Read Online Sugar Springs by Kim Law - Free Book Online Page A

how did she explain that to her children?
    A steady stream of customers arrived before she could form a reply, so she remained seated, content to let Candy and Kendra do the work.
    Lee Ann snuck a glance at Cody and found he was now on the opposite side of the floor, leaning down to speak in Holly Marshall’s ear. They were turned away from her, so she couldn’t miss his hand pressed possessively against the lower section of Holly’s back. Lee Ann’s stomach clenched. He still had the ability to attract every woman in sight. The fact shouldn’t bother her at all, as her only concern pertaining to him was to figure out if he was the right kind of person to be in her children’s lives, but she found herself filled with another emotion she was honest enough to admit. Jealousy. And she hated herself for it.
    Holly was fun and outgoing, the exact opposite of Lee Ann, and always upbeat, refusing to let anyone or anything bring her down. She was also the center of attention wherever she went.
    Lee Ann was a boring, in-bed-by-nine mother-of-two.
    It only made sense that Cody would be impressed. Still, his speed shocked her. First, he’d gotten to know Larissa well enough for her to save him one of her award-winning cakes, and now he was being even more friendly with Holly. How did the man move so fast?
    Holly leaned back and peeked behind Cody to surreptitiously check out Tucker Brown, the sixth-grade math teacher. The smile fell from her face when Tucker laughed with the good-looking fourth-grade teacher who’d moved to town four months earlier. That was when Lee Ann remembered Holly had been after Tucker’s attention for some time now. She was playing Cody. The thought brought a smile to Lee Ann’s heart. Not that Cody deserved to be played. Well, maybe just a little. But it meant Holly and Cody weren’t really involved.
    Pulling her attention back to the table in front of her, she realized that as the girls collected money and made change, most of the buyers eyed her.
    She’d just spent several minutes chatting with an old flame, and now she’d been caught staring at him across the room. No doubt they were all already wondering if a reconciliation was in the works. At least they didn’t know that the kids were his. The rumor mill would be on full blast if that were the case.
    When the last of the customers cleared, Kendra pivoted to Lee Ann. “We promised Grandma we’d come back and help her pick out what else we need.” As if they needed anything else. She turned to go but looked back over her shoulder. “But Candy’s right. Everyone deserves a second chance. You’ve always taught us that.”
    As they hurried away, Lee Ann rubbed both temples with one hand spread wide over her forehead but couldn’t containa slight smile. No matter the circumstances that made her a mother, she loved her girls and couldn’t imagine life without them. Even when they said things that drove her crazy.
    She rose from the chair and straightened the items on the table, then once again found herself seeking out Cody. He and Holly stood near the door, but his eyes were locked on her. He glanced again at Candy and Kendra, then with one last pointed look in her direction, left the building, Holly following close behind.
    Great. His parting shot had been more like a glare, and it caused anxiety to settle in for a stay. Probably a very long one. She didn’t understand exactly what had happened there today but didn’t doubt him for a second when he said he intended to seek her out. Likely sooner rather than later.
    She already dreaded her Monday-morning shift.

“I skipped out early on breakfast again this morning. To avoid Cody.” Lee Ann dipped her bare feet into the swirling warm water of the footbath, dropped her head against the back of the vibrating massage chair and let out a low moan. “The Marshalls are going to fire me if I keep doing that.”
    Joanie Bigbee, Lee Ann’s best friend since elementary school, plopped into the