Bachelor to the Rescue by Lorraine Beatty Read Free Book Online Page B

Monday to see when I can start work.”
    â€œI’d be happy to keep the girls. I’ll bring the boys over later so they can get acquainted. It was so nice to meet you. Why don’t you visit our church tomorrow? Peace Community on the square. We’ll save you a seat.”
    The invitation warmed her heart. “I’d like that. I want to get the girls back into Sunday chool.” Gwen gave her the time of the service then said goodbye, leaving a smile on Lainie’s face. Her visions of small-town life were starting to materialize. She’d had her first cozy conversation over a picket fence with a neighbor and been invited to church. She prayed the looming issues with her new job would be resolved as easily.
    Returning to the porch, she watched her daughters darting in and out of the bushes and playing with the dog. Accepting Shaw’s offer was turning out to be a blessing, after all. She was staying in a charming old Victorian house, her girls had a yard and a dog to play with, and now neighbors. But this home was only temporary. She prayed she could find a place as nice once the issues with her job were sorted out.
    * * *
    The aroma of fresh pizza permeated the cab of Shaw’s truck as he drove home Saturday, reminding him how hungry he was. He and Russ had managed to get a good portion of the drywall hung on the second floor of the library before running out of materials. He couldn’t get another load until Monday.
    Tired and hungry, he’d stopped and picked up a couple of pizzas. One for himself and one for Lainie and the girls. He wasn’t sure if she’d appreciate the gesture, but he felt guilty for leaving them alone all day. He hadn’t been able to stop thinking about them. Lainie had flitted through his mind at unexpected moments, tempting him to call and check on her, but he’d held off. He understood her resistance to accepting his help. But his conscience wouldn’t let him turn away. Now that he understood how alone she was, he was even more determined to protect her and the kids until the library was done and she had a job And a safe place to live. He owed them that.
    Shaw carried the boxes onto the back porch and knocked on Lainie’s door. He found himself looking forward to seeing her again, and curious about what she’d done all day. The frown on her face when she opened the door dampened his mood. He forced a smile anyway and held out the pizza box. “I thought you and the kids might like a pizza.”
    Lainie blinked. “Oh. Thank you. That was very thoughtful. I was just about to fix supper.” She looked into his eyes and he saw the indecision. She was wondering how to invite him to stay. And not wanting to. The realization stung more than he’d expected. He handed her the top box.
    â€œIt’s pepperoni. I didn’t know if the kids like the other toppings.”
    Chrissy charged into the kitchen and stopped in front of him, tilting her head back and smiling. “Hey, Misser Shaw. We played with Beaux today.”
    â€œIs that pizza for us?” Natalie glanced at her mother. “Pepperoni?”
    â€œYes. Won’t you stay and eat with us?”
    Her smile had warmed some. “No, but thanks.” He raised the other box. “I got one for myself. And Beaux.” He stepped back, suddenly aware of the sweet scent of her perfume, and his own end-of-the-day dirt and grime. His shirt was covered in drywall dust. “Besides, I need to clean up, and I have a lot of paperwork to catch up on. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    â€œThanks again.”
    Shaw crossed the short distance to his own back door and went inside. He set the pizza on the table, his appetite fading. Russ had expressed concern about having Lainie nearby all the time. Shaw had dismissed the idea, but now he was beginning to think his friend was right. Simply knowing she was on the other side of the wall left him distracted and off