Page 60 of Love in Riverbend
I chuckle. “Welcome to my life.”
His sexy grin turns to me. “It’s where I want to be, Kandace.”
Turning, Dax follows Molly to the back of the store. For a moment, I close my eyes and breathe. I think about our kiss—the one we just shared, the best kiss of my life, and I want to believe. Yet I’m scared that Dax will leave and not return.
When I walk into the back, I hear Dax telling Molly that he’s coming to our house for dinner.
“You are?”
He looks up from the desk and nods.
“You’ve been here all day and you didn’t mention it.”
“It was a surprise.”
“Wait, does Mom know?”
“I think so,” he says with a grin. “She’s the one who invited me.”
“She invited you…when?”
“Last night when she called.”
I can’t believe my ears. “My mom called you. How did she get your number?”
“You’ll have to ask her.”
“Oh, I plan on it.”
Chapter 22
Kandace
When Molly and I walk into the house, we are met with the delicious aroma of garlic and my mother standing at the counter chopping fresh vegetables for a large salad. As Mom turns our way, I rest my hand on Molly’s shoulder. “Honey, go take your bookbag up to your room.”
For a moment, I watch as my daughter heads toward the back stairs. As soon as Molly is too far away to hear, I walk toward my mother—the woman with the smirk and twinkle in her eyes. “Why?” I ask.
“Why, what?”
“He’s leaving tomorrow.”
“That’s what he said. He also said he’d be back.”
I cross my arms over my breasts and lean against the counter. “He’s said that before.”
“Well, it took him a while,” Mom says as she hands me a slice of fresh cucumber, “but you have to admit, he’s back.”
Plopping the cucumber in my mouth, I let my chin drop.
Laying the large knife on the counter, Mom turns to me and reaches for my shoulders. “Kandace Anne, Dax isn’t a bad person.”
“I know that. It’s part of the problem.”
“What are the other parts?”
Lifting my chin, I look into Mom’s eyes. “He’s…a good person. He’s still as handsome as ever, if not more, and he’s been a big help at Quintessential Treasures these last few days. Did you know that he’s buying Ruth’s house?”
“He is?”
