going to step in and figure it out for her.

 
    Chapter 7
    â€œLuke! Luke!” Trina screamed. “Help!”
    Luke ran toward the sound, his sneakers pounding down a hallway lined with gray metal lockers. Fluorescent lights buzzed above his head, and he started counting doors, trying to catch up to her.
    He rounded a corner, caught a glimpse of her as Randall paused long enough to tighten his grip. Then Randall sprinted, Trina flung over his shoulder, her blond head bouncing as she struggled to get loose.
    â€œHelp me, Luke! Don’t let him take me!”
    Luke ran faster, then felt the hallway lengthen before him. He turned right, turned left, turned right again, always