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Chapter 13: Cole
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The Love Barn Chapter 14: Scarlett
Scarlett HAD CONSIDERED not showing up for the annual mum making night at the antique store. No one had asked her and it wasn't like she'd promised or signed up for it. But she'd helped out every year since the L.O.L.'s began their tradition.But this time, Cole would be there.Ingrid had told her as if that would encourage Scarlett to show up. Truth was, last night's chat with Benji had helped focus Scarlett and bring her wayward imagination to heel.Scarlett parked the Jeep and immediately her eyes landed on Cole's bicycle.She slid her fingers over the knuckles he'd kissed.Yeah, so her imagination was fighting back, but what mattered was what she chose to do. She was in charge of her destiny. No one else.She grabbed her purse then the box of cupcakes she'd picked up on her way into town. People had been forced to decide between pitching in on mum making or parade floats. Most people had opted for the floats, which was why she'd inevitably decided the mum team needed he
The Love Barn Chapter 15: Scarlett
"Did you travel around based on where your dad was staying?" Scarlett wanted to know, but she was scared to ask."No, Mom moved us around depending on which felon she was married to." Cole scrubbed a hand across his jaw and sorted through the glitter letters."What?""You know how some women like to date cops, or firemen or athletes? My mom was like that, but with felons. My dad wasn't so bad in the beginning, but the kind of men she met and got involved with kept getting worse, and worse. That's why we moved around a lot. Sometimes they were in prison and sometimes they weren't."Scarlett dropped her hands into her lap."I haven't seen my dad in...twenty years? I was ten or eleven last time I saw him. I can't believe I'm telling you any of this." He shook his head."You can tell me." She reached over and took his hand, her heart in her throat."Thanks.""Where's your mom now?""Who knows? I cut ties with her when I was twenty after CPS came and took her last three ki
The Love Barn Chapter 16: Cole
Cole PULLED INTO the lot behind the vet clinic and shifted the old land whale of a car into park. Despite the vehicle's age it hadn't rolled over a hundred thousand miles in the decades Sissy had owned it. Or maybe it had and rolled all the way back around for all Cole knew. It ran, and he was appreciative to have something with four wheels for the time being.He'd run late this morning after lying awake for too long last night, replaying that last conversation with Scarlett.She was a woman who knew what she wanted, and it wasn't him. That was honest, and it stung. He wasn't in a place to offer her anything. Backing off was smart. It didn't change the fact that he liked her.He needed to remain focused on his life, his job and finding his siblings.When he'd cut ties with his mother, he hadn't considered the future, what it would be like without a family. He'd just seen a cycle of behavior that hadn't changed in twenty years and couldn't take it anymore. Not with her four mont
The Love Barn Chapter 17: Scarlett
Scarlett HIT PRINT on the event to do list for tomorrow. It was a small affair with zero additional work for her, which was rare.If only she could say the same of their Saturday bride.Just thinking about her made Scarlett want to groan.Benji was right. They needed to have an option for the DIY bride who couldn't actually do it herself. That was when it fell to Scarlett to pull it together. This week alone she'd sourced materials for centerpieces and coordinated where everything was going. She still hadn't responded to the bride's email inquiring if Scarlett could do the assembly for the arrangements.They needed to have more options for decorations of their own.She grabbed her notebook and flipped it open to a fresh page for ideas.It wouldn't be terribly difficult to spot trends. The trick would be convincing Garth it was worth their time. There was also the question of where the things would go.A shadow stretched across the floor.She didn't have a meeting this a
The Love Barn Chapter 18: Cole
Cole PICKED UP the plastic bin of glue and wool.How had he gotten roped into the last minute float making night? And why did a small town need a parade with so many floats?He'd gathered along with others in one of the parking lots by the school. The lights provided light by which they could work on the dozen or so trailers in the fading daylight. A few groups had paired off already and begun the finishing touches on their assignments. Cole glanced in the bucket he'd been handed and didn't quite know what to make of it."Me and you are on the 4-H float." A man clapped Cole on the shoulder. He had brown hair, a generous stubble and familiar light brown eyes.A lot like Scarlett's.The man gestured at a flatbed trailer with a farm scene playing out on the bed. A wooden playhouse had been covered in paper to look like a barn. A horse stood at the front of the trailer and two chicken wire frames sat at the end. The fenders were covered in green clovers, but they tapered off the
The Love Barn Chapter 19: Scarlett
Scarlett PLOPPED DOWN in the lawn chair Kasima had saved for her and breathed a sigh. The Friday homecoming parade was one of the things Scarlett liked about all the festivity. She'd organized her night to allow herself to be here for this."Why did we booked a high maintenance bride this week?" She groaned."Wine cooler?" Kasima offered her a pink beverage."Sure." Scarlett glanced around, but she hadn't spotted the guys. They'd been scarce, no doubt doing their best to avoid getting roped into last-minute preparations for tomorrow. They all enjoyed homecoming.She secretly wondered if Cole would be there. While she didn't have any guilt about drawing the boundary between them, she still wanted the best for him."Have all the fun you can tonight and worry about tomorrow later," Ingrid said."I wish. I have to go home around halftime to try to finish the centerpieces for tomorrow. The bride had this sob story about her sick cat so I spent all morning redirecting deliveries
The Love Barn Chapter 20: Scarlett
Scarlett stared while others howled in laughter. Sissy waved and flicked the ends of the reins at people as her pony trotted on."How much trouble is she going to get in for that?" Kasima turned, eyes wide."I don't know that she can get in trouble. You don't have to have a license to operate a buggy." Scarlett stood and stared at the caution triangle on the back of Sissy's pony cart.That was going to make quite a stir.They stowed the chairs and coolers in Ingrid's little car, leaving no room for other bodies. But that was okay. Most people parked by the field then walked to Main Street. Their group merged with other familiar faces, all headed toward the field. The others drifted away until it was just her. And Cole.She slid the carnation behind her ear, freeing her hands and wiped her palms on her thighs.Cole was just a guy she knew from town. Just because they had chemistry didn't dictate they become a couple or even explore what it might be like."I'm sorry if I wa
The Love Barn Chapter 21: Cole
Cole GLARED AT Garth blocking his path. Scarlett had already darted out of view in the growing warren of vehicles lined up for the game."Stay away from my sister," Garth said."Or what?" Cole crossed his arms over his chest, unimpressed with the bully before him."Hey." Benji hooked his arm around his older brother's neck, catching the man by surprise. "What's going on over here?"Benji's smile was too sharp, his hold on his brother too tight. How much of the exchange had he seen?"Get off of me." Garth pushed his brother away. His face was twisted into a scowl."You sitting with us?" Benji's focus remained on Garth, the hostile vibe intensifying."No." Garth gave Cole another glance. His stay away message telegraphed without words. He turned and stalked away.For a moment both Benji and Cole watched him until the crowed swallowed Garth."Is he always an asshole?" Cole asked."No. I mean, he's overprotective and a stick in the mud, but this is all new. Something's
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