Page 16 of Sweet Surprise

He hadn’t been a father very long, but already he agreed with her. For the same reason his mother would never let her kids marry for money if she knew what they were all up to, he could never do anything to hurt his son. Dang, those words still sent shockwaves in his brain every time he thought them.His son.Sucking in a deep breath and blowing it out ever so slowly, he reached for the handle again. “Let’s get the eggs, and let me think this through a little better.”

“You mean us, right?”

The softness of her smile coaxed a lazy grin from him in response. “I mean us. We’ll think it through.” Especially since marriage for money or not, they had a lot to work out about their son.

“Look.” Vicki jabbed her sister Liz in the ribs. “Carson is coming this way and there’s a woman with him.”

Shorter than her, Liz inched up on her tippy toes to see. “You think that’sher?”

Resisting the urge to roll her eyes at her younger sibling, Vicki settled for a soft sigh. “Who else do you think would be arriving in town with Carson at this hour of the day?”

“Good point.” Liz nodded.

“Quick.” Grabbing hold of the corner of her sister’s t-shirt, Vicki tugged Liz to her side. “They’re coming this way.”

“Ooh,” Liz squealed gleefully.

All her sister needed to be over the top happy was a blinged out corn hole accessory, or a female stranger in town with one of her nephews. Of course in this case, Liz had good reason to be excited as well as curious. Alice had called them late last night and told them about the new unexpected houseguest and her son. A son that Alice was willing to bet the whole shebang was Carson’s.

“Hi there.” Vicki waved at her nephew. “Don’t usually see you here.”

“Mom needs eggs. I ran into town quick to pick some up for her.” Noticing both his aunts watching Jess, he took a step back. “Aunt Vicki, Aunt Liz, this is an old school friend, Jess.”

“How do you do?” Smiling, Jess shook each woman’s hand.

“Nice to have you here, dear.” Liz beamed at Jess until her sister jabbed her in the ribs.

“You’d better run along and get the eggs. Wouldn’t want your mother blaming us for your showing up late.”

Carson leaned in, kissed Vicki on the cheek, waved at Liz behind her booth, and walked away with Jess at his side.

“I like her.” Liz nodded her head.

“All she said was nice to meet you. How can you like her with only four words exchanged?”

Liz shrugged at her older sister. “I just do.”

Staring after her nephew already at the egg booth, Vicki sighed. She sure hoped Carson liked the pretty woman too.

“They’re cute.” Who knew shopping for eggs could be so entertaining.

Carson took the change for the eggs and squinted at her. “The eggs?”

Chuckling, Jess shook her head. “Your aunts. They’ve been watching us the whole time and the taller blonde… Vicki?”

He nodded.

“Vicki keeps poking Liz in the ribs, probably reminding her not to stare.”

“Aunt Vicki is the oldest of the three sisters, sometimes she can be, well, a little bossy.” Taking two steps forward, Carson paused and looked down at her, his gaze darting over her shoulders to his aunts down the way. “What do you say we give them something to talk about?”

Her eyes popped open before the teasing glint in his eyes made her smile. “What do you have in mind?”

Without saying a word, he reached for her hand, threaded their fingers together, and smiled. “Is this okay?”

“It’s not nice to tease your aunts.” She softened her words with a tilt of her head and flash of a smile.

“Sorry.” Pulling his hand away, he shoved it quickly in his pocket. “I guess for a moment I forgot I wasn’t back in high school.”

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