“This is why we don’t run in public.” I gestured at the streaks of jellybean speckled soda decorating the store, smiling at each child in turn. “We need to fix this mess, now don’t we?”
The boys nodded while the little girl bit her lip. “I’m real sorry I tripped you.”
“Don’t you worry your little head about it, just promise me you’ll fill it with good thoughts so you’ll attract good things.”
Izzy arrived with a mop and a trashcan and the rest of us gathered the jellybeans off the floor. The candy coating painted our fingers in bright colors and by the smell of it, I really would like the elderflower and rose soda. Every time I looked up, I found a pair of dazzling blue eyes staring me down. I checked for a wedding ring and found nothing but beautifully masculine and definitely naked fingers, so I offered a smile, but that only made him frown and look away.
Huh.
Hello, mixed signals.
As we cleaned, the kids started to argue. “You shouldn’t have been running, Connor,” shouted the tallest boy.
“You ran first.”
“That’s because I’m older.”
The little girl put her hands on her hips and blew a curl out of her eyes. “You always say that, Garrett. It doesn’t mean anything. I’m older,” she said in a mocking voice, then rolled her eyes.
“I say it ‘cause it’s true and it does mean something. Tell her, Dad.”
Voices escalated. Tempers rose. The smokin’ hot man with strong hands and dazzling eyes added a pulsing jaw muscle to the list of things I couldn’t stop staring at. Why’d he have to give in to the angry energy? The kids were just being kids and were probably mirroring the way he handled situations.
Eager to diffuse the situation, I straightened, stepping over the mess to crouch in front of the trio. “Maybe we’re all a little bit at fault here.”
The little girl wrinkled her nose. “Why do you smell like dirt?”
“Charlotte Anne Cooper!” Her father stood, looking mortified, and started the beginnings of another apology.
I didn’t need him to make amends for his daughter. Kids hadn’t learned to install a filter and I loved it. The honesty was refreshing.
“It’s probably my essential oil.” I held out my diffuser necklace for the girl to smell. “It’s vetiver and it’s my favorite. Surrounding myself with things I like makes it easy to stay happy.”
All three children leaned in to get a whiff.
“It does smell a little bit like dirt, but it also smells like a good memory and it always calms me down when I’m feeling stressed.” I gave the necklace a sniff as the kids nodded.
“Yeah,” said the tallest—Garrett, I thought. “I can see that.”
“Me too.” The middle child beamed at his older brother.
Charlie blew another curl out of her eyes. “It still smells like dirt to me.”
Their father appeared beside me and apologized profusely, but I didn’t hear a word of what he was saying over my spirit guides and higher self yammering at me. This guy, whoever he was, needed help. His beautiful eyes looked so tired. The slump of his shoulders spoke of exhaustion and fatigue, while the sadness in his voice as he asked his kids to apologize to Izzy and me made me want to hug him—and the fact that he was dead sexy didn’t help.
But the cincher? The dealmaker? It was this sense of strength oozing under it all. That this man, though beaten down and struggling with something, had energy…vitality…
Whatever it was, it meant something.
“It’s okay.” I put a hand on his arm and tried not to react to the surge of YES PLEASE OMG HE’S SO TASTY zooming through my body. He offered to replace my things, but Izzy wouldn’t hear of either of us spending more money. As I walked to the car, my arms once again filled with candy and soda, my head was filled with a single thought repeating over and over. “Who was that?”
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Acknowledgments
Mr. Wonderful—you make every day the kind of day that proves I’m living my happily ever after. Thank you for your love, your guidance, and your friendship.
Thank you to my children for putting up with me wearing pjs for too many days in a row.
Thank you to Joyce, Linda, Nickiann, Stormi, Kieran, Elaine, and Suzanne. I hope you see your fingerprints in this final version!
And thank you to YOU, wonderful reader, for sticking with this story to the very end. I hope you enjoyed your stay in Wildrose Landing—because there are more books to come! If you did enjoy your time with Alex and Evie in Fearless, would you please consider leaving a review on your favorite site? It helps other readers connect with the book and you’ll have my undying gratitude!
Recipes
Drunken Sailor
This copper-cupped cocktail will bring out your inner pirate with a mix of rum, gin and ginger ale!
1 1/2 oz. rum
1/4 oz. gin
1/2 oz. fresh lime juice
Ginger ale
Glass: copper mug
Garnish: skewered slice of orange, candied ginger, lime and cherry
In a crushed ice-packed copper mug, combine all ingredients, except ginger ale. Add extra crushed ice to the top, if necessary, top with ginger ale and garnish.
Orange Chicken
This recipe is low FODMAP and is great for people with IBS.
INGREDIENTS
• 6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts (about 1.5 lbs); chopped into bite size pieces
• 1 tsp salt
• Pepper to taste
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup cornstarch or potato starch
• Canola or other preferred oil for frying
• Chives or scallion tips, optional for garnish
For Orange Sauce: (makes about 1.5 cups sauce)
• 1 tbsp garlic-infused olive oil—Infused oils with onion and garlic are safe to eat on the low-FODMAP diet, as the FODMAPs will not absorb into the oil. This is not true for water based products and these spices!
• 1 tbsp ginger powder
• 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (more or less depending on desired spice level)
• ½ cup soy sauce
• ½ cup vinegar (white vinegar, apple cider or rice vinegar)
• 2 tbsp cornstarch or potato starch
• 1/4 cup water
• 6 tbsp light corn syrup
• 4
