My Lucky Stars by Michele Paige Holmes Read Free Book Online

shower in the morning. I’m too tired now.”
    He nodded. “I understand.”
    Tara held the towel to her chest, waiting for him to leave.
    Several awkward seconds passed, and Tara wondered if she’d missed something when Ben finally said, “Night, then.”
    “Good night,” she said, closing the door softly as he turned to go. Despite her tiredness and the less-than-stellar impression he’d made, a slow smile formed on her lips. She glanced down at the flannel gown, swishing it back and forth.
    Gertrude’s Mystery indeed. Maybe there’s something to Jane’s logic, after all.
    Because Ben Whitmore had just noticed her more in the last two minutes than he had the entire evening.
    * * *
    Tara rolled on her side and was surprised when her arm flopped over the side of the couch. With a California king all to herself, that almost never happened. But I’m not in my bed. Hearing the sounds of shrieking children nearby, she opened one eye, and it didn’t take long for her to remember where she was—and wasn’t.
    With a silent groan, Tara flung her arm across her face. Soft flannel partially covered her eyes but not before she noticed Ben and Cadie tiptoeing behind the sofa.
    “Shh.” Ben held a finger to his lips, motioning for Cadie to be quiet.
    “Is the grumpy lady still asleep?” Cadie asked.
    “Yes,” Ben said. “And we don’t want her to be more grumpy, so let’s be very quiet. Show me where your shoes are, and you can come with me to pick up the truck.”
    Grumpy lady. Ha! You haven’t seen anything yet. Tara could tell by the gray light filtering through the half-closed blinds that it was still very early. And early she did not do—at least not without a strong cup of coffee laced with a little morning pick-me-up. Here in good old Utah, it wasn’t likely she’d be getting either.
    I’ll show you grumpy. And who wouldn’t be, being woken at this insane hour? She moved her arm so she could get a better peek at Ben. Today he wore a different plaid shirt, this one more faded than yesterday’s. And even worse—the shirt was tucked into a pair of denim bib overalls. Overalls! Hadn’t the fashion police outlawed those at least a few decades ago? “Yesterday a lumberjack, today a farmer.”
    “What was that?” Ben stopped mid-stride and looked back at her.
    Oops. Didn’t mean to say that out loud. A second ago she’d been ready for a fight, but suddenly she wasn’t so sure. She was used to saying what she thought and not worrying about it, but maybe—here—that wasn’t the best way to proceed. She leaned up on one elbow. “I was just noticing your overalls.”
    “Do you like them?” Ben came around to the front of the couch, thumbs hooked under his straps, as if he were proud of his attire.
    “Sure. If you’re headed out to milk cows or something.” That wouldn’t have surprised her all that much. She’d discovered last night that this family had a menagerie of pets—two dogs, one bunny, a hermit crab, and a tank of goldfish.
    “I suppose fuchsia leopard print is more in fashion,” Ben said wryly.
    “Where I’m from, yes.” Resigned to the fact that her opportunity for sleep was past, she swung her legs over the side of the sofa and sat up.
    “And that would be . . . working as an exotic dancer somewhere?”
    “No.” Tara stood and met his bemused gaze with her own furious one. “That was rude.”
    “It was.” The smile he’d been trying to contain faded. “What you said was rude too. But my mother taught me better. I apologize.”
    “A farmer with manners,” Tara said sarcastically. “How refreshing.”
    “A big city girl with none, how unusual.”
    “I got my shoes. Can we go now?” Cadie skipped between them.
    Didn’t they ever teach that kid to walk ? Tara noticed the little girl’s shoes were on the wrong feet and tied rather strangely.
    “Sure,” Ben said. “Just as soon as I milk my cows.”
    “Ooooh. You have cows on your farm?” Cadie beamed. “Uncle