Page 4 of His Curvy Flower

As I closed the door behind me, I knew without a doubt that wouldn’t be the last time I saw her.

I claimed her as mine, and that was final. She’d see.

But for now, I headed back home to pick up the new puppy I adopted, a gorgeous German shepherd I named Warrior, and then it was time for work.

Luckily, my office was next door to the spa.

I’d easily be able to keep an eye on Sadie.

CHAPTERTHREE

Sadie

Somehow,I managed to make it through the rest of the day after that intense first appointment. I didn’t know what to think of it, but holy fuck was that man hot. And the way he wrapped his arms around me, I felt more secure than I have ever felt before.

But I barely knew him. He was thirteen years older than me, wasn’t that a bit too old? I didn’t know how any of this worked. I’ve never had a boyfriend before, never been kissed, nothing.

That didn’t matter anyway. I didn’t move to Appleridge for love, nor was I looking for it.

More and more thought trains raced through the tracks of my mind as I drove to work for my second day. I barely slept last night. And it wasn’t like I needed anything more to dwell on. There was enough with my past, never mind adding Arlo to the mix.

Speaking of which, he was on my schedule for today, something I noticed last night before leaving, and when Lacey handed it to me this morning, she wiggled her eyebrows at me. “Did the Appleridge love bug hit you already?”

I raised one eyebrow. “The what?”

“Arlo seemed pretty happy when he left his appointment yesterday and immediately scheduled one for today. And it’s possible a little birdie told me last night that he couldn’t stop talking about you.” Lacey grinned.

“I still don’t understand what the Appleridge love bug is and what it has to do with Arlo and me?”

“It’s a joke around town that when you move here, you fall in love quickly. And from the way Crew said Arlo talked about you, I’d say it’s ready to strike once again.”

I couldn’t help the loud laughter that escaped, and I clamped my hand over my mouth, but it was no use. I laughed so hard I snorted. “I don’t believe it. There’s no way a town makes people fall in love.”

“It’s okay. I was skeptical at first too. But when it hits out of nowhere, don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Lacey winked. “Keep up the good work, by the way. All of your clients from yesterday were happy.”

“Glad to hear it. Thanks, Lacey.” But as I walked toward my room, my mind went into overdrive, if that was even possible. I was surprised smoke wasn’t coming out of my ears.

He couldn’t stop talking about me? What weird universe was I suddenly living in?

Alright, that was enough thinking for today. I needed some good self-care and a healthy dose of my favorite food—pizza. I’d pick up some on my way home tonight, pour myself a glass of wine, and watch a chick flick on my laptop while soaking in my big bathtub. One major perk of my cozy cabin and quite the surprise was the deep clawfoot tub in the bathroom.

My mood lifted a bit as I cleaned my room and readied myself for my second day. I lit a couple of candles and gathered fresh towels and sheets.

A sharp knock on my door alerted me of my first appointment. As I waited for Lacey to open it and announce my next client, a voice I wasn’t expecting landed on my ears and made my insides twist in disgust and fear.

“Well, well, well. There she is. Guess you were right, Denise. The little skank wasn’t as far as we thought.”

I squeezed my eyes shut and shook my head. I was dreaming.I must be dreaming. I had to be.

Wake up, Sadie! Wake up!

“Only a few states away, right under our noses.” My mother’s voice sent icicles down my spine, and her sneer made me cower. “Thought you could hide forever, did ya?”

“If they were to find you one day, how do you think you’d react?” a therapist I saw briefly after running away asked me.

“I…I don’t know…run? Hide? Cower?”

“Would that make you feel better? Safe?”

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