Read Online Ten Acres and Twins by Kaitlyn Rice - Free Book Online Page B

thoughts.
    Jack’s car wasn’t in the drive, but when she opened the garage door, she found it parked inside. He’d already made himself at home. She squeezed her full-size truck in next to his sleek little car and came in through the back.
    When she walked into the kitchen, she stopped just inside the doorway and stared. Smack-dab in the middle of the room sat two high chairs, with a lopsided bow tied around each.
    She went over to examine them. They were beautiful, state-of-the-art high chairs. Exactly what she would have chosen, if she could have afforded them.
    Jack came in from the hallway with a huge smile on his face. “I thought I heard your truck,” he said. “What do you think?”
    â€œThey’re incredible! Where did they come from?”
    â€œBelieve it or not, I had free time this weekend,” he said. “I went shopping. If they won’t work, we can return them and you can choose something else.”
    His thoughtful surprise had foiled the impression she was hoping to give. Now she just felt gratitude. She shook her head, straightening the blue satin bow on one of the chairs. “They’re great,” she said. “And there are two.”
    â€œGuess that’s one benefit to these monstrous old houses. This kitchen is huge. I figured we had room.”
    â€œYes, we do,” Abby said, swallowing hard to moisten the dryness in her throat. “Um. Well. Thank you.”
    Repressing the inclination to give him a peck on the cheek, she stood stiffly in front of him. Awkward and embarrassed, she pushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear and started fiddling with the pink bow, adjusting it so it was round and even.
    And cursed herself for wondering what he was thinking as his eyes focused on her. She couldn’t meet his gaze, and she couldn’t hug him. She’d learned that the hard way.
    â€œNo problem,” he insisted. “And they’re for me, too. I can’t imagine how I would handle it if I was feeding Wyatt, and Rosie was hungry, too. We needed two.”
    â€œThanks again,” she said, finally allowing her eyes to meet his.
    Big mistake.
    He stretched an arm out on either side of her, pulling her into a hug as he whispered against her hair, “Just trying to make things work.”
    She kept both arms crossed in front of her, as if she could ward off her own feelings. But he held on, and his gesture had been so unselfish that she couldn’t resist sliding her arms around his shoulders for just a second.
    Make that a minute. Maybe longer. Just long enough to warm her insides and set her toes to tingling.
    Eventually, he backed off. After frowning at her grease stain for a couple of seconds, he said, “Something’s missing.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œThe twins?”
    â€œOh! They’re down at the neighbors’,” she explained. “I needed to clean today, and when I went by to get them they were napping. Sharon said she’d bring them over after they woke up.”
    â€œPhenomenal,” he said with a smile. “It’s our first night of sharing baby duties, and we have free time.”
    Abby inched backward, toward the door.
    She definitely needed time to regroup, and she knew she could find plenty to do outside. “Not really,” she said. “I need to head out to the orchards now.”
    â€œReally? I’ll come with you.”
    She wanted to refuse. Taking a Sunday evening walk with Jack sounded foolish. No, more than foolish. It was out-and-out dangerous. He’d managed to throw her completely off balance with the high chairs and the hug. Who knew what he’d do next?
    Who knew what she’d do?
    But she couldn’t think of a single rational excuse for denying him, so she said, “Of course, it’s your land.”
    â€œMaybe, but you know I’ll let you buy it in a year at a fair price.”
    There, in a sentence, was most of the reason why