Gloria

“Okay.” She wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth. Dropping her wallet back into her purse, she beamed up at him. Gorgeous and generous? Seriously? He seemed too good to be true. “Thanks. That’s super nice of you.”

“Just take it easy when you head back to Ms. Patti’s place. The path is sturdy but, if you take the wrong one, or head deeper into the mountain, it might put more stress on your engine.”

Gloria had been in Hamlet for almost a month. In all that time, she thought there was only the one path that led that high up into the mountains. Sure, she hadn’t really been looking for another one—and, now that she thought of it, it did seem like it broke off a little—but she didn’t know there were other places to visit up on the mountain.

“I didn’t know I could. I’ve only ever taken the one path.”

“Oh, yeah,” piped up Bailey. “There’s so many hidden spots in the woods and up the mountains. There’s this one, if you go about half a mile down from Frank’s house, with two posts. If you see the chain, then—”

“Bailey.”

“Yes?”

“Homework or I call Dad or Vanessa to come pick you up. Your choice.”

Muttering something about butthead older brothers, Bailey pulled a random textbook closer and, with an exaggerated sigh, flipped it open to a middle page. She picked up her pen and, when she thought Franklin wasn’t looking, stuck out her tongue at him.

Gloria clamped her mouth shut to muffle her laughter.

“Don’t mind her. She wanted a job while she’s finishing up school. It was her choice to work here—”

“Yeah,” Bailey muttered, loud enough for the other two to hear her. “It was either here or work with Nat over at Thirsty’s. Work with my brother for pennies or wait tables for pennies? What a choice.”

“Bailey...” he warned again.

Gloria laughed. “She’s got a point. I waited tables one summer. Never again.”

The teen glanced up from her textbook, a triumphant look in her dark eyes. “Told you so, Frank.”

Franklin had long, luscious lashes, Gloria noticed. It was a touch of softness in an otherwise tough-looking man. As he glanced over her, looking down at her through those gorgeous lashes, she saw them and felt her stomach tighten.

Oh, mama.

“What do you do?”

Did he ask her something? “Huh?”

“She makes ice cream,” said Bailey. “It’s really good, too. Ethan told me.”

The mechanic quirked one of his eyebrows over at his sister. “Ethan Oliver? Your friend?”

“Friend? Sure. Right. Anyway, he told me she makes the best ice cream he’s ever had.” Ignoring her brother’s pointed stare, Bailey slid her gaze over at Gloria. “Since my brother did your repair work for free, you should bring us some ice cream. It’s only fair.”

“Jeez, Bailey. Really?”

“What?”

Franklin let out a frustrated huff and Gloria, who was already smitten after just meeting him, couldn’t help but want to give the big guy a hug. Ice cream, too, of course, but her fingers were already itching to latch onto him.

Oh, man.

She had a problem, didn’t she?

6

Now that she finally got the chance to meet her neighbor, Gloria decided that Bailey was right. It would be rude not to bring him some of her delicious ice cream. You know. As a thank you.

And maybe she’d make a batch especially for Bailey Carter. She liked the teenager. She kind of reminded Gloria of herself when she’d been that age.