Read Online The Chocolate Garden (Dare River Book 2) by Ava Miles - Free Book Online Page B

forearm, almost as if he could sense her wicked thoughts. Her eyes darted to his when he continued that slow, tantalizing slide up her arm. The gentle breeze felt good on her now blushing face. In the distance, she heard the dogs bark, but she didn’t move. Didn’t step back. In some remote part of herself, Tammy realized she was feeling desire.
    “Mr. McGuiness! Push me, push me!”
    Tammy took one last look at those slumberous blue eyes and stepped away.
    Rory arrived, breathing hard from running, his red bike helmet in hand. “I’m all set, Mr. McGuiness.”
    “I told Rory we could go for a short bike ride before I mow the grass. He’s also hankering to take a ride with me on the mower, but I said that would be up to you.”
    He was going to mow the grass? “You don’t have to do that.” Heavens, she could hire someone.
    “Rye asked me. We don’t respect a man who doesn’t mow his lawn. It’s a matter of pride. Anyway, I don’t mind—it’s a good opportunity to think, compose songs… And,” he added after a moment’s pause, “there’s nothing more fun than tearing across the land in a riding mower.”
    The male mind…this only confirmed how little she understood it. “But none of the men I grew up with ever mowed their lawns.”
    “And from what Rye’s told me, those yahoos give us men a bad name.”
    Was she really having this conversation? “But you have your own lawn to mow.”
    Was this Rye’s way of keeping a man around the house to make sure she and the kids were okay?
    Her newfound freedom turned to sawdust in her mouth.
    “I want to do this. Besides, I thought it would be fun for the kids. Rye said that he takes turns letting them ride with him. I would be really careful with them, I promise.”
    That she didn’t doubt.
    “Mama, please let him take us on the mower. It’s so much fun!” Rory thrust his bike helmet on his head as he spoke. “I’ll wear my helmet for that too, I promise.”
    She and Rye had negotiated that safety procedure even though her brother thought it was crazy.
    “You make them wear bike helmets when they ride the lawn mower?” John Parker asked, obviously fighting a smile.
    So another man thought she was crazy—or uptight. Okay, she was a mix of both.
    “Lawn mowers are no different than three-wheelers, which Rye also loves to ride around on. Helmets are a must.”
    John Parker held up his hands. “Safety first. I get it.”
    “Mama, I want to stop swinging,” Annabelle cried.
    “Here honey, let me help you.” John Parker caught her and the swing in his big hands, making her squeal like a banshee, and plucked her into his arms.
    “Can I go riding with you and Rory?” she asked. “Uncle Rye just took the training wheels off my Barbie bike because I can ride like a big girl now.”
    “She’ll slow us down,” Rory muttered, scuffing the dirt with his shoe.
    Her son was usually good about playing with Annabelle, but he was right. Annabelle still wobbled like there was an earthquake beneath her when she rode her bike.
    “Annabelle, why don’t you and Barbie help me get dinner started and then you can be the first to ride on the lawn mower with Mr. McGuiness when he and Rory return?”
    She knew Rory missed Rye and, as Tory called them, the manly things they did together. This would be good for him.
    But her daughter stomped her foot. “Mama, why can’t I go with them on the bike ride? I can ride fast.”
    Part of her liked her daughter’s rebellion. She would never have even dreamed of stomping her foot at her own mama.
    “Sugar, what have I told you about stomping your foot?” she said gently.
    “That it’s not nice.”
    “Exactly, now why don’t you take Barbie into the house and wait for me in the kitchen? I’ll be there in a minute.”
    “I’ll get my bike, Mr. McGuiness.” Rory raced off, the dogs streaking ahead of him.
    Annabelle stomped off toward the house, muttering.
    With the kids out of sight, John Parker smiled.