WalkingSin by Lynn LaFleur Read Free Book Online

will be delivered
the next week. We’ll have almost two weeks to put up the Christmas decorations
before your grand opening.”
    Alaina’s eyes widened again. “Christmas
decorations! Ohmigod, they should’ve been here by now! We have to call that
company.”
    Kelcey would’ve laughed if her friend
hadn’t been so frazzled. “Calm down. They’ll be delivered next week.” She
reached over and squeezed Alaina’s hand. “Everything will be fine. I promise.”
    Alaina blew out a huge breath, then took
Kelcey’s hand between hers. “I love how organized you are. I’m so glad you’re
here. I couldn’t get through this without you and Emma.”
    Kelcey thumbed the diamond ring on her
friend’s left ring finger. “Your hunky guy can help you get through anything.”
    A soft smile touched Alaina’s lips. Holding
up her hand, she looked at her ring and sighed. “He is a hunk, isn’t he?”
    “And absolutely crazy about you.”
    “The feeling is mutual.” Her smile lit up
her entire face. “Oh Kelc, I never dreamed I could love a man as much as
I love Rye. Yes, I had a crush on him when I was young, but it blossomed into
so much more. He’s just so perfect.”
    Jealousy churned in Kelcey’s stomach. She
ignored it. Just because she would never know the joy of a diamond ring on her
finger didn’t mean she couldn’t be thrilled for her friend. “I’m really happy
for you, Alaina.”
    “I’m happy for me too.” Her smile abruptly
faded. “How are you doing today?”
    Pulling back from Alaina, Kelcey reached
for a stack of file folders to give her hands something to do. “I’m fine.”
    “Are you? After what you told Emma and me—”
    “It happened a lot time ago, Alaina. I just
want to forget it.”
    Sympathy filled her friend’s eyes. “But
that’s the problem, isn’t it? You can’t forget it.”
    Kelcey would not cry. She refused to. She
had tons of things to be thankful for in her life. What happened in the past
stayed in the past. “No, I can’t forget it, but I can stop letting it run my
life. I have a brand new job and will soon have a brand new place to live. I
want to concentrate on the positives.”
    Alaina smiled. “Good for you! That’s what I
want to hear.” She glanced at the clock on the wall above the desk. “Bob Lowe
should be here any minute. We’re doing a final walk-through outside to talk
about autumn flowers. I think bluebonnet seeds are supposed to be spread in
November.”
    “Why not wait until spring and buy
bluebonnet plants?”
    “I will, but I want to spread seeds too. I
want wildflowers all over the place, all the way to the creek.”
    Kelcey didn’t remember Alaina mentioning
any kind of water on her property. “Creek?”
    “Yeah. It divides my property from the
Pearsons’ to the north. It isn’t very big, but I think wildflowers along the
bank will be pretty. Very romantic for a picnic.” A calculating look suddenly
appeared in Alaina’s eyes. “Bob is single. I’ll introduce you to him when he
gets here.”
    Kelcey expected matchmaking from Emma. She
didn’t expect it from Alaina. “Are you trying to set me up?”
    Alaina gave a shrug that Kelcey assumed was
supposed to be innocent. “You need to start meeting people in Lanville. A single
man is a good place to start. Bob’s probably in his mid-thirties. He isn’t
drop-dead gorgeous, but he’s good-looking and very nice.”
    “It doesn’t matter what he looks like,
Alaina. I’m not interested.”
    Alaina scooted her chair closer to
Kelcey’s. “You can’t just give up, Kelc. You’re a warm, caring person. You have
so much love inside you that you could give a guy.”
    A lump formed in Kelcey’s throat at her
friend’s sweet words. “There’s a physical side to that love, Lainy. A guy would
expect sex from me. I can’t give it.”
    “With the right guy—”
    “I can’t . I’ve tried so many times
and it always failed. I simply can’t try again.”
    Alaina took Kelcey’s hand