Free The Knitting Diaries by Debbie Macomber Page B

to watch Ellen, which meant she’d be seeing him again soon…in front of Mel. This was guaranteed to be uncomfortable. “But I’m looking forward to it.”
    His voice lowered seductively, tenderly. “And I’m looking forward to spending time with you.”
    Another bolt of guilt struck her. Mel was a gentleman and a romantic, and she was an idiot to let Tim anywhere close to her heart.
    “Everything’s okay between us, then,” Mel went on to say.
    “Oh, yes, everything’s just fine.” She resumed her pacing.
    “Good.” How relieved he sounded.
    “I’m glad you called me back,” he said next. “I was beginning to worry.”
    “Why would you worry?”
    “It’s after ten.”
    Anne Marie couldn’t very well admit why she hadn’t been home earlier.
    “Teresa at the bookstore told me you’d gone out for the afternoon,” Mel said.
    “Yes, Ellen and I…spent time together.” Thank goodness Teresa hadn’t told him everything.
    “That’s great. Ellen’s a terrific kid.”
    “She is,” Anne Marie said, and felt the pressing urge to get off the phone before she slipped up.
    It took another five minutes to extricate herself from the conversation. She tried not to be obvious about wanting to end the call and hoped she’d succeeded. Her pacing continued even after she’d hung up.
    Stupid, stupid, stupid! What was she thinking, letting Tim and Ellen talk her into going to the lake—and so soon after her resolve to remove him from her thoughts! She was courting temptation and she knew it. Oh, she hadn’t realized they’d end up kissing again or that…that she’d feel his allure—again. She shook her head. She was smarter than this.
    Her relationship with Tim had, from the very beginning, been problematic. She’d had to frequently remind herself that he was a recovering alcoholic and drug addict. He’d been sober and clean for a long time, but that didn’t change the basic fact: he had all the personality traits of an alcoholic, even if he didn’t drink.
    Before she’d allowed Tim into their lives, Anne Marie had done extensive research on alcohol and drug addiction. She felt it was necessary to know what they were facing before she agreed to let Tim see his daughter.
    Legally, he had no right to Ellen and Anne Marie believed it was her duty, her moral obligation, to protect Ellen from any psychological harm he might inadvertently inflict.
    She went to bed that night feeling confused, angry with herself…and intent on counteracting any damage she’d done to her relationship with Mel.
    The next day, as she’d feared, Tim contacted her. He showed up at the bookstore, but the minute he walked in she pretended to be busy.
    He approached the service counter and greeted her with a smile that could have melted a glacier. “How’s it going?” he asked.
    She looked up, and returned his greeting with a tight smile, despite her determination not to display the slightest hint of emotion. “Very well, thanks.”
    “Do you have time for a lunch break?” he asked. “We don’t need to go far. I checked, and the soup at the French Café is spicy black bean, which Ellen told me is one of your favorites.”
    It didn’t matter what Winter was serving, Anne Marie wasn’t going to have lunch with him. “Sorry, I can’t leave the shop, but thanks, anyway.”
    Out of the corner of her eye she saw that Teresa was about to say it was perfectly fine; she’d watch the store. Anne Marie sent her a warning glare, and Teresa instantly shut her mouth.
    To distract Tim, Anne Marie came out from behind the counter and placed a book on its shelf. “Oh, and did you remember you offered to look after Ellen on Friday night?”
    “Tomorrow?”
    “Yes. Mel’s taking me to Jersey Boys. ”
    He was silent for a moment. “It must’ve slipped my mind, but it shouldn’t be a problem.”
    “If it is, I can ask April’s mother…. That might work even better now that I think of it. I’d like to set up a babysitting