Page 71 of Recipe for Rivals
“That’s not how I’d describe you,” I said, pushing down the urge to drive straight to Manhattan, find Carter Walker, and punch him in the face three times—once for each of them. “I see a reliable, steady mom who’s working hard to put together a home for her kids, who has provided them with a safe place and a lot of love. When it comes to basic needs—the things we actuallyneed—you have it covered, Nova. Your kids are loved. They aren’t suffering.”
The orange porch lights from across the street shone on the tears rolling down her cheeks. “You don’t know how much I needed to hear that.”
My entire body clenched, my muscles tight, struggling as I refrained from pulling her close. “I’ll remind you anytime you want.”
“Thanks,” she breathed, dashing away the tears. She reached to scratch her arm, then glanced down and groaned.
“What is it?”
“My hives are back. I think I need to delete social media.”
“Then do it.”
She laughed. “And miss all the pictures of my nephews? No, thanks.”
Okay, that was a fair point.
“I should probably go take some medication before it gets worse,” she said, but she didn’t stand. She sat there looking at me, and the line of connection running between us felt as taut as my clenched fists.
I relaxed my hands, with great effort. “You mentioned a jar you can’t get open. Do you want me to try?”
“No, that’s okay.” She smiled. “It’s just jam, so I bought a squeeze tube to use instead.”
I laughed. “See what I mean? Resourceful.”
Her face softened while she peered at me. “Did Gigi put you up to this?” she asked, rising to her feet. “Place you in my path to make me forget about Carter?”
My chest hummed. I made her forget about her ex? That seemed huge, so I did my best not to let her see how it affected me. “The opposite. When she heard you were coming a few months ago, she made me promise to stay away.”
“Why?”
I shrugged. “Because I’m trouble, I guess.”
Nova laughed, shaking her head. “You’re a flirt, anyone can see you’re harmless.”
“Harmless?” I very much wanted to prove her wrong. I took a half step closer, making her step back until she was flush with the siding on the apartment building. I held her gaze, watching her eyes widen, her throat working a swallow. I kept some distance between us. She could turn and walk away if she wanted. A slow smile spread over my lips.
“Yes.” Her tongue darted out to lick her lips. “I stand by what I said.”
Tension filled the space between us. My chest rose and fell rapidly, my gaze glued to her lips. She could see through me, and I didn’t know how I felt about that. But I could sense her breathing hastening too, and it was a relief to know I wasn’t alone in how I felt. Which meant I needed to leave.
My mouth flicked up in a smile. “Have a good night, Nova.” Then I turned and walked away. When I got to my truck, she was still standing next to her door, watching me. I waited until she went inside before driving away.
Man, I was such a goner for this girl.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
NOVA
Carter had been tryingto call me for two days, but since the kids hadn’t been nearby any of the times he called, I hadn’t answered the phone. Until I knew, without a shadow of doubt, I could speak to him without letting my emotions get the better of me, I didn’t think it was wise to answer. If Ben or Alice had been around, I would have handed the phone off to them. Even then, I was tired of jumping to attention every time he deigned to reach out, only for their conversations to last five minutes or less. He always had some excuse, some reason he needed to run, that got him off the phone fairly quickly.
So now, when I was carrying two dozen bridal shower cookies up the porch steps of the Fletcher Homestead—Tucker’s parents’ house—and my phone rang, I ignored it without hesitation. My kids were at the diner with Gigi. She’d offered to pay them in ice cream to help her roll silverware in napkins and secure it with the paper sticker things, and they had eagerly accepted. I was sure she only came up with the plan to give me a free morning for the shower. I didn’t intend to remain long.
“Hi!” June said, opening the door for me. Her cheeks wereflushed and her blonde hair long and wild, the corkscrew curls bouncing over her shoulders. “Thanks for coming early.”
“It’s no problem.” I stepped into a stunning, worn-in farmhouse that made me want to consider a cowboy someday when I remarried.IfI ever remarried. I wasn’t sure there was a man out there I would trust to help raise my children. They already had one absent dad.
Dusty flashed through my mind. I hadn’t seen him all week, since he’d had work and missed Ben’s practices, but we had texted a few times. He was becoming the person who made my stomach flutter when I saw his name pop up on my screen, which felt all sorts of dangerous.