Page 39 of I Knew He Was Trouble
I shake my head. “Not that I saw. Just a few scared residents. Speaking of which, I need to go make sure Darla’s okay. The duck flew into her room.”
“Lord have mercy.” Kevin shakes his head. “I’ll have someone write up a report.” He crosses his arms. “Maybe next year we can create a barricade so the only path for the ducks is from one door to the other.”
If only he’d thought of that bright idea before now or, you know, atany pointin the last few years this has been happening.
“That’s a great idea.” I motion toward the lobby. “I’m going to check on Darla before I head home.”
He nods before walking off. When I return to Darla’s room, she’s still sitting on the couch, reading a gardening magazine asif a duck didn’t just fly into her room. I sit beside her, and she smiles at me.
“Well, I think that might be the most exhilarating thing that’s happened to me since moving in here. Nothing exciting ever happens with these fuddy-duddies here. My only sources of entertainment are your events and that duck.”
“I’m glad you enjoy my events.” I place my hand on her arm. “Are you sure you’re okay? We can have a doctor check you out.”
She purses her lips. “I’ve watched enoughGrey’s Anatomyto know that I’m fine.”
A grin pulls at my lips. “I don’t think it works that way.”
“I know plenty of doctors if I need to call one,” Darla says with finality. “But something awful did happen.” She points to the popcorn littered around us. “The duck startled me and sent my bowl of popcorn flying.”
I walk into her small kitchen and pour some of the bagged popcorn on the countertop into another bowl. “Crisis averted.”
“You’re an angel. Truly.” I hand the bowl to her, and she pops a piece into her mouth. “You know, I still think you’d be perfect for my nephew.” Her eyes light up like the sun peeking out on a cloudy day. “He’s single and has a good job. Handsome, too.”
I nod at the vase of flowers perfectly arranged in the center of her coffee table. “Are those from him?”
Darla smiles. “He brings me a bouquet every Thursday after he gets off work. He’d probably do the same for whoever he was dating.” She winks. “He left not even ten minutes ago, otherwise I could’ve introduced you. He’s going to be sad he missed all the action. I’m not even sure he’ll believe me when I tell him what happened.”
“I’m not sure I can believe it, and I witnessed it with my own eyes,” I tease. “And that’s sweet of you, but I’m not looking to date right now. I already have enough going on between all my jobs.”
“I thought you mentioned that you left two of your jobs.”
“I did, but I started working for my next-door neighbor, which is a whole other job itself.”
She lifts a brow. “You’ve been holding out on me, missie. Does said neighbor happen to be a hunky man?”
I grimace. I open my mouth to respond, but she raises her hand, cutting me off.
“Don’t even bother lying. Your face says it all.” Darla shimmies. “He must be the bee’s knees to get that kind of reaction from you.”
“It’s not like that—”
“Well, if it’s not like that, you shouldn’t mind going on a date with my nephew.” She throws another piece of popcorn into her mouth. “I could’ve just died. Would you really let me leave this earth without finding out if my nephew and my favorite activities lady could be each other’s happily ever after?”
When she phrases it like that, there’s no way I can tell Darla no. I wouldn’t mind going on a single date, especially if it’ll help get my mind off Tyler.
I hold up my pointer finger. “One. I will go ononedate with him, D. But I’m not promising anything.”
“All you need is one.” Darla leans back into the cushion and sighs. “We’ll be planning the wedding in no time.”
I shake my head at her antics. “Don’t get your hopes up.”
“I don’t need to. A woman knows these things. My gut never steers me wrong. Well, unless I eat five brownies because it told me one more wouldn’t hurt.” She finishes off the bowl of popcorn and hands me her phone. “Anywho, if you give me your number, I’ll text you where and when your date will take place.”
I add my info to her contacts. “You better know how much I like you. I wouldn’t do this for just anyone.” I hand Darla her phone, push up off the couch, and head to the door.
“That’s what I was counting on.” She cackles. “You’ll hear from me soon. I can’t wait to hear about your date.”
“Bye, D.” I step into the hall.
