Page 4 of One Lustful Summer
The back door opens and a teaching assistant helps Jodi out of the car. With one last wave in her direction, I drive out of the school parking lot and head into town.
The automatic bell on the hardware door chimes as I step inside. “Morning, Rowan,” Carla, the cashier says as pass over the threshold.
“Good morning, Miss Carla,” I reply, giving her a nod and a small wave. I make my way to the counter atthe back of the store that leads out to the lumberyard.
While I wait for Joe, Carla’s husband, to finish his phone call, I scroll through my emails on my phone. A minute later, he’s standing in front of me with his ever-present smile on his face. There are only a few times in my life that I have ever seen Joe frustrated or upset. He always wears a friendly demeanor in whatever capacity I have seen him in. “What can I get you today, Rowan?”
I go over the list of things that are needed for the job site for this week. We make plans for delivery of the items that he has on hand for this afternoon, and he makes a call to set up another delivery for tomorrow for what he doesn’t have in the lot behind the store.
“I can take those for you,” I hear Carla say a few aisles away. My curiosity overcoming me, I turn to see who she’s talking to. I didn’t hear anyone come in and didn’t see anyone else in the store when I arrived.
I watch Carla walk out of an aisle a few rows away with her hands full. She has a couple pairs of gardening gloves, a roll of black trash bags and a few brown landscaping trash bags laying on top. She walks the items to the register and sets them on the back counter.
Looking back to where Carla came from, I’m stunned to see the woman that emerges out of the aisle. She’s not from here. An outsider, but a stunning-looking outsider. Her brown hair is on the top of her head in a messy knot of sorts, with a few pieces framing her face. Brown eyes search the store.
While she looks around, I continue my perusal of this newcomer. Dressed in a white tank top and denim shorts, her long, tan legs catch my eye. Her tennis shoes look new and I wonder how long they will stay clean.
I draw my eyes back up to her face. She’s watching me and raises her eyebrow before she gives me a once over.When her eyes meet mine, I smirk. She shakes her head, a small smile on her lips, and heads down the next aisle.
“Okay, I have that delivery all lined up,” Joe says, making me turn away from the mystery woman.
“Thanks, Joe,” I tell him and with a handshake to seal the deal, I head out of the hardware. My eyes looking for one more glimpse of the woman.
“Have a good day, Rowan,” Carla calls out as I exit the door. I throw my hand up above my head, giving her a wave as the door closes behind me.
Chapter 4
Maggie
Rowan. That’s his name. The handsome man that had me stopping in my tracks.
After we caught each other checking the other out, I kept my head down, but followed him with my eyes. There was an invisible pull that kept me tethered to where he was in the store. His brown hair curled out under his black and red ball cap, suggesting that he needed a haircut soon.
His worn jeans and gray t-shirt fit him to perfection. Showing off muscles in both places. But it was his smirk that set flutters off in my stomach.
With a rake and shovel in my hands, I make my way up to the cash register. I don’t have time to lollygag about a man; I have a house to work on.
“All set?” the cashier asks as I stop at the counter.
“Yes,” I answer, holding out the rake and shovel. She scans the items, and I lean them against the counter as she rings up my other items.
“I don’t mean to sound too intrusive, but did you just move to town?” The cashier asks, and while her attempt to learn about me should frustrate me, I remember this is a small town, and she likely knows everyone.
“Is it that obvious?” I ask with a small smile.
She chuckles as she places my smaller items in plastic bags. “Just a tad.” Her smile is sincere and I loosen up alittle. “I’m Carla, and that’s my husband over there, Joe.” She nods towards the man in at the counter in the back.
“I’m Maggie. I just bought a house unseen and have a lot of work cut out for me.”
Her eyes widen at my confession. “The Sterling house?” I nod and she continues, “There’s a lot of work to be done. Do you have a construction crew lined up?” I shake my head at her question, frustration clear on my face. I try to mask it, but she sees it. “Turn that frown upside down, Maggie. I got you.”
She reaches down in a drawer where she pulls out a business card and hands it over to me. “Thank you,” I tell her and take the card. She gives me my total and after paying her husband helps me out to my car. I have to lower the back seats and load the rake and shovel through the back of the hatchback.
With everything in the vehicle, I lock up and take a quick walk to the other side of the square, getting a glimpse of what else is available. On the last street there is a diner, bookstore, post office, photographer and building behind a corner parking lot with a sign displaying The Gypsy Rabbit.
Since I have time to spare, I decide to walk the whole square back to my vehicle. I had a pleasant look while I was driving, but I can now window shop as I walk by each building. The sidewalks have a frame signs boasting sales and telling those passing by to come in. It’s an all-around welcome feel.
The town square isn’t too crowded this late in the morning; this makes me wonder if many people drive out of town for work or are already at their offices.
