Page 2 of Sipping Seduction
“What do you mean?”
“I always thought I’d feel more mature when I got older. Wiser, I guess.” I shrugged my shoulders, not sure how to put the feelings swirling around inside my gut into words.
“I’d say you’re wiser. You’re not still pulling pranks with your brothers and getting sent to the principal’s office.” She tried to lighten the mood with one of her smiles.
“Yeah. I suppose.”
“Hey,”—Frannie’s fingers rested on my arm—“this sounds serious. What’s going on?”
“Nothing.” I couldn’t find words to explain the hollowness that had taken up residence inside me. I didn’t have anything obvious to complain about. With an honorable discharge from the Army behind me, I’d returned home to work at the whiskey distillery my family co-owned with two other families. I liked my job and was surrounded by people who’d known me all my life. My parents were still married and got everyone together at least a couple of times a month. On the surface, I had a lot to be grateful for.
There were a hell of a lot of people in this world who actually had a reason to feel sorry for themselves. I’d met a lot of them when I was stationed in Afghanistan. But still, I felt unsettled.
“Are you sure there’s not something bothering you?” Frannie tilted her head and eyed me over the rim of her shades. Her dark-blue eyes didn’t miss a thing.
“Yeah, I’m sure.” Forcing a smile, I turned back to face the trail. “I know I owe you pizza, but how about we sweeten the bet and add on dessert? Last one to the bottom has to treat for ice cream.”
“You’re on.” Frannie tucked her phone back into her pocket while I started down the trail.
Didn’t matter if I won or lost. Spending time with her was all I wanted out of our bet. It had always been that way with Frannie, and she had no idea. I had no plans to tell her how I felt either. Not until I got back to one-hundred percent. The last thing she needed was someone else to take care of.
CHAPTER2
Frannie
Ever since Iwas a little girl, I’d always felt the same on the first day of school. Butterflies filled my belly and beat their wings against the walls of my chest. Nerves gave way to anticipation as I stood by the front doors of Beaver Bluff Elementary with Pete the Dog by my side. Students flowed past us in a steady stream, pausing to pat the dog on the head or respond to my “Good morning.”
Once the first bell rang, I herded the stragglers into the building and entered the office. A huge bouquet of fall-colored flowers sat on my desk. Pete the Dog headed straight toward them and jumped up to put his front paws on my desk and stick his nose into the arrangement.
“Get down from there.” I tugged on his leash, and he set all four paws back on the ground. “Where did those come from?”
“There’s a card,” Charice said. She was the school counselor and over the past few years, had become one of my best friends.
“And how do you know that?” I crossed to my desk and looked for some sort of card. Pete the Dog let out a huge sigh, then turned in circles before plopping down into the doggy bed next to my desk.
“I was here when the florist dropped them off.” She leaned against the doorway, her arms crossed over her chest. “You’ve been holding out on me. Are you seeing someone?”
Heat flushed my cheeks as I pulled the small card from an envelope with my name scrawled across the front. “It’s not a big deal.”
“Not a big deal? How many men have you dated in the past five years?” Charice laughed as she reached for the card. “None. Zero. Zilch. That’s how many.”
I whipped around, blocking her attempt. “That’s why it’s not a big deal. We’re not even dating, really.”
“Nooooooo!” Her eyes went wide, and she grabbed my hand. “Don’t tell me you and Evan have finally become friends with benefits?”
I gasped. It wasn’t that the thought had never entered my mind, but Evan would never be interested in me as more than a friend. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Fine. Then who are the flowers from?”
“If you’ll let me read the card, I can find out.” I tugged my hand away from hers and glanced at the card.
I hope you have a good first day back at school.
Andrew
My lips spread into a soft smile, and I held the card against my chest.
“Well?” Charice pressed.
