In annoying, intimate details.
“Oh please. I love my husband, but that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate a little eye
candy every now and then. I was just calling to let you know the family likes him and
approves of him.”
“Well, I don’t give a shit if they approve of him.” And she didn’t. She liked him and
that was all that mattered. Of course she wanted her family to take to him, but it wasn’t
a prerequisite or anything. She made her own decisions and she wanted Scott in her life.
Or more like needed him. She’d gotten so used to seeing him every day it was a little
scary.
“Don’t get your panties in a twist, Michaela.”
She sighed and sank onto one of her kitchen chairs. “I’m sorry, it’s not that. I…” She
wasn’t sure how to word her feelings without sounding pathetic. While she was excited
about her new relationship with Scott, she also didn’t want to jinx it by thinking about
the future too much. For all she knew, he was commitment phobic. Though she sort of
doubted it considering how much time they’d spent together. Still, she didn’t want to
mess up the first good relationship she’d had in years because he got the idea she was
marriage crazed. “Just tell everyone to keep their mouths shut about him and me and
cut out that ‘uncle’ stuff. I don’t know how serious it is, okay?”
Scott stood frozen in place as he listened to Michaela’s conversation. He hadn’t
meant to eavesdrop but when she’d said they weren’t serious, his feet had turned to
lead weights. He’d thought…well, whatever it was, he’d been wrong.
An icy fist clamped around his heart. When he heard her say goodbye, he
backtracked down the hall. Instead of heading for the living room, he grabbed his coat
from the coat rack.
“What are you doing?” Michaela asked as she walked down the hall. A frown
marred her face.
53
Savannah Stuart
“I got a call from Daniel. Emergency down at the shop.” If he went home, she’d
know he was lying. It was a total chickenshit thing to do but he needed some distance.
“On a Saturday night?” There was a trace of disbelief in her voice.
“I’m sorry. I’ll call you.”
She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and eyed him warily. “Okay.”
Before he could change his mind, he left. He didn’t make a move to kiss or touch
her because he knew if he did, he’d want to stay. And that would only be more painful.
The front door shut behind him with a quiet click.
As he drove into town, he didn’t bother with the radio. Maybe he should have
stayed and talked to her, but he wasn’t sure what to say. He’d planned to tell her
tonight that he wasn’t planning to sleep with or see anyone else and he wanted to make
sure she was on the same page. They hadn’t actually discussed a future, but he’d never
felt about anyone the way he did about her.
And she didn’t think it was serious. We’re not serious… I don’t give a shit if they
approve of him. Her words echoed around in his head like a broken recording.
“Fuck!” He slammed his hand against his steering wheel. He was a fucking pussy.
What they’d shared over the past week was serious. There was no doubt in his head. He
knew she felt the same way. He was just letting his old bullshit and insecurities get in
the way.
When he pulled into the parking lot of his shop, he immediately kicked his car into
reverse. He’d run out on her like an asshole and she deserved an explanation. As he
started to leave, he noticed a light bouncing around through one of the windows of the
main storefront. “What the…” It was from a flashlight. The realization hit him like a
punch to the stomach. Someone was in his garage.
He immediately turned his car and the headlights off. For a brief moment he
thought about calling the police but quickly brushed it aside. He doubted Sheriff Hill
would do much to help him. And hadn’t he mentioned a break-in at his
“Oh please. I love my husband, but that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate a little eye
candy every now and then. I was just calling to let you know the family likes him and
approves of him.”
“Well, I don’t give a shit if they approve of him.” And she didn’t. She liked him and
that was all that mattered. Of course she wanted her family to take to him, but it wasn’t
a prerequisite or anything. She made her own decisions and she wanted Scott in her life.
Or more like needed him. She’d gotten so used to seeing him every day it was a little
scary.
“Don’t get your panties in a twist, Michaela.”
She sighed and sank onto one of her kitchen chairs. “I’m sorry, it’s not that. I…” She
wasn’t sure how to word her feelings without sounding pathetic. While she was excited
about her new relationship with Scott, she also didn’t want to jinx it by thinking about
the future too much. For all she knew, he was commitment phobic. Though she sort of
doubted it considering how much time they’d spent together. Still, she didn’t want to
mess up the first good relationship she’d had in years because he got the idea she was
marriage crazed. “Just tell everyone to keep their mouths shut about him and me and
cut out that ‘uncle’ stuff. I don’t know how serious it is, okay?”
Scott stood frozen in place as he listened to Michaela’s conversation. He hadn’t
meant to eavesdrop but when she’d said they weren’t serious, his feet had turned to
lead weights. He’d thought…well, whatever it was, he’d been wrong.
An icy fist clamped around his heart. When he heard her say goodbye, he
backtracked down the hall. Instead of heading for the living room, he grabbed his coat
from the coat rack.
“What are you doing?” Michaela asked as she walked down the hall. A frown
marred her face.
53
Savannah Stuart
“I got a call from Daniel. Emergency down at the shop.” If he went home, she’d
know he was lying. It was a total chickenshit thing to do but he needed some distance.
“On a Saturday night?” There was a trace of disbelief in her voice.
“I’m sorry. I’ll call you.”
She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and eyed him warily. “Okay.”
Before he could change his mind, he left. He didn’t make a move to kiss or touch
her because he knew if he did, he’d want to stay. And that would only be more painful.
The front door shut behind him with a quiet click.
As he drove into town, he didn’t bother with the radio. Maybe he should have
stayed and talked to her, but he wasn’t sure what to say. He’d planned to tell her
tonight that he wasn’t planning to sleep with or see anyone else and he wanted to make
sure she was on the same page. They hadn’t actually discussed a future, but he’d never
felt about anyone the way he did about her.
And she didn’t think it was serious. We’re not serious… I don’t give a shit if they
approve of him. Her words echoed around in his head like a broken recording.
“Fuck!” He slammed his hand against his steering wheel. He was a fucking pussy.
What they’d shared over the past week was serious. There was no doubt in his head. He
knew she felt the same way. He was just letting his old bullshit and insecurities get in
the way.
When he pulled into the parking lot of his shop, he immediately kicked his car into
reverse. He’d run out on her like an asshole and she deserved an explanation. As he
started to leave, he noticed a light bouncing around through one of the windows of the
main storefront. “What the…” It was from a flashlight. The realization hit him like a
punch to the stomach. Someone was in his garage.
He immediately turned his car and the headlights off. For a brief moment he
thought about calling the police but quickly brushed it aside. He doubted Sheriff Hill
would do much to help him. And hadn’t he mentioned a break-in at his
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