Page 66 of I Knew He Was Trouble
“Uncle Ty,” she croaks. “You’re squishing me to death.”
I set her down. “To make up for squeezing you to death, do you want to help me with my next prank on Ms. Kelsey?”
She twirls in delight. “Yes.”
“Perfect.” I smile. “So here’s what I need you to do…”
“You’refinallyback.Iwas starting to think you may never return.” Darla moves a checker across the board, taking her opponent’s final two pieces. “Ha! Better luck next time, Ed.”
He gets up from the table. “You can never take the throne from the queen.” He winks at her before walking away.
“Um, do you care to explain why Ed just winked at you, Ms. Queen?” I take his empty seat and shoot her a saucy grin.
“Oh, he’s just flirting with me now that I’m playing hard to get.”
“I thought you said you liked him because he was the only man who still has hair that comes to events?”
She places all the checkers back on the board. “He is, but I’m still going to make him chase me.”
“As he should.”
“Enough about me. I’ve been waitingweeksto see you and hear all the details.” Darla huffs.
I wasn’t actively avoiding Darla. I just didn’t have any events at Sunrise Springs that were on my normal working days. Though, I’m sure she would never believe that.
“Details about what?” I try to sound as serious as possible, even though I’m biting back a smile.
“Don’t play coy with me, dear.” She wiggles her finger at me. “Hearing the story from a man’s perspective isn’t enough. They leave all the good stuff out.” She pouts.
“I’m sorry to disappoint you, but there’s nothing to miss out on.”
“There has to besomething. All Tyler told me was that y’all are neighbors and that he thought you hated him until the date. He was evasive when I asked him if he wanted anything more with you.”
“Evasive?” Consider my interest piqued. “What do you mean?”
“It means he wants more than a neighbor-nanny relationship with you. But those are my words, not his.”
I don’t know whether to take Darla seriously or not. She’s known for her flare for the dramatics, but the no-nonsense look on her face right now makes it seem like she’s telling the truth. Well, at leastherversion of the truth.
Darla leans back and crosses her arms. “Now, please tell me your side of the story so I can finally put all the pieces of this puzzle together.”
“He’s…kinderthan I first thought.”
“Right, because you told me that you worked for your hunky neighbor and that it was a lot of work living next to him.” Darla fills in the blanks in my story.
“Yeah, except I don’t think I’ve ever called him hunky.”
“Your eyes said it all, dear.”
I press my lips together and blow a slow breath out through my nose. “Fine, he’s not bad to look at, but I’m not looking for a relationship. I don’t know if I ever want to get married.”
She holds a hand to her chest. “Why not?”
“I have dreams I want to accomplish, and I don’t need any distractions.”
“Why can’t you have the man of your dreams by your side?”
“I don’t want anyone holding me back.” I pick at my plum nail polish.
