Free Love Inspired May 2015 #2 by Missy Tippens, Jean C. Gordon, Patricia Johns Page B

held her as they waited. When she finally reached the cash register, she managed to pay with her one free hand and then asked for help out with her purchases.
    A teenaged boy pushed the cart to her car. As he grabbed two of the plastic bags, she reached in the cart to help.
    â€œHere, let me do that,” said Jake from behind her, sending her heart racing and chill-bumps rising along the little hairs at the back of her neck.
    â€œOh. Thanks.”
    How could the deep voice of the man cause such a strong reaction? Could be the close proximity. Or the heat of his arm as he took the bag out of her hand and placed it in the trunk.
    Jake thanked the boy and sent him back inside. Then he reached around her to finish transferring the groceries to the car.
    She stepped aside to give him room, trying to gather her wits. She was not some giggly, naive girl with a crush on a guy. She was a grown woman running a business. She’d been on her own and supported herself for years.
    Sure, it was nice to have a man show up and offer to do something helpful. But that was no reason for her stupid, irritating reaction.
    He loaded the last bag with the eggs and then slammed the trunk closed. When he straightened, he looked into her eyes, a gentle smile on his face.
    She slowly drew in a deep breath.
    He reached toward her and...brushed a finger across Abigail’s cheek. “Hey there, sweet thing.”
    â€œI didn’t expect to see you here,” Violet said, trying not to sound as rattled as she felt by his nearness.
    â€œYeah.” He looked adoringly at his baby cousin. “I did what I most needed to do at work. But then I wanted to get back to my girl and remembered you saying you needed to go to the grocery store.”
    Violet felt as if the walls of her chest were crushing her lungs. Tears stung her nose as she watched how tenderly he treated Abigail. At how devoted he was to her already.
    â€œShe was a real trouper,” she said through a tight throat. “Didn’t make a peep until time to go through checkout.”
    He reached for the baby. “I’m glad.”
    He smelled the same as earlier but enhanced with the faint aroma of sawdust and sunshine. She wanted to lean in, plaster herself against him to take in more of the appealing scent. To lean into strong arms that could be both gentle and devoted.
    No. She couldn’t allow that type of fantasy to take hold. She quickly put space between them.
    â€œWe can go ahead and transfer Abigail’s stuff,” he said. “That way you can go straight home to put your food away.”
    Her shoulders drooped, but she ratcheted them up. “Oh, okay. I’ll do that since your hands are full.”
    Once she put the car seat and diaper bag in his truck, she brushed a hand across Abigail’s soft head. “Be good for Jake, sweetie.”
    Time for the pretend motherhood to end. Unfortunately, she’d toyed with the idea too much that day. Had enjoyed the shopping trip with Abigail too much. Had enjoyed meeting up with Jake too much, as well.
    Across the parking lot, a waving hand drew Violet’s attention. It was Chloe O’Malley again. When Violet returned the wave, Chloe gave a thumbs-up.
    Too bad reality would disappoint her new friend.
    Fearing Jake would read the disappointment on her face, she drew back her shoulders and looked directly into his gorgeous blue eyes. “Expect me around ten o’clock on Friday. I may need to see a few sick patients early that morning, but I should be free by ten.”
    â€œThat’s perfect. Thanks for today.”
    The man wore grateful well. And he wore the hunky dad look well, too.
    Why had no one snatched him up yet?
    She quickly escaped inside her car—she who’d always faced life head-on. And now, in the space of a week, she’d run from this man—or rather, her attraction to him—two or three times.
    Could she help him without getting sucked in?