Free Best Laid Wedding Plans by Lynnette Austin Page A

came in here and disturbed her son’s things.”
    â€œThis isn’t healthy.” His voice cracked.
    â€œI agree, but—” She shook her head helplessly.
    â€œHer hair’s gone white,” Cole said. “Last time I ran into her at the Dairy Queen, I was shocked.”
    â€œStress does that sometimes.”
    When he reached for her hand, she pulled back.
    He pretended he hadn’t noticed and reined in his emotions. “Why are his things here? In this room? He always had the attic. Boy, did I envy him that space. It was the coolest room ever.”
    She nodded. “Yeah, he had it until he went away to college. Because I envied him that space, too, I badgered my parents till they let me trade with him. The first Thanksgiving, when he came home for vacation, he begrudgingly helped move his stuff down here and lugged mine up to the attic.”
    â€œGuess it made sense.”
    â€œIt did. I was here, and I needed the space.” She toyed with the hem of her tank top, pulled at a loose thread. “By that time we knew he’d never come back home to live. After college he’d move on. None of us thought he’d go into the service, but we understood his plans didn’t include returning to Misty Bottoms.”
    Gently, Cole shut the bedroom door and drew in a ragged breath. Jenni Beth had gone pale. This was worse than awful.
    He jerked his head upward. “What needs to be done up there? In the attic.”
    â€œNothing.” She shook her head. “Little by little, I’ve made it my own. I covered Wes’s god-ugly institutional green paint with a fresh coat of pale, pale pink and hung some frilly curtains. When I came back from Savannah last week, I brought my things with me and did some more fussing with the room. I divided it into bed, bath, and work areas. So I’m totally self-contained.”
    â€œMind if I take a peek?”
    Her face said yes, she did. But gamely, she shook her head.
    â€œNo. Not at all. I’ve already drawn up some plans for the changes downstairs. They’re on my desk. If you’ve got time, I’d appreciate it if you’d take a quick peek at them. Tell me what you think.”
    â€œYou already know what I think.”
    â€œThat I’m crazy. Right. Got that.”
    â€œIt’s just—hell, Jenni Beth, I hate to see you pour time, sweat, and money into a proposition that doesn’t have a sliver of a chance of making it.” When she opened her mouth, he held up a hand. “It isn’t that you’re not capable. This is just too big a job for one person. For one pocketbook.”
    Fire flew from those beautiful blue eyes, and she stomped her foot. “Don’t say that again.” She pounded a hand on her chest. “I will make a go of this. I promise you that.”
    â€œSugar—” He reached for her hand, but she yanked it away.
    â€œDon’t ‘sugar’ me, and don’t act all condescending. I don’t want it or need it. I’m more than capable of deciding what I do want and then making it happen. I’m not twelve years old anymore, Cole. I don’t need a daddy. I already have one.”
    â€œBelieve me, I don’t want to be your daddy. I don’t want to be your surrogate brother.” His gaze settled on her mouth, on those full, red lips. “After that night in Savannah—”
    Heat bloomed on her cheeks. “I don’t want to talk about that.”
    â€œOne of these days we will,” he growled. “Show me the plans.” A muscle ticked in his jaw, and he figured he’d just ground off a year’s worth of tooth enamel. The woman refused to listen to reason, so he might as well save his breath—and help her. Any way he could.
    She motioned for him to take the lead. Since he realized it might be the only time she’d ever do that, he snatched the chance and stomped up the attic stairs.
    At the top,