Mistletoe (Clairmont Series Book 4)
Page 15
“Charge him extra for the trouble. He can afford it.”
“Oh, I will.”
“So, Maddy’s back on Saturday?”
“Yep. Late. I’ve got a couple coming in on Friday, but that’s it. Should be a quiet week if your brother behaves. He leaves on Saturday, right?”
“Yeah, his cottage should be all set by then - furnished and ready to go. It’s the place my family always rented for vacations when we were kids.”
“Oh, that’s right. You didn’t grow up here, either. I always feel like I’m the only one from out of town.”
“Nope. There are a few of us. I just kind of came back on a whim, well, and on a really good real estate lead.” Grace smiled. “I can’t believe they’re still renting the house out. I hope that makes it feel more like home for him.”
“I’m sure he’ll be happy to have his own space,” Becky replied. “Now that he’s found his way out of his room, he does a lot of prowling. It would be okay if he weren’t so scary big, and quiet. How does he do that?”
“I don’t know, but it’s a well-honed skill. When we were little, well, when I was little, he used to sneak up on me and scare me all the time. It never got old for him.” Grace furrowed her brow at the memory.
“At least we don’t have that kind of relationship,” Becky conceded, relieved. “He mostly tries to avoid me, but if I ever have him cornered, he’s like a caged animal, ready to attack.”
“Well, not all men are like Tank. You don’t need to write them all off.”
“Yeah, I think I do,” Becky replied. She narrowed her eyes at her friend. “You’re looking a little dreamy-eyed. That’s not like you.”
Grace grinned. Grace, her serious businesswoman friend, grinned.
“Is it that guy from Saturday? The high school friend?”
Grace continued to smile. “Yep.”
“Really? Wow. Well, he is gorgeous.” Becky considered her friend. “But you didn’t seem so happy with him when I last saw you.”
“I wasn’t. I was overwhelmed - Tank had just thrown me a curve ball about the shop, and I just didn’t think I could handle a new relationship.” Grace shrugged. “Anyway, we talked yesterday. Alex came back to the shop and was very ... compelling,” she smiled. “We’re going to try the long-distance thing. It may not work, but,” she sighed happily.
Becky rolled her eyes. “You were the one person I thought I could count on to be rational.” She shook her head, but couldn’t help smiling a little. “I’m happy for you. When will you see him again?”
“He’s coming back this weekend. He may be in touch about staying at Maddy’s.”
“Well, if you’re sure you want him around Tank.” Becky picked up her empty mug and slid out of the booth. “Just have him give me a call.”
“Great - thanks.” Grace followed, gathering her dark brown hair back into a pony tail. “Take care of him, but, you know, not too much.” She grinned sheepishly and tied her apron.
“Done with men forever,” Becky reminded her with a determined smile, and made her way out of the coffee shop.
***
Becky neared the house with trepidation. She didn’t like feeling this way about coming back to her own home. Well, it was more her home than his. Tank’s Jeep was still parked in the drive. Why didn’t he go out to eat or something? Did he really think the whole town would fall apart over an ex-football player? Big deal.
She walked around to the oceanside porch and paused when she saw Tank and Burt out on the beach. They were a perfect pair; neither one looked abnormally huge when they were together. Tank was tossing pieces of driftwood and Burt was having a great time chasing them.
Tank was in short sleeves and had worked up a bit of a sweat heaving the large pieces of wood around. His arms were huge. Becky was not about to take in the spectacle for another minute. She turned to sneak back around the front of the house before either one of them saw her.
Too late.
Burt loped around the side of the house. Becky tried to urge him back, to no avail. He ran right up to her, tail wagging, and she had no choice but to greet him. Tank followed a moment later. Rounding the corner, he simply stopped and stared with his dirty hands on his hips. Then he turned and walked back to the beach.
Becky grabbed Burt’s collar and walked him into the house. “We need to find you better friends.”
[End of Excerpt. Click to order Done with Men Forever.]
Other books by S. Jane Scheyder
The Other Side of the Pulpit (2006)
One More Thing - Children’s Bedtime Story (2013)
About the author

S. Jane Scheyder, a firm believer in romance, lives with her husband and five children in Connecticut. Born and raised in the Midwest, she graduated from Valparaiso University in Indiana with a degree in Music Merchandising, though writing has always been her favorite artistic outlet. While enjoying her busy family tops her priority list, she looks forward to returning to the coast of Maine and finishing the Clairmont series.
For more information, visit www.andresblanton.com.