When Sparks Fly by Kristine Raymond, Andrea Michelle, Grace Augustine, Maryann Jordan, B. Maddox, J. M. Nash, Anne L. Parks Read Free Book Online Page B

pits, picnic tables, and several covered pavilions complete with cooking grills. A small concession stand stood next to the baseball diamond and a paved bike path encircled a large lake, winding in and out among clusters of trees.
    They headed for the playground first, and Monica sat on a bench while Kimber played on the slide, crawled through the tire tunnel, and climbed to the top of the castle fort. Several other children were there also and they wasted no time in becoming friends with the newcomer. An impromptu game of hide-and-seek began and lasted for several minutes before the children abandoned it in favor of swinging on the swings. Shrieks of laughter filled the air along with the chant ‘higher, higher’. Monica smiled, enjoying every moment of her child’s gaiety, certain that one of them would sleep well that night.
    The sound of hammering caught her attention, and she looked out beyond the ball field. Piles of lumber were stacked near a partially completed structure. Next to it was a man leaning over a pair of sawhorses, driving a nail into a piece of wood. Even at this distance, she knew it was Joe and her pulse quickened.
    “Quite a sight.”
    “Excuse me?” she said, looking over at the woman who had sat down next to her.
    “Joe Callaghan. Most eligible bachelor in town. Sexiest, too. He can bring his tools to my house anytime,” the woman said with a suggestive smile.
    Monica just stared, not knowing quite how to respond. Young, shapely, and blonde, without a visible wrinkle or gray hair, the woman looked like a cover model for a fashion magazine. She was clad in Lycra leggings and a sports bra, with bright orange running shoes on her feet. An Ipod was clipped to her waistband, the earplugs dangling around her neck. Though it seemed obvious that she had been running, not a drop of sweat showed on her body nor a strand of hair in her neatly made ponytail lay out of place.
    “Think I’ll go over and say ‘hi’.” The woman got up and jogged over to where Joe was working, her tight ass bouncing in rhythm with her steps. Watching while he straightened to talk to her, Monica narrowed her eyes as the mystery blonde squeezed his bicep. Feeling a tiny bit of satisfaction when he promptly removed the woman’s hand and turned back to work, she almost laughed when ‘Barbie’ stared at him, then stomped off, seemingly forgetting about her run.
    “I’m thirsty.” Kimber ran up to the bench demanding her mother’s attention. Pulling a pint-sized bottle of water from her purse, she handed it to her daughter. When it was empty, she tossed it in a nearby recycling can and suggested they take a walk. Always up for an adventure, the little girl readily agreed, chattering away about the new friends she’d made.
    Telling herself that it was strictly out of curiosity, they set out in the direction of the construction site. The park was full of activity and they passed by families enjoying picnic lunches, a group of teenagers playing baseball, and a couple strolling hand in hand by the lake. It was beautiful day to be outdoors; puffy white clouds chugged across a brilliant blue sky. Sunshine beamed down, warming the air to a pleasant temperature, while trees provided cooling shade for those who tended to overheat.
    Reaching their destination, Monica held back to study the structure. A waist-high railing wound two-thirds of the way around a wooden 12 x 24 foot platform, across the back and down both sides, and on six foot sections at either end of the front. Two broad steps, twelve feet in length, led up to the platform, the railing extending down to the ground on both sides. Wooden benches had been installed along the inside of the railing on one side and across the back. The braces for the last section had been nailed into place; it was this bench that Joe was working on when they walked up.
    “Leroy!” Kimber shouted, running over to greet the dog that was bounding towards her. She threw her arms around the