Maid to Love

by Jennifer Johnson

  The shivers returned. A wave of memories wrapped themselves around her as she remembered baking a batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies for the man. It had taken her numerous tries to get the recipe right. He’d eaten them up, but without a single word of thanks.

  She’d starting cleaning for Nick when she was fourteen. By the time she was sixteen, she’d fallen head over heels in love with the then twenty-one-year-old. What teenage girl wouldn’t have? He was tall, dark, handsome. . . . He was strong and independent, had already bought his family’s farmhouse and land when his dad retired. Nick was even a Christian. Addy’d begged God to allow him to notice her, but he barely paid any attention at all.

  Until she fixed up his living room. Addy’s cheeks burned with the embarrassing memory of his response. He’d thrown a fit, scolding her like a child. She bit back a giggle that threatened to surface. I suppose I probably should have asked before I decided to paint an accent wall in baby blue.

  “Addy, are you listening?”

  She shook away the remembrance and focused on her aunt. “Sorry, Aunt Becky. I missed the last part.”

  “I said I fix lunch for Nick every Tuesday. I usually eat with him, and you can if you want, but you don’t have to. I haven’t told him that you’ll be coming in my place. Well, of course he knows about my wrist, and he knows I’ve taken care of getting someone over there, but I haven’t gotten in touch with him to tell him it will be you. I’m sure he won’t mind. . . .”

  Addy bit the inside of her lip. Why, God? Why does today have to be a Monday? I don’t want to go to Nick’s tomorrow.

  ❧

  Nick wiped his hands on his pants. The morning had gone well. He’d checked every task off his mental to-do list, with the last being to hammer a couple pieces of wood to a broken part of the fence at the far east end of his property. The sun, warmer than usual for May, seemed to smile down on his work. After several days of rain and muck, although he praised God for the rain and muck, the kiss of sunshine to his cheeks felt just right.

  Making his way to the house, he noted a different car in the driveway. It was a newer, smaller car than the one Becky drove. He smacked his lips. “I forgot Becky wouldn’t be coming today. I don’t even know who’s in my house.”

  Uneasiness crept up his spine as he lengthened his stride. He knew Becky wouldn’t let just any ol’ gal clean his home, but a guy had a right to know who the person was. The car looked familiar. He knew that much, but he couldn’t quite place in his mind whose it was.

  Aggravation welled within his gut. Becky should have called him. He didn’t appreciate this. He knew he’d been busy, and he’d been spending a lot of time on the farm. And he knew that he didn’t get cell phone service in a lot of places. Besides the fact he forgot to carry his cell phone most of the time. And he knew he needed to purchase an answering machine as his dad had suggested numerous times, but he just hadn’t gotten around to it. None of that mattered. He still didn’t like some stranger being in his house.

  “There better not be a single thing out of order,” Nick growled as he stepped onto the front porch, “and nothing better be missing.”

  He swung open the front door. A slight, blond-haired figure jumped nearly a foot off the ground when it slammed back against the jamb. She turned around, and Nick thought he’d swallow his tongue.

  “Nick Martin!”

  The woman had no trouble finding hers, as she placed a hand against her chest. Nick brushed his tongue against the top of his mouth to ensure it was still there. Satisfied, he swallowed the knot in his throat.

  Long blond hair fell in waves across and down her shoulders. A white T-shirt and blue jean shorts, though modest enough, couldn’t hide how the teen he knew had become a woman. He looked into her deep green eyes. Green as the grass in spring. He’d never realized they were green. She had full pink lips and a slight cleft in her chin. Had she always had that? “Drew Wilson’s kid sister?”

  The woman sighed. She bit the bottom of her lip. Something he’d seen a younger version do so many times before.

  He stepped toward her. She was a sight for sore eyes—gorgeous, beautiful, a vision. The kid was gone, morphed from her caterpillar shell to an amazing butterfly. “Addy?”

  “Yes, Nick, it’s Addy.”

  A most primal urge to grab her in his arms washed over him, surprising him, making him take a step back. For a moment, softness etched Addy’s features, and he thought maybe she would flirt with him as she had years before. Unlike when she was a kid, the idea sounded good, and Nick determined to take a step toward her.

  Her features hardened and she pointed toward the kitchen. “I made you a turkey sandwich. I put lettuce and tomato on it. Toasted the bread. I didn’t put the mustard on it, in case you don’t eat it that way anymore.”

  In two shakes of a sheep’s tail, she scooped the cash he’d left to pay for the cleaning off the cabinet. “See ya later.” Then she was gone.

  Stunned, Nick walked toward the kitchen window and watched as the woman made her way to her car. Her hair shone and blew like mature wheat in the breeze. She slipped into her car then looked back at the house.

  Her gaze met his. His chest seemed to be celebrating the Fourth of July when he caught a glimpse of a slight blush as she turned away, started her car, and pulled out of the drive.

  That was not the Addy Wilson he knew.

  The Addy Wilson he knew was skinny and freckly and just a kid. She was helpful and good at cleaning, but a bit annoying and immature. And the crush. Nick rolled his eyes and puffed out a long breath just thinking about it. A man could get worn to death from the girl’s incessant flirting. If it hadn’t been for his love for God and for her family, Nick would have let the girl know in no uncertain terms just how annoying and aggravating she was.

  He remembered the last time he’d seen her. The girl had actually painted a wall in his living room a baby blue color. Called it an accent wall. The only blue he ever wanted to see was the color of the University of Kentucky Wildcats shooting hoops through his television, but definitely not on his walls. He’d lit into her like a flame to charcoal. And she’d deserved it. He’d felt a bit bad for letting her have it so much that she’d left blubbering and sniffling, but the girl needed to leave his stuff alone, to leave him alone.

  He looked back at the dust clouds from the car’s disappearance down the dirt road. And she had.

  Two

  Addy looked at herself in the restaurant’s ladies’ room mirror. She could not stop thinking about Nick Martin. The years had been good to him. He still had the darkest hair she’d ever seen, rivaling only the deep, mysterious color of his eyes. Still tall and muscular, he seemed to have grown in girth in all the places he should. Strong arms and shoulders. Even his jaw set in strength and authority.

  He’d barreled into the house, ready to fight whoever had trespassed on his property. A thrill raced up her spine as she remembered the look of shock then interest that draped his face when he saw her.

  “Drew Wilson’s kid sister?” Nick’s question replayed itself in her mind. She would always and forever be Drew Wilson’s kid sister. The little blond, ponytailed, freckly twig that she’d always been. The comment grated on her nerves. She’d tired years ago of chasing after Nick Martin.

  After pulling a tube of peach lipstick from her purse, she painted her lips then smacked them together. “What do I care what he thinks?”

  She tossed the tube back in her purse, pushing the desire for Nick’s approval as far from her mind as she could. She walked out of the restroom and looked around the restaurant.

  The Family Diner hadn’t changed much since she was a girl. It still sported booths along the walls, tables in the center. Country crafts, most of them made by the church’s senior ladies’ group, hung and sat in every nook and cranny. The scent of country cooking overwhelmed her senses, making her stomach growl. The place felt like home, and much to her surprise, she was glad to be here.

  Her phone vibrated,
and Addy pulled it out of her pocket and answered it. “Hey, Gracie, where are you?”

  “Looking at you.”

  Addy looked toward the front door and saw the best friend a girl could ever have waving at her. She raced toward her and wrapped her arms around her. “I’m so glad to see you. I’ve already got a booth. I just had to run to the girls’ room.”

  The two walked to the booth, sat down, then clasped hands across the table. “I’ve been dying to talk to you,” Gracie said.

  “Me, too. This summer will be wonderful. We’ll hang out, go to the movies. . .of course, whenever you can.” Addy winked. “Now that you’re a married woman.”

  It still seemed impossible to Addy that her best friend since birth was married. And married to Wyatt Spencer, one of the goofiest guys in their graduating class. Not that he wasn’t a wonderful man now. Owner of River Run’s hardware store. Hardworking. Doted over Gracie. Addy was truly happy for her friend. It just seemed so surreal. When they were teens, she’d never have pictured Gracie with Wyatt. Not in a million years. And she still couldn’t imagine her friend married.

  The fact that Addy missed the wedding because she was in the hospital having an emergency appendectomy made the marriage even more unbelievable. Addy was happy for her friend, but when she looked at Gracie, she thought of letterman jackets and pompoms, pizza and bubble gum. Not marriage and—

  “Addy, I’m pregnant.”

  Babies. Addy’s jaw dropped. “You’re—”

  “Pregnant.”

  Addy could tell Gracie could barely keep her squeals at bay. It was obvious she wanted Addy to be happy for her. “But you’ve only been married—”

  “Three months.” She clasped her hands together. “Wyatt and I decided to let God choose when our babies would come.” She touched her cheek. “We never expected it would be this soon.”

  The waitress took their drink orders, giving Addy time to digest the information. Gracie is having a baby. It seemed impossible. They were only twenty-three, which Addy knew wasn’t too young, but still they were— Addy’s thoughts jumped. My best friend is married and having a baby, and I don’t even have a boyfriend.

  Nick Martin flooded her mind, and Addy pushed the thought away. Why didn’t I think of Trevor? We were dating just last month. She shook her head. She didn’t want to think of him either. They’d dated just over five months, but she’d been only minimally upset with the breakup, only when she dwelt on it and the rejection. That was proof enough that her feelings for Trevor didn’t run deep.

  Gracie’s married and having a baby, and I don’t even have a job. Self-pity wended itself back into her mind. God, help me not to do this. I know You have a plan for me. . .plans to give me hope and a future. Help me be happy for Gracie. To not focus on myself.

  “Aren’t you happy for me?”

  Addy snapped from her thoughts and looked across the booth at her friend’s sad expression. She reached over and squeezed Gracie’s hand. “Of course I’m happy for you. You’re going to have the most precious little bundle this town has ever seen. And I’m going to give you the most fabulous baby shower. Oh—” Addy perked up. “And I’m going to decorate your nursery for free.”

  Gracie clapped. “That’s a great idea. I know it will be wonderful. I can hardly wait. But there’s more I want to talk to you about.”

  Addy smiled when Gracie asked her to help lead music for the church’s annual vacation Bible school. With trying to complete school and then find a job, it had been almost a year since she’d visited her hometown church. She missed the people so much. She thought of sweet Mr. Bartlett, ninety-plus years old. He’d always had peppermints stashed in his pockets to pass out to the children. Though he could hardly see or hear, he told her he could recognize her anywhere because of her laugh. She focused on her friend again. “Of course I’d love to help.”

  Gracie laughed. “Remember the year the theme was about the ocean?”

  Addy bobbed her head and pushed her arms one after the other in front of her, pretending to swim, then grabbed her nose with one hand, lifted the other, and pretended to sink down into the seat. She giggled once she’d finished. “How could I forget?”

  “Hey, girls. Am I interrupting something?”

  Addy looked up into the blue green eyes of Mike McCauley. Having practically played in the playpen with him, he’d been almost as good a longtime friend as Gracie. In high school he’d grown closer to Addy’s brother and Nick. By the time they graduated, the family teased that Nick, Drew, and Mike were the three musketeers or the three stooges, depending on who was talking. Despite moving away to go to college, Addy had heard Wyatt had joined their group of friends as well.

  “Mike!” Addy jumped out of the booth and wrapped her arms around him. He smelled so good, like a mixture of nature and rugged cologne. He was as strong as a mule, though not quite as big as her brother and definitely not built like Nick; he was quick with a smile, and his hugs were honest and tight. Addy felt like she’d come home with his arms wrapped around her.

  He squeezed her once more then lifted her off her feet. She squealed until he set her back down and released her. “It seems like forever since I’ve seen you.”

  Addy frowned. “I know.”

  “I hear you’re back for the summer anyway.”

  “Yep.” She smacked at the top of his ball cap, and he poked her in the ribs. Addy laughed. This definitely felt like home. Teasing with Mike and eating a burger in the diner with Gracie.

  “Mike, are we going to sit down or not?”

  Addy jumped at the familiar voice. She flinched as Nick walked up, scowling at both of them. His reprimand six years before resurfaced, and Addy found herself wanting to hide beneath the booth like a misbehaving pup. Shaking the thought away, she grabbed Mike in one more hug. “See ya soon.”

  Without a glance toward Nick, she slid back into the booth. Gracie furrowed her eyebrows as she looked from Nick back to Addy. “What’s eating Nick?”

  Addy shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  But she did know. It’s me. Something about me rubs Nick Martin the wrong way.

  ❧

  Nick growled as he sat at the table. Why did Addy have to be in a booth directly in his line of sight and sitting on the side that faced him? For that matter, why did she have to be here to begin with?

  He hadn’t stopped thinking about Addy Wilson since the moment she left his house three days ago. She haunted his nights and traipsed the farm with him in his mind through the days. Each time he walked into the kitchen, he saw her handing him a plate of cookies as she had years ago. This time she wasn’t the teen but the beautiful woman she’d morphed into. When he walked into the mudroom, he remembered her slipping on her boots. When he walked toward the barn, he saw her petting his horses. When he walked toward the fence, he saw her sitting atop it. No matter what he did or where he went, he saw her.

  He grabbed the menu and opened it, attempting to read what the restaurant offered.

  “You want your usual?”

  Nick looked up to see Lacy Abrams making goo-goo eyes at Mike. Nick smirked. Leaning forward, he placed his elbow on the table then scratched his scruffy chin. “Yeah, Mike. You want the usual?”

  Mike’s ears blazed red. Nick knew the younger man had a crush on the waitress. The gal would say yes to a date quicker than hay catches fire if Mike would only ask her. With a piercing stare, Nick dared him to ask her.

  Mike cleared his throat and nodded without so much as looking up at Lacy. Nick shrugged as he yanked the menu out of Mike’s hand then handed his and Mike’s up to Lacy. “I suppose we’ll both have the usual.”

  Lacy glared at Nick. It was obvious she didn’t like him. Not that Nick cared so much. Sure, he wanted to be a Christian witness, but if people didn’t like him when he was just being himself—well, what could he do about that?

  Mike crossed his arms and leaned back in the chair. “What’s the matter with you?”

  Nick cocked one eyebrow.
“Nothing.” The aggravation he felt at Addy’s return to town bubbled up inside him. Needing something else to think about, he stared at his young friend and smirked. “Something wrong with you? You about to lose a bet?” He nodded toward Lacy.

  “That bet is just about the stupidest thing we’ve ever done. Look at Wyatt. He and Gracie are as happy as can be. The bet sounded fine five years ago, but don’t you think it’s getting a little old now? Wouldn’t it be nice to have someone to care for, someone who cared for us?”

  Nick huffed, crossed his arms in front of his chest, and leaned back in the chair. He nodded his head slowly. “If you want to lose the bet, go ahead. No sweat off my back. I’ll call Lacy over here for you.” He lifted his hand and waved the waitress back.

  Lacy made her way back to them and smiled down at Mike. “You need something?”

  Mike glared at Nick. “No, Lacy. I’m sorry. We don’t.”

  Nick chuckled when the woman’s shoulders dropped and she walked away dejected. It would just be a matter of time before Mike couldn’t stand it anymore and asked the woman out. He’d be the second to lose the no-women bet they’d made five years before.

  The day they’d witnessed Bobby Fields succumb to the death of his bachelorhood, Nick, Drew, Mike, and Wyatt had vowed not to marry, to not even date. Bobby was tied down with a wife and two babies. The man worked his fingers to the bone on his farm and never had time to do anything he wanted to do. But the bet had been five years ago, and Wyatt had already given in. It was obvious Mike was getting a bit tired of it. It made no matter; Mike would end up losing, just like always.

  Now, Drew. That man would be a hard one to beat. He was a natural competitor, winning more bets than losing. He remembered how Drew had beat him at horseshoes the week before, shot the larger buck last fall, even raised the biggest Angus steer last summer. But Nick was determined to come out on top this year with his prize Angus. Neither Drew nor Mike had an animal as nice as his, and Nick would relish the victory.