Free Wild Ride by Rebecca Avery Page B

looking man.”
    “Yep ,” Lilly replied with a smile as she drove out of the parking lot.
    After lunch she sat in the office with Lilly trying to make a list of things she would need for the accountant.  She also made a list of things to find and enter in the software program that would be needed for a business loan.  As Meredith sat explaining some of the items the door to the office opened and another man entered.
    He was tall but did not have the same big build of the other men.  He had windblown blonde hair and warm brown eyes.  His lopsided grin and dimple probably left women swooning wherever he went.
    Looking at Lilly she said , “Tommy?”
    Lilly only smiled in acknowledgment.
    “You must be the reason for Chuck’s smiling mug this past week.  Tommy McMurray… what’s your name?” he asked leaning against the counter that ran along the desk.
    “Meredith Johnson, it’s nice to meet you too ,” she said.
    He filled out a paper and stuck it in the top slot of a divider that hung on the wall.  Looking at Lilly he said , “I guess I’ll be collecting my kid and heading home.”
    Standing up Lilly grabbed the paper and moved it down a slot .  Then she sat back down linking her arm through Meredith’s arm and said, “No… Dana’s meeting you at Gran’s with Melody and then we girls are going shopping for a few hours this evening.”
    “Hmm… three women out on a Saturday night… I smell trouble,” he smiled.
    “You better believe it ,” Lilly laughed.
    After Tommy left the office she looked at Lilly. “You want me to go with you guys?” she asked.
    “Of course… you’re the dancing expert!” she whispered. “Besides it’ll make Chuck nuts wondering what we’re saying about him.”
     

Chapter Seven
     
    After finishing the final clear coat on the paint job and cleaning the spray guns Chuck headed out of the paint booth.  Looking around he realized he and Dickie were the only ones there.  Checking the clock on the wall he noted it was after five… shit!
    “Missing something… or someone? ” Dickie asked with a smile.
    “Yea… where is she?” he asked, ignoring the old man’s attempts to goad him.
    “Your little friend went shopping with Dana and Lilly.  They left about two hours ago,” Dickie said, watching his face for a reaction and after getting none added, “She’s a pretty sweet looking little thing.”
    “What?” Chuck said in disbelief trying to ignore the comment about Meredith’s looks.  Surely Dickie was joking with him.  
    Then thinking about how Lilly operated he winced since Meredith obviously wasn’t there anymore.  In fact her car… his ride… was also missing.
    “Bobby, Tommy and the kids are at Gran’s and I was instructed to give you a lift over there when we got finished up.  Are you almost done?” Dickie asked . “I’d like to clean up a bit before they get back.”
    “Why is she shopping with Lilly and Dana?” he asked.  She came with him today and should be with him… not Lilly and Dana.
    “I long ago stopped trying to figure out how a woman’s mind works… I’m guessing it was girly gossip of some sort since they were giggling and talking with their heads together when they left,” Dickie said with another expectant look.
    Damn them!   Dickie for having his number and being able to ring his bell so easily and Lilly for being nosy and even now probably pumping Meredith for information or full of information.  He shouldn’t really care since it wasn’t like they were dating or anything… or ever could.
    “Yea, let’s go ,” he replied with a sigh.
    Dickie laughed at him as they locked up and headed to Gran’s.  Upon entering Gran’s little house he found her in the kitchen sitting at the table holding baby Melody.
    “The boys are out back with Gretchen.  I thought we could grill some chicken and baked potatoes…” Gran said.
    Dickie mentioned getting a shower and headed back the hallway.  Chuck found the