Secretly Smitten (28 page)

She hoped his comment didn’t mean she always thought about food.

“Not just me. My daughter Zoe brought cupcakes, Natalie brought gluten-free cookies and coffee, and Shelby Majors brought hot tea and scones. Oh, and Aunt Violet brought sandwiches, and let’s see, Ellie Draper brought some candy from Sweet Surrender. Everything will be laid out buffet style.” She pointed toward the counter. “Help yourself when you want something.”

“Sounds like you ladies have thought of everything. Once you put the food out, grab a hammer and come join me— unless you have your heart set on washing walls.”

Words stuck in her throat as she watched his back turn to her. He’d asked her to join him? What did that mean? She didn’t want the fine community of Smitten to get the wrong idea. Then again, maybe she was assuming too much. They had reached a certain level of friendship.

Once the chili, plastic bowls, spoons, drinks, and cups were set out, Anna grabbed a hammer and scanned the room for Michael. She’d forgotten to ask him if he would be working in the freight room or the waiting room. She spotted him in the waiting room and then hesitated. He was talking to Heather DeMeritt, a young single mother from their church. Heather was thin, with long blond hair and a beautiful smile. She worked hard to provide for her two-year-old son.

“Hi, Mom.” Prybar in hand, Zoe stepped up beside her, with William close behind.

“Hi.” Anna hugged them both. “Glad you could come. What’s your job today?”

“We’ll be prying up molding in the ticket office,” William said.

Before Anna could respond, the wooden floor creaked as Heather’s toddler rolled by in a shiny new wagon that Nick and Shelby Majors’s daughter, Willow, was pulling.

They all smiled. “Looks like someone got a new wagon,” Anna said.

“Oh yeah, he got it from Parakaleo Pal,” William said with a smile.

“Who?”

“Somebody has been anonymously helping single mothers in the area—donating money, food, something for the kids—and leaving a card that says
Parakaleo
Pal
,” Zoe said.

“I think it means ‘encourager,’” William added. “It’s pretty cool, if you ask me.”

“I would agree,” Anna said. “Quite a mystery, though. Kind of fun.”

The sound of hammers pounding on wood echoed through the room.

“Yep.” Zoe grabbed William’s hand. “We’d better get to work before they fire us.”

“Slave driver,” he said with a laugh.

They waved good-bye to Anna. She took a deep breath and walked over to where Michael sat on the floor, tapping a nail into submission.

“Did you notice Phil McCreedy was here?” Michael asked, running his hand across a nail to make sure it was even with the floor’s surface.

Anna eased onto the floor. “Oh?” She looked around until she spotted him.

“You ought to talk to him while you have him here. Maybe you could set up an appointment to meet with him about your spinning idea.”

Anna considered that.

“With sheep of his own, he’s bound to be helpful.”

“Sheep? Did I hear someone talk about sheep?” Pastor Walden groaned as he dropped to the floor. “Not as young as I used to be,” he said with a laugh.

“Hello, Pastor.” Anna explained the sheep concept.

“Impressive idea. I’ve always thought you were a savvy businesswoman, Anna. The way you’ve built that business from the ground up always impressed me. You’re really an inspiration, you know. We could use more creative thinking like that. Especially if that train comes to Smitten like we hope it will!”

Mrs. Walden called him over to help cut plastic to cover the electrical outlets and vents. “Guess I’d better go.” He stood, then turned back to Anna. “If you decide to get sheep before Christmas, I could use some for the live nativity the church is planning. Let me know.”

The pastor hurried off, and Anna could feel Michael watching her with something akin to admiration in his eyes. It made her uncomfortable.

“So, another reason to go for it. You’d be helping the church out if you got those sheep,” Michael said.

Anna laughed and swatted at him. “You’re no help.”

“Hey, cut that out or they’ll dock your pay.”

Anna warmed to the playful bantering. “I think I’ll grab a broom and sweep where I can,” she said, standing.

“Was it something I said?”

“No, no. I thought I’d work my way over to Mr. McCreedy.”

“Good idea,” Michael said, but he looked disappointed. She knew she shouldn’t get all smug about that, but it did her heart good to have a . . . friend.

As Anna headed toward Mr. McCreedy, Zoe intercepted her. “Did you talk to Grandma yet? She’s here if you want to. She’s taping plastic around the wall outlet over there.”

“I see her,” Anna said. She was feeling good and didn’t want to engage in what was sure to be a tension-filled conversation with her mother. “I’ll talk to her about it later. Right now, I need to talk to Mr. McCreedy.”

“Mom, this time is perfect. She’s sitting alone.”

“This isn’t the time or place to deal with family matters, Zoe. I’ve got business to attend to. I’ll talk to her later.”

CHAPTER FIVE

L
ate Sunday afternoon after the family left, Anna stepped into the coffee shop. The heated room and coffee smells wrapped around her like a warm greeting. She bought a mocha and found a seat. She’d gotten hooked on the chocolaty confection when Zoe worked here. She was savoring the heat and the flush from her sip when Michael walked through the door. He spotted her, waved, and went to order his coffee.

Anna tried to quell the unsettled feeling in her stomach. Her body was playing mutiny with her. She had no feelings for this man other than friendship, and that was the way it would stay. Not just because he was military—he was proving himself different from her ex-husband, and she found the gentle giant in him hard to resist. Still, how well did she know him? Before they’d gotten married she thought she knew her husband. Look where that got her.

Besides, she was doing just fine on her own.

“Mind if I join you?” Michael asked, making her heart jump.

“Not at all. Have a seat.”

Anna, don’t act so eager.

“Please don’t think I’m stalking you. I just thought it was a perfect day for some serious espresso.”

Anna laughed. “I lean toward the mochas.”

He eased into an overstuffed chair beside her. “How did it go with Mr. McCreedy?”

“You won’t believe it! He told me he would give me four of his sheep ‘on loan’ through January to see if I can handle it, if I like it, whatever.”

“That’s generous of him.”

She took a sip of her mocha. “Well, there is a catch. If I decide to buy sheep, I have to buy his.”

“If you decide to take them, I can go with you to get them. We can use my truck.”

Her heart kicked at his offer. It was almost as if he
wanted
to be with her. “That would be great. I’m going to contact a lady I found online who has taught spinning for years. She has videos you can subscribe to that teach you everything you need to know.”

“That sounds like a good idea.”

“McCreedy has Shetland sheep, which is the kind I want. I researched it some already. They have soft, warm wool. Makes good yarn. I might add Merino sheep later, if I decide to do this.”

“Sounds like you’re seriously considering it.”

She liked the way he listened intently to her plans. “Crazy as it sounds, I am. It sounds like a fun challenge, and I think it would give the business an edge.”

“Hey, why don’t I take you out to my acreage and you can look around the barn, all that, to see what you think.”

Her stomach tossed again. Was it from anticipation about the sheep or about being alone with Michael? She didn’t know. “That would be great.”

Anna left her coffee behind and climbed out of Michael’s truck. A slight dusting of snow covered the ground as new flakes spilled from the sky. The gray wooden barn in front of her was spotted with peeling paint, but the hardware on the doors was new. It seemed in good enough condition. Cobwebs laced corners and spiders scurried about. A couple of empty stalls had bits of hay debris and earth that had been scooped into a pile. Obviously, Michael had already been out here and started working. He’d have the barn as sterile and tidy as his house in no time. The faint smell of old dirt and manure lingered.

“Isn’t it great?” Michael said.

“It would be perfect for the sheep, Michael. Thanks for the offer.”

“You’re welcome.” He looked around the barn. “You know, I always wanted a place out in the country with a barn and some livestock.”

“Really? Think of the work.”

He shrugged. “A little work never hurt anyone. And I have the time. Remember, I only work part-time at the slopes. I do that for a reason.”

“Oh?”

“I have enough money to enjoy a comfortable life with my military pension. Listen, I was a workaholic when my family was here. I won’t make that mistake again. I’m trying to make time for what matters.”

The way he looked at her then made her feel flushed. Though what he said sounded good, she braced herself against it. Once you gave your heart away, people changed.

Friends. They were just friends.

His gaze on her was intent. “I just wish I had realized all that before I lost my wife and son. But I didn’t know the Lord then. That’s made the difference, of course.”

“I know all about that. Believe me.” The way he stared at her caused a fluttering in her stomach. It meant nothing, though. Nothing.

Michael walked around, checking random tools. Anna stayed close, unsure of what creatures might inhabit the barn. When a mouse scurried across the floor, she grabbed his arm and a scream erupted from her throat. She leaped onto an empty crate.

He chuckled and helped her down as the mouse ran off. “You’ll have to get used to that in the country. Comes with the territory.”

Anna didn’t like the sound of that, but she hoped the sheep would keep the mice away. She felt cold when Michael’s hand dropped away from hers.

“I feel better when I’m out here in the country somehow. Sometimes I still get anxious when I’m not busy doing something productive. I have to keep telling myself I don’t have to be making money to be valuable.”

“Owning my own business, I have to be careful too. With no children at home, work can consume me sometimes. It’s a balancing act.”

“It’s a hard balance. I just know I don’t want to come to the end of my life and realize I didn’t do anything but make money. I want to make a life.” He looked at her and laughed. “Sounds cheesy, huh?”

She laughed with him. “Maybe a little. But I understand where you’re coming from.”

“How long have you been in Smitten?” He leaned against a wooden beam.

“Born and raised here. We traveled some when my husband was in the military, but we always knew we’d come back to Smitten to raise our girls.” She shrugged. “We had family here. We liked small-town living.”

“Was your husband from here too?”

She shook her head. “He came here to visit a friend when he was on leave. We met, had a whirlwind courtship, and got married.” Opening herself to conversation about Joe unnerved her. She wanted to change the subject and fast. She glanced around. “I’ve prayed about it, Michael. And now, seeing your space here, I’m going to give it a trial run.”