Read Online The Opposite of Wild by Kylie Gilmore - Free Book Online

there, his sharp eyes studying her. “You’re a puzzle, Liz.”
    “I am?”
    He reached out and smoothed a lock of hair behind her ear, and her heart caught in her throat at the gentle gesture. “You seem so…uptight,” he said.
    She stiffened and took a step back.
    “But I know you were checking me out when I was mowing.”
    She flushed, but rallied quickly. “I was only bringing you water.” She crossed her arms and said primly, “You surprised me when you dumped the water on your head. I was merely looking to see if you were going to do any other…surprising things.”
    His lips twitched. “You’re like a librarian just waiting to let loose.”
    “Is that supposed to be a compliment?” She bristled, hands on her hips.
    “There it is.” He smiled and stepped close, crowding her space. She drew in a quick breath, but held her ground. “The puzzle—fire and ice.”
    She put both hands on his solid chest and pushed him out the door. “Next time, mail it.” She shut the door in his face, turned and leaned against it. “Urgh!”
    “That’s what I’m talking about,” he said through the door.
    She ripped open the door. “Go away.”
    His head cocked to the side while he bit back a smile. “Is that any way to talk to your employer?”
    “Gah!” She slammed the door and locked it. She heard his low laugh as he walked away.
    ~ ~ ~
    Garner’s Sports Bar & Grill had an unusually busy Saturday night dinner rush, with an overflowing bar area, as well as a line out the front door. Liz had stopped by to check on Daisy on her second night of her new hostess job.
    She worked her way through the mass of people in the front entryway to get to her sister. “What’s with all these people?” she asked.
    “I’d like to say that business is booming,” Daisy replied, “but I think the good people of Clover Park came out to see this.” She indicated her baby bump, more of a bulge, really, as she sat on a stool behind the hostess stand.
    “Oh, I’m sure it’s not that,” Liz said.
    “Party of two,” Mr. Cox, their former soccer coach, said.
    “Got it,” Daisy said.
    Liz smiled at him.
    Mr. Cox peeked at Daisy’s stomach before returning to his wife.
    Daisy gestured for Liz to come closer. “See?” she hissed. “All these people are talking about me. They had to see for themselves the screwed-up Garner girl. They’re probably taking bets on who the father is. I’m quitting. I’m not a sideshow.”
    “Daisy, no, I’m sure that’s not what it is. It’s probably just the summer rush. And Dad did add some new items to the menu.”
    “Can someone take our name down?” Mrs. Peters, their first-grade teacher, asked, pulling her bifocals down and peering around the hostess stand.
    “We got it, Mrs. Peters,” Liz said, dutifully writing her name on the list.
    Daisy eased herself off the cushioned stool. “You might as well take over, Liz. You’ll do a much better job than me anyway.”
    “You’re not going anywhere,” Liz said in her best no-nonsense teacher voice. “You need a job, you have a job. And you’re going to keep it. I’m working too, but I can’t do everything.”
    Daisy frowned, and her eyes filled with tears. “I know. I’m sorry, sis. I’m being selfish.”
    Liz sighed. She was still getting used to this new weepy Daisy. She’d never seen her cry so much in her life.
    “Chin up,” she told Daisy. “If anyone says anything nasty to you, tell me. But I really do think people are here for the food and the company. Okay?” She hugged her sister.
    Daisy nodded. “Okay.”
    “I’m going to grab something quick at the bar.” Liz headed over to the long, dark cherry bar where their regular bartender, Josh, was serving up drinks and the occasional appetizer. A wooden sign with a beach scene above the bar read: Garner’s Paradise: It’s Always Happy Hour Here. She’d given it to her parents for their last anniversary, and it made her smile every time she saw it. They had