Read Online Taken With You by Shannon Stacey - Free Book Online

she didn’t even like.
    She ended up at the Trailside Diner simply because driving around Whitford was boring and not worth burning the gas. Tori wouldn’t be working, but Liz would be and Hailey had enjoyed getting to know her better. Liz Kowalski had moved to New Mexico with a guy after high school, but she’d moved back alone almost a year before. Now she was Liz Kowalski Miller, married to the chief of police, and the entire town was on pins and needles, waiting for baby news.
    Hailey took a spot at the counter because it was easier to chat there, and nodded when Liz held up the coffeepot. Liz had the Kowalskis’ dark hair—hers long and pulled into a ponytail—and blue eyes, and she was wearing the new Trailside Diner tees that had the Northern Star ATV Club logo on the back.
    “I hear the safety certification class at the library went well,” Liz said, setting a mug of coffee in front of Hailey.
    “In other words, you want to hear about the hot game warden.”
    “Of course.”
    “At this very second, he’s moving in to the house next to mine.”
    Liz’s jaw dropped. “You’re not serious.”
    “Totally serious.” She added cream and sugar to her coffee, debating on whether or not to have a second breakfast. Although, it wasn’t like a microwaveable breakfast sandwich really counted as a first breakfast. More of a pre-breakfast snack. And it was heading toward lunch, so brunch would work.
    “That’s really weird.”
    Hailey looked up at her. “I accused him of stalking me.”
    “That’s more weird.”
    “He makes me crazy and I don’t know why.” There was just something about the man that set her on edge.
    Liz grinned. “We know what that means.”
    “I should have driven the hour to McDonald’s.” She glanced at the specials board, then wrinkled her nose. “I just want a side of fries, I think.”
    “Awesome breakfast.”
    “Brunch. And I’m not really that hungry.”
    “Of course not. You’re only here to hide from your hunky neighbor.”
    Before Hailey could come up with a response, Liz walked away to give her order to the kitchen and check on her other customers. Hailey drank her coffee and fumed. She wasn’t hiding.
    It was only a few minutes before Liz brought her fries and Hailey drenched them in vinegar and salt before popping one in her mouth.
    “Tori says you two have great chemistry,” Liz said.
    Hailey almost choked on the fry. “What? The only time Tori’s seen us speak to each other was in the woods and I wasn’t exactly at my best.”
    “Neither of you are in the woods now, so you’re not limping around with raccoon eyes and he doesn’t look like something out of a horror flick, so what’s stopping you from having a good time?”
    “I gather no detail was spared in that story.” Hailey dabbed a fry in pooled vinegar. “And I’m not looking for a good time. I’m looking for forever. A husband, you know?”
    “You have to give a guy a chance before you know if he’s husband material.”
    “But if I already know he’s not, what’s the point?”
    Liz frowned. “You know he’s not husband material because he doesn’t shave when he’s on vacation?”
    “No. I know he and I aren’t compatible in the long term because he’s the rugged outdoors type. I’m...not.”
    “Yeah, well Drew didn’t think I was wife material and look where we ended up.”
    Hailey smiled when Liz made a big production of showing off her wedding ring while refilling her coffee. “I heard you’re pregnant with septuplets.”
    Liz snorted as she set the carafe back on the burner. “That’s what I get for eating too much of Rosie’s pie and stopping at the general store on the way home. I was so full, I rested my hand on my stomach for a split second. Did you see the picture on Facebook?”
    “Of course I did. Fran’s turning into a one-woman, Whitford version of TMZ.”
    “I thought Paige having Sarah would take some of the pressure off, but it’s gotten so bad, I’m