Page 8 of My Three Hometown Hard Hats

I don’t think my mouth could gape open any more. “Mom,” I say, unable to formulate any more words.

She waves at her neighbor, who’s walking out to her mailbox, as I plop back into the chair beside her.

“I already can’t teach until after the surgery, which is driving me crazy. If you don’t have something to keep you busy some of the time either, that sounds like a recipe for disaster.”

I sigh, knowing she’s probably right. “Alright, I’ll see what I can find.”

“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop,” Louise says, walking across her lawn toward us with her permed white hair and round glasses.

Sure you didn’t, you adorable little busy-body.

She walks to the edge of her yard. “I heard you saying you were going to be looking for a job,” she says, her gaze locked on me.

I glance at my mom, unable to hold back my giggle. “Yeah, I guess so.”

“Well, my granddaughter Sienna is running the animal shelter now. She’s been looking for some help.”

“That would be perfect,” my mom says.

“Geez, Mom, it’s like you don’t want me here.”

She waves her hand dismissively. “No, no, I want you here more than anything, sweetheart, but I don’t need a babysitter ’round the clock. Go live your life and be here in between everything.”

Live my life. Right…

I look back at Louise. “I’ll stop by and talk to her tomorrow.”

She tells us goodnight, making her way back to her house.

“You’re not mad, are you?” my mom asks as we walk back inside.

I shake my head.

“I finally have you back here. I want you to find your joy again, live again. Maybe find a reason to stay this time.”

I wrap her in a hug, not knowing what to say. All the reasons I had years ago to move so far away seem so meaningless now.

CHAPTER FOUR

Conrad

I blinkfor the millionth time, trying to clear the images flashing through my mind.

I’ve been working on the same email for twenty minutes now because all I can seem to think about is the beauty from the airplane who gave me hands-down the best sex of my life—in an airplane bathroom, of all places.

But like the idiot I am, I didn’t get her name, let alone her phone number.Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Deciding it’s as good as it’s going to get, I send the email just as Brooks saunters into my office from the warehouse part of the building. He sits down in one of the chairs facing me.

My twin uses the hair tie around his wrist to secure his shoulder-length blond locks away from his face. “All the wood for the Dobson project has been delivered. It’s in the warehouse, ready to go.”

“Thanks.”

His forehead wrinkles as he stares at me. “What has you all ‘in your thoughts?’” he says with air quotes.

I just stare at him, not wanting to give him any ammo to tease me with. Brooks is the king of the ladies' men club.

He would never let me hear the end of it if he found out I let a knockout like Airplane Girl slip through my fingers.