Free A Valentine for Kayla by Kimberly Rose Johnson Page B

a week. Honestly, I don’t know how to get rid of her. But she’s great company for my mom, especially since she’s only working part-time.”
    â€œI get that about your mom and all, but I thought you had a thing for Kayla. You better not be messing with her.” He planted his feet in a wide stance and folded his arms across his chest.
    Derek raised his hands palms out. “There is nothing going on between Estelle and me. Not that it matters. Kayla’s done a one eighty on me and is keeping her distance. Were it not for the float…”
    â€œI wouldn’t be so sure about that. She downloaded most of your songs to her MP3 player. She walks around the shop humming them all the time.”
    Derek grinned. “I didn’t know that.” Maybe he had a chance with her after all.
    â€œA-hem.”
    He glanced back toward the house again. “What do you need, Estelle?”
    â€œYour mother asked me to send you for groceries.” She waved a piece of paper. “Here’s her list.”
    Charlie chuckled. “I don’t envy you, man.”
    Derek shook his head, walked up the steps of the porch and took the list from Estelle. “When I finish up here, I’ll head into town.”
    Estelle stuck her nose in the air, spun around, then went back inside without even acknowledging Charlie.
    Derek headed back to the driveway. “Sorry about that. She’s still angry that I refuse to return to LA with her and takes every chance she gets to let me know her feelings.” Like what she thought mattered to him. She was the last person he would return to his old life for. She’d burned him, and he wasn’t going down that road again.
    Derek walked over to the trailer he’d begun to build the float on. “What do you think so far?”
    â€œI think you better work faster. The parade is in five weeks.”
    â€œDon’t worry—it will be finished in plenty of time.” He undid his tool belt and brushed his hands on his jeans. “Guess I’d better go shopping or risk starving tonight.”
    Charlie clapped him on the shoulder as if he were one of the guys in the football locker room. “What should I tell Jill and Kayla?”
    He rubbed the spot Charlie had slapped. “Whatever you say, don’t tell them about Estelle.”
    â€œI meant about the float.”
    â€œRight. Tell them it’s coming along.”
    â€œWill do. Want help later? I should be off early and could be here by four.”
    â€œSure.”
    Charlie waved and slid behind the wheel of the delivery van. He tooted the horn before backing up and heading to the main road.
    Derek rounded the house and stopped short when he spotted Estelle sitting in the shade of an old oak tree. Her legs were crossed at the ankles and his mom’s snow-white cat rested in her lap. He hadn’t seen the cat around much lately and wondered where it’d been.
    Estelle’s voice traveled through the quiet yard. “What a sweet kitty you are.” She sighed as if the weight of the world rested on her shoulders and stroked the cat’s back. “My life is such a mess. I don’t know what I’m going to do. You are so lucky you’re a cat and not a person. All you need to worry about is your next meal.”
    He frowned. What was Estelle talking about? He kicked at a pebble to alert her of his presence and fully rounded the corner.
    She brushed the cat from her lap and jumped to standing. “I thought you went shopping.” Her brow puckered and a hint of pink tinged her cheeks.
    â€œI need my wallet.” He brushed by her and didn’t look back. Unease at what he’d overheard propelled him to the guest cottage. What was really going on with Estelle?
    * * *
    Later that afternoon, Derek spotted Charlie pulling into the driveway, but this time another vehicle followed. Kayla stepped out of a black hatchback. A cool look covered her