Run (Never Waste A Second Chance Book 1)

by Whiteaker, Janice M.

  Nancy shot her an unbelieving look.

  She considered asking about the man she ran into last week as she left the market. The same farmer she’d been doing her best to impress by impersonating a gazelle as she ran past him every morning. It would figure Daphne would be the first one to get her lips on him.

  Maybe later, when Nancy was having a better day she could see if she knew who he was. Maybe she’d get lucky and run into him again. Hopefully she’d be a little better at flirting by then. All her smiles and eye batting seemed to have him dumbfounded when she fell into his arms at the farmer’s market. Could you Google flirting?

  “Well, I guess I will see you when I see you then.” Nancy reached out and gave her a short hug. “Sorry you had to listen to me whine.”

  “It’s about time for me to be able to return the favor.” Mina smiled and squeezed her friend back. “Sorry the boys are being boys.”

  Nancy gave her a smile. “Oh, I have a feeling Thomas will be just fine. He just needs a kick in the pants.” Her face became serious. “Rich though. I’m afraid to find out what’s going on there.” She clicked the door locks on her remote, her horn giving a quick beep. “That boy might be the death of me.”

  “Is there anything I could do to help?”

  “If it’s what I am afraid it is I’m not sure anyone can help. Maybe take me out for a spa day. At least then I’ll look pretty while I go crazy.”

  Mina rolled her eyes. Nancy was one of the most beautiful women she’d ever known. Inside and out.

  “How about I take you out and find you a man instead?”

  The older woman looked at her straight faced. “Just remember. Turn about’s fair play young lady.” Her seriousness faded and she gave Mina a bit of a wicked grin, making her wonder just what kind of man Nancy would like to pick out for her.

  SIX

  “Damn.”

  Mina pulled into the crumbling driveway of an even more crumbling house. This was the tenth house she’d seen this week and it looked to be no better than the others. She got out of her van to take a closer look, hoping to be surprised.

  She peeked through the front window, but the shingles strewn across the dead grass of the lawn made the sight of the living room ceiling on the living room floor anti-climactic. Roof leak.

  Picking her way through the discarded flower pots and random trash, she made her way to the side of the house. She stepped on one of the overturned pots to peer into what she guessed was the dining room window. Oh, yeah. Major roof leak. That room’s ceiling, while not yet on the floor, was bowed dangerously low and emitting a steady drip of water that would be quite useful in a torture chamber.

  She ran her finger down the paper in her hand until she found the list price. She started laughing. No flippin’ way.

  She’d laughed a lot this week. It was either that or cry. The idea to move out of Don’s jurisdiction for her next project was dying a slow agonizing death. If she went closer to the city, prices skyrocketed, even on properties like the one standing before her, in all its decaying glory. Farther out and the max value just didn’t give her enough to work with.

  She made her way back to her van, dried vegetation crunching under her sneakers. Flopping into the driver’s seat, she tossed the paper onto the growing pile in the floorboard. Waking up her phone, she swiped her thumb across the screen and called Paul.

  “Yes ma’am.”

  “We’re screwed.”

  “That bad?”

  “Probably worse. I’m not even sure this one has a roof. I think it used to but it’s all over the yard now.”

  “Hmmmm. I’m not sure if I should tell you this or not.”

  “Might as well. Can’t be any worse than this thing I’m looking at now.”

  “My buddy’s folks just went into a retirement community and are lookin’ to sell their place.”

  “Is it awful?” If it wasn’t too bad, this day just might be looking up.

  “No. Just, what’s that you call it? Granny chic?”

  Mina laughed into the phone. Hearing Paul describe a house as granny chic just made her whole day. Maybe even her week. “Looks like old lady?”

  “Kinda. Old lady with very, uh vibrant, taste.”

  “Can we see it? Check it over?”

  “I thought you might say that so I got him to meet us there in an hour.”

  Mina looked at the clock on the dash. The lined numbers glowed 10:00. She would have to hurry. “I can make that work.” She fired up her GPS. “Where am I going?”

  “Well, that’s the bad news.”

  She let her head fall to the steering wheel. “You’re shitting me.”

  Thirty minutes later she pulled up in front of an aluminum sided two story. In McCordsville. In Don’s territory.

  Her heart sank. It didn’t look bad from the outside. Maybe it would be terrible inside. Maybe they would be asking too much. Then she would have no problem walking away. If not…

  She sighed. If not she would buy it and figure out a way to deal with Don.

  Paul was waiting for her on the porch next to a stubby guy with a big gut and thinning hair an unnatural shade of black. “Mina, this is my buddy from school Mike. It’s his parent’s place.”

  Mike shoved a thick fingered hand her way. She took it, surprised at the limp grasp and soft wrist. She didn’t shake hands like a girl and most men met her grip for grip, usually giving her an approving grin. Not this guy. He shook hands like a wet noodle and smiled like a salesman with oceanfront property. This should be lots of fun.

  Mike went in first followed by Paul with her bringing up the rear. The smell of fried food and moth balls smacked her in the face before she even crossed the threshold. Piles of… stuff lined every wall in what she guessed was the living room. A narrow path of exposed orange shag mashed into felt from years of traffic, led the threesome through what should be a dining room and into the kitchen.

  All were packed floor to ceiling with various stacks of papers, clothes, and boxes.

  “When do you guess they’ll be moved?” She eyeballed the basement door. If this is what they had going on up here, who knew what the basement was like.

  Paul followed her gaze. He opened the door and led the way down the wood stairs into the cool dank air. Normally basements creeped Mina out a little, but at least down here she wasn’t worried about being smothered to death by a toppling pile of crap. Just the spiders.

  “Oh they got out a couple months ago,” Mike called from the top of the stairs. “They just left a little trash. Shouldn’t take much to clean the place up and turn it around.”

  “Holy shit Paul.” Mina whispered when she was sure they were out of earshot. “Granny chic? This is an episode of Hoarders.”

  “Yeah. It’s changed a bit since I was here last.” He made his way around the dark basement, pulling cords on dead bulbs. “Same Crayola carpet though.”

  “I didn’t even notice it had carpet.” She edged around the furnace standing next to the only functioning light, inspecting the stickers. “This is new. Basement seems dry.” She tipped her head back. “I don’t know about all that up there though. If he was gonna get it all out so we could really see what we were working with that would be one thing, but that doesn’t sound like his plan.”

  Paul clicked on a flashlight he pulled out of his back pocket. That’s why Mina liked him. He was always prepared.

  He ran the beam around the basement, revealing copious amounts of boxes piled up in every available corner. “Yeah, I caught that too. Let me talk to him. See if he has a realistic number in mind or if he’s willing to clear the shit out and let us get a good look.”

  She took a deep breath, blowing it back out. “All right. That’s a good place to start. If I have to deal with all the crap and not knowing what’s behind it, the price better be real damn good.” Especially since Don would also be part of this deal. “I mean really good.”

  She pulled her phone out of her pocket as they headed back up the s
tairs into the kitchen where Mike was waiting, that same slimy smile on his face. “I’ve got to run. I’m meeting a friend for lunch.”

  “Are ya now?” Paul cocked a thick eyebrow at her.

  “Yes and her name is Nancy.” Both men stared at her. One track freakin’ minds. “Not that kind of friend.”

  The men acted like they didn’t hear her. “Nancy Richards?” Mike pulled a comb from his back pocket and ran it through his freakishly black hair. Sliding it back in, he looked over his shoulder and sucked in his gut, standing up straight. “She meeting you here?”

  Oh God. Not another one. Maybe she should have Nancy negotiate this deal instead of Paul. She’d probably get a hell of a deal then. “No. She is not.”

  “Oh.” He deflated a little bit. “Where you goin’?” He tried to look casual but just ended up looking creepy and sort of bug eyed.

  “I’m not even sure yet.” She fibbed, pretty sure Nancy would thank her. “We always decide at the last minute.”

  “Maybe you could put in a good word for me.”

  “You’re married Mike.” Paul’s voice growled deep and almost threatening in a way she had never heard before.

  Mike didn’t seem to notice. “Minor road block.” He gave Mina a seedy smile that she wanted to slap right off his face. From the way her contractor was clenching and unclenching his fists at his side, it seemed like she might not get the opportunity. Grabbing his elbow, she began leading Paul to the front door.

  “Thank you for showing us the house.” She stepped behind one very angry man and pushed him ahead of her as she called over her shoulder, “Paul’s got another appointment he has to go to, but we’ll be in touch after we make a decision.”

  “Okay. Might want to hurry, I got lots of interest in this place.”

  Yeah. Sure he did.

  She herded Paul quickly across the front yard trying to put as much space as possible between the two men. “What the hell was that about?”

  “Sorry.” He took off his ball cap only to put it right back on. “Sometimes Mike is just kind of a dick.”

  “Yeah. No. Don is a dick every time we see him and you have never gotten like that.”

  Paul shifted on his feet looking at Mina like he couldn’t decide what to say. “Nancy’s just been through a lot and doesn’t need a guy like that giving her a hard time.”

  “You know Nancy?” It never really occurred to her, but it made sense. They were about the same age and both grew up here.

  “We all went to school together.” Paul seemed very uncomfortable with their conversation as he crossed and uncrossed his arms and avoided her eyes. “You met her son?”

  Mina wanted to shake him. Why in the hell did he think she would just let this Nancy thing drop? She sighed. Because she would. “Thomas? No.”

  Paul seemed to relax a little. Nancy was clearly a touchy subject for him. One they would definitely be revisiting later.

  “He’s a good kid. Took over the family farm with his cousin after Nancy’s dad died. Works his ass off running that place and helping his mom.”

  “Farm?” She knew Nancy had a decent garden, but that was all they had really talked about. Mostly they chatted about their own businesses and unfortunate commonalities in their past relationships. That alone could keep a conversation going for years.

  “Oh yeah. Good sized too, just outside of town. Runs between Union and Chamberlain.” He paused squinting his eyes at Mina. “You all right? Got a weird look on your face.”

  “I’m fine. Just have a lot on my mind.” That was an understatement. “I gotta go.”

  “Oh, yeah. Have a good lunch. I’ll call ya.”

  “All right.” Mina got in her van and waved as she pulled away, trying to smile even though she felt like crying. When she was a few streets over, she pulled over and leaned her head back against her seat.

  She had been lusting after her friend’s son.

  Not just lusting. She had been imagining her farmer… Nancy’s son, as more than just someone to warm up her bed. Meeting him that day at the market, if you could call almost falling at his feet meeting, changed her fantasies of him.

  She had replayed that day over and over in her mind. Seeing him face to face, the warmth in his eyes, the way he smiled at her, the soft deepness of his voice, made her once strictly physical imaginings turn much sweeter. She’d started to think maybe if they met again, there could be something there.

  Unfortunately now when they did see each other again, and there was no way they wouldn’t, she would be his mom’s friend. Not something most men would consider a plus.

  Tears nipped at the corners of her eyes.

  “Oh my God, this is so stupid!” She swiped at her lids, trying to keep her make-up from being ruined. Even though the only times they’d actually been face to face were short and clumsy and more than a little awkward, Mina hadn’t been able to shake the thought of his laughter as he tried to wrestle Daphne off him or the way his strong hands caught her as she fell against him. Even his spicy, woodsy scent that clung to her clothes long after she got home that night was burned into her memory.

  What in the hell was wrong with her? What normal person got this upset over some guy they didn’t actually know?

  Crazy girls.

  She wasn’t a crazy girl. Was she? Was she so starved for companionship that she’d mentally created what felt like a real relationship with a man she didn’t know?

  Apparently she was.

  And now it was over. It had to be. She was Nancy’s friend. Real friend, in real life and that was more important than an imaginary emotional attachment.

  It still kind of sucked.

  Now that she knew, it was easy to see the features mother and son shared. Same tall, strong build. Same straight, narrow nose. Same small space between their front teeth. She spent the past month imagining running her tongue along that gap. Now that she knew it was genetically gifted by one of her best friends, the thought seemed more than a little wrong.

  It would figure the only man in this town who caught her interest was most definitely, strictly off limits. Now she was back at square one. Single and lonely, with no prospects in sight.

  “What in the hell am I gonna do?”

  She was going to go have lunch with her friend and pretend like someone didn’t just pee in her cheerios. Then she would go on and do her best to be a good friend and forget about the man she’d been dreaming of for months.

  SEVEN

  The sound of a screen door slamming echoed off the barn walls.

  “Shit.” He’d avoided this for as long as humanly possible, but the tractors had to have their gas tanks drained so it didn’t turn to sludge over the winter.

  Footsteps crunched through the gravel driveway, getting louder as they closed in on the barn. Thomas stood, wiping his hands on the rag he had stowed in his back pocket, and braced himself for the tornado coming through the door any second.

  He’d been avoiding her for more than two weeks. Partly to protect her, partly to protect himself. There was just too much going on that he didn’t want to be grilled about.

  An unexpectedly calm Nancy opened the sliding door and stepped into the barn. “Hey.”

  He wasn’t sure how to handle this. He was prepared for a fight. A knock down drag out one at that.

  “Good morning.” Better to keep it simple and feel her out.

  “What have you been up to?” She meandered his way. “Haven’t heard much out of you.”

  “Uh. Just had to get everything off the fields, help Rich finish up on his end.” He’d been busting his ass trying to do the work of two men. Luckily he was able to get all Rich’s paperwork finished up and billing done.

  “Anything you want to tell me about that? About Rich?” She stared at him waiting as he decided what to say.

  “Nope.” No reason to tell her about anything that had gone on the past month. It would only upset her.

  Rich seemed fine now anyway. Better than ever actuall
y. Almost like he had a new lease on life. He even got Beth to come home. They were sleeping in separate rooms, but she seemed willing to give him another chance and he was making the most of it, taking her out and spending time with the girls. With the bulk of the work on the farm over for the season, he would have plenty of time to smooth things out. Try to fix the damage he’d done. Again.

  “I figured as much. You two always were thick as thieves.” She eyed him for a minute. “Maybe you can use your free time this winter finding me a new daughter-in-law.”

  Thomas turned back to the tractor. Ever since that night at the market he had been trying to wrap his mind around the fact that his runner and his mother’s friend were actually one and the same. One beautiful dark haired specimen with eyes the color of amber and a smile that hit him like a punch in the gut.

  “Maybe.” He fiddled with the gas cap, trying to avoid his mother’s stare. “Got a lotta work I want to get done on the house.”

  “I know someone who could help you.”

  He turned back and cocked his eyebrow at her.

  “My friend renovates houses. She’s between projects and could maybe help you out.”

  Another friend? Apparently his mom was more social than he realized. “What friend is this?”

  “Mina. I told you ab--”

  He stopped her right in her tracks and repeated the excuse he’d given himself every time he imagined seeing her again. “Yeah. I’m not so sure I want to get tangled up with a woman with an ex like hers.”

  It was out before he realized the entirety of what he said. In his own mind, it could be a valid reason for him to steer clear of her. He’d been so wrapped up in supplying himself with an excuse that he hadn’t considered what it would mean to his mother.

  “That’s how it is, is it? You’re gonna hold what some piece of shit did against her?” Nancy’s eyes began to shimmer with years of unshed tears. “I thought you would be a man who would understand what happened to her. How it can happen.” Her lips trembled. “Maybe show her it isn’t always that way.”