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Chapter 116: Benji
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2022-11-24 14:09:48Related chapters
The Love Barn Chapter 117: Dixie
DIXIE THUMBED THROUGH THE book, the group's conversation washing over her. Book club night usually energized her. It was a bi-monthly opportunity to be in a room full of women she counted as friends. They'd selected a paranormal book this time, and though Dixie had tried she just couldn't get into it. Hear head and heart were stuck in the real world and no amount of sexy werewolf shifter could fix that.Shonda leaned over and gestured at Dixie's plate. "Are you done with your dinner?""Oh, yeah. Thanks.""Something wrong?" Shonda's gaze narrowed."No."Shonda stared at her for a moment longer. She wasn't fooled and Dixie knew it. If she could put Shonda off another week or two she'd be able to talk about Benji without crying uncontrollably. At least that's what Dixie was hoping.She glanced across the room at where Elisabeth sat. She'd arrived late and had to squeeze in where she could. Had something happened at the library? Would Elisabeth tell Shonda about Benji before Di
Last Updated : 2022-11-24The Love Barn Chapter 118: Benji
BENJI TAPPED THE NECK of his empty beer.Jessica North braced her hand on the bar and quirked a brow at him."Come on. Hook me up with one more." He spoke slowly, doing his best to get each word out clearly.Jessica shook her head. "Not just no, but hell no."Another patron of The Watering Hole beckoned Jessica for a drink. She poured the man a beer, leaving Benji to sit on his stool and stew.Elisabeth's plan had gone down in flames.He'd been certain that if he could just talk to her everything would be fine.She must be really serious about ending things with him even if that wasn't what her heart was telling her. Dixie was a lead with her head, not her heart, kind of woman.A heavy hand settled on Benji's shoulder.He turned his head and squinted up at his brother. "What the fuck are you doing here?""Jess called." Garth nodded at the bartender."I should have realized something was wrong when he showed up here alone." Jessica thumbed at Benji.Scarlett slid
Last Updated : 2022-11-24The Love Barn Chapter 119: Dixie
DIXIE SAT CURLED UP on the sofa staring at the carpet.Elisabeth was in the kitchen heating up leftovers for lunch. She hadn't said much to Dixie this morning, and that was fine with her. Dixie wanted to be alone with her thoughts."Your phone is ringing again," Elisabeth called out.Dixie was inclined to wait for the caller to be forwarded to voicemail, but the irritation in Elisabeth's voice told her she was on thin ice. Dixie wasn't ready to go home or deal with life by herself.She got up and crossed to the table.Mother Robinson lit up the screen.Dixie recoiled."Who is it?" Elisabeth peered over her shoulder. "Again?"Dixie ignored the call. She couldn't count the number of times her former mother-in-law had called over the last two months. Sometimes it was two or three times a day.The phone lit up again."Answer it." Elisabeth bumped Dixie.Her thumb slid across the screen, flashing green.She stared in horror as the call connected and the seconds began
Last Updated : 2022-11-24The Love Barn Chapter 120: Benji
BENJI'S HEAD HAD STOPPED pounding. Now he had a slight throb going on, but that wasn't the worst of his problems.It was time to face the music.He'd tried to sneak down to The Hole to settle his tab from the previous night before their afternoon wedding, but it hadn't worked out. Now this little trip was a family affair with Garth, Scarlett and Cole tagging along. They weren't even trying to hide their perverse joy at his misery.At least it gave him something other than Dixie to think about.And taught him a lesson.No more drowning his sorrows. It only led to more pain.He'd get through this, even if it felt like there was nowhere to go without Dixie in the picture. People had survived heartache for centuries. He'd figure it out, too.Benji parked at the curb rather than the lot. It was already packed, and he wasn't keen on staying longer than he had to."Don't buy a round or anything. We are here and gone, got it?" Benji twisted in his seat to look each of the three
Last Updated : 2022-11-24The Love Barn Chapter 121: Epilogue
SCARLETT NEEDED OUT OF this house.Cole had been conscripted into helping her cousins with some sort of heavy lifting before dinner, which meant she couldn't spin her wheels talking at him. He was trying to be supportive and understanding, but he was too damn happy.She paced out of the house just as Dixie was getting out of her car.A brisk fall wind rustled the trees, sending another shower of leaves cascading to the ground."Hey." Dixie shouldered her purse and met Scarlett halfway."Did you by any chance bring your planner with you?" This was a chance she couldn't pass up. Normally Benji was glued to Dixie's hip to the point that Scarlett couldn't get in a word to her without him participating. Scarlett wanted to talk long-term planning without the distraction that was Benji."Yes.""Great. Would you mind-" What was she thinking? She couldn't ask this out here. "Want to come inside?""Sure."Scarlett led Dixie into the house. The table wasn't set yet, and the dish
Last Updated : 2022-11-24The Love Barn Chapter 122: Garth
Volume 3: Party Out of BoundsGarth LIVELY HAD NEVER hunted. Never gone after what he wanted. It was hard to do that while trying to raise two teenagers, keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. Treading water had become his default setting and in the ten years since his life was upended he hadn't realized he was stuck. He'd become a slave to necessity and he had the scars to show for it.This was a new chapter for him. A crossroads in his life he honestly hadn't thought he'd live to see. The path he'd been on was at a yet another roadblock. It had ended without warning or even the courtesy of a sign.At eighteen he'd encountered his first roadblock in life when his parent's died. He'd become the guardian of his younger brother and their cousin. At the time he'd barely been out of high school, still trying to decide what came next. His post-gradation plans hadn't even begun to take form when he'd made the choice to give them up. If for no other reason than he couldn
Last Updated : 2022-11-24The Love Barn Chapter 123: Noemi
Noemi FLORES WAS THE shittiest friend on the planet.The worst.Any normal girlfriend would be gushing and excited, happy to help throw together a wedding in two months for one of the best friends she'd ever had. Hell, some days Noemi was certain Scarlett was her only real friend. Of course most girlfriends also respected the girl code rules, like don't sleep with your friend's brother. Or cousin. Or whatever Garth was to Scarlett.Just thinking his name had her body warming.It had been months since he'd touched her. That kiss in the midst of being weak didn't count. She should be over this by now. What was wrong with her?"Hey, am I going too fast?" Scarlett Lively leaned her elbows on the neat white desk and reached toward her."What? No. Sorry." Noemi shook her head. "I spaced out again. I'm sorry."Truth was she knew Garth was out there somewhere, probably waiting for her to walk to her car with his heart on his sleeve.He was in love with her.She'd realized it
Last Updated : 2022-11-24The Love Barn Chapter 124: Garth
Garth STEPPED ASIDE FOR Noemi to lead the way to her car. There were waves of pent-up energy coming off her. It soured his fantasy of seeing her again.Why the change? Why was she different here?He wanted to get to the bottom of this. It wasn't like he'd gone looking for something with her. Things had just happened. Organically.So why the change?It took Noemi a moment to pick her way down the path and across the gravel to her silver Land Rover. The back opened as if by magic and he slotted the box in between others."Thanks," she said, the word frosty.Garth dusted off his hands and studied her. She was gorgeous as always today in a pink dress that looked painted on. Her thick, luxurious hair was curled and hanging down her back. He wasn't sure what she did to make her tan skin glow that way. She was bright, like a star. And she was standing in front of him clearly annoyed at his presence."Have you been flaking on Scarlett because of me?" he asked.Noemi flinched, t
Last Updated : 2022-11-24
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The Love Barn Chapter 167: Epilogue
SIX MONTHS LATER...SCARLETT SAT STRETCHED OUT on the old, wooden swing content to watch the circus going on over in the flower garden.Mom threw her hands up and said something Scarlett couldn't hear. She chuckled and knew the others were likely beside themselves trying to figure out how to make Mom happy.They all called Noemi's mother Mom now. It just felt right. Garth stood next to Mom, shaking his head at the others. Noemi bent, fussing no doubt over the way the blankets lay or how the bow sat.Benji and Dixie had the whole light kit out and three cameras.All the attention was focused on the bundle of joy currently sleeping soundly in the cradle Garth had carefully restored. It was one of a handful of old things he'd found in the barn and kept. Judging by the initials on the bottom of the old crib, generations of Livelys had slept in that thing.And now so would her baby.Scarlett smiled and sank further into the cushions Cole had set up for her. She was still ex
The Love Barn Chapter 166: Noemi
Noemi WHIPPED HER CAR into the driveway. With it being so early and since everyone had family visiting the street was packed with cars. Garth's truck barely fit in the one open spot.Where the hell was he?What was he doing?Why was he talking to Ángel?A Jeep pulled across the drive behind her, Cole and Scarlett getting out."Why can't you answer your phone?" Scarlett demanded.Noemi threw up her hand as she caught the sound of a deep, rumbling voice."Benji? Hey, we're already here." Scarlett's voice faded as Noemi crept toward the fence and the gate her mother always left open between the two properties.Ángel sat in the swiveling chair at the head of the table on his parent's patio.Garth had a tight grip on one of the other chairs, his back toward her. He was leaning forward, his entire focus on Ángel, who was staring back at Garth like he'd just sprouted a second head or something."You're only going to get one shot at this. If she's decided to give you anothe
The Love Barn Chapter 165: Garth
Garth HAD ALWAYS THOUGHT the hardest thing he'd ever done was bury his parents and accept responsibility for Benji and Scarlett.That had been easy. A simple process and an obvious life altering decision.Neither of those moments had anything on what he was about to do.Garth stood on the front porch of the brick house and glanced to his left, where Noemi was likely sleeping. He hoped that she was getting rest. She never took off except for holidays and if he remembered correctly, she had events this weekend. With any luck, she'd have someone in her corner that would look after her properly.He turned his attention back to the door. There was one of the new, electronic doorbells. He pressed it, listened to the chime and waited.It was early still, but he hadn't been able to make himself wait any longer.After a few moments the locks clanked and the door swung open.Ángel stood on the welcome mat in sweatpants, a T-shirt and a hoodie draped over his shoulders. His hair was
The Love Barn Chapter 164: Noemi
Noemi HADN'T SLEPT ALL night. Most of the time when she wasn't sleeping it was because she was up at all hours trying to pull the last bits of a wedding together. There was purpose to the sleepless nights.All she'd done since getting home around two was sit in the guest chair at her desk and stare at the clear surface. She couldn't claim to have done a lot of thinking in those hours. Mostly she'd sat, stared and let her mind wander. She'd poked at corners she normally ignored, examining her feelings, her thoughts and all the other uncomfortable bits of her life.She excelled at leaving relationships.There were only two men in her life who had ever left her.Her father.And Ángel.Noemi had left every other man before he could get tired of her. She'd known she had the habit, but she hadn't paused to think it through like this until tonight. It was easy to pretend that she didn't have time for men and relationships that weren't going somewhere. She could spin all the excuse
The Love Barn Chapter 163: Garth
Garth GRIPPED THE WHEEL of his truck and drew in a deep breath. He knew it was his imagination. Noemi's perfume wasn't really lingering, he just wished it were.Another car rolled up to the stop sign at the bottom of the hill. Garth waved and pressed the accelerator, heading into town.It was tradition for the guys to meet up at The Hole in town for beers on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Benji had already texted, wondering where he was. Scarlett and the girls were up to something. All the normal things were underway. Except for him.Garth felt stuck. Like he couldn't move.He rolled the problem around in his head as The Hole came into view.The little parking lot was full and people had taken to finding spots along the street. It would no doubt be loud in there, full of people ready to start talking about the Christmas tours, when they were bringing the tractors to Main Street to help decorate and so forth.He just wasn't in the mood.Garth turned the wheel away from the
The Love Barn Chapter 162: Noemi
Noemi KNEW TODAY WASN'T her best work. She'd gone through the whole day in a fog that had nothing to do with the large, Thanksgiving meal she'd eaten yesterday or the Black Friday shopping she'd done that morning.Once again she had to wonder at a bride choosing to have her wedding the day after Thanksgiving. If Noemi was going to have a wedding-No.Not going there.She shook her head and turned her attention back to packing up the arch and removing the flowers. She had about an hour to get the rental pieces ready to go while the wedding party ate dinner. There were still a few things to make sure went off without a hitch. The cake needed cutting and the bride wanted Noemi to keep the speeches short, but there was time before that got started.It felt like she'd lived in a daze the last forty-eight hours.Wednesday night she'd chosen to not go to the annual meal her family had with Ángel's. She couldn't be in the same room with him and act like she wanted to be there. Not
The Love Barn Chapter 161: Garth
Both Garth and Noemi glanced at the door.Benji laughed loudly and a single pair of heavy footsteps came creaking up the stairs mixed with Dixie's softer voice.Noemi covered her mouth with her hand and glanced at Garth. Her eyebrows were almost at her hairline.He just shook his head as something-probably one of the pictures on the landing-clattered to the ground. Another burst of laughter followed by hurried footsteps into Benji's room and the slam of a door."Well, I guess no one knows we're in here," Noemi said dryly."No they do not." Garth put thoughts of his brother out of his mind. It wasn't the first time he'd ignored his brother's antics. "What's really going on, No-No?"She blew out a breath and let go of his hand. For a moment she fussed with her boots, unzipping them and getting more comfortable, sitting cross legged in the middle of his bed. He didn't say anything, just watched her face, how lines developed and went away as she thought through what was botheri
The Love Barn Chapter 160: Garth
Garth STARED DOWN AT where he'd thought he'd seen Noemi.Except Noemi didn't wear flannel. He could count on one hand the number of times he'd seen her wearing jeans and have fingers leftover. But he was fairly certain that had been her."Garth?" Adeline's voice brought him back to the moment.He blinked down at this funny, sweet woman, but she didn't stir anything in him. Not like Noemi."Adeline?" He took her hand in his. "It was a pleasure meeting you and I hope we see you around. Scarlett's intentions introducing us were good, but..."She smiled a knowing smile and turned her hand in his so she could give it a friendly shake. "I can tell. She's a special woman. I appreciate the history lesson.""Thanks, Adeline."If he'd met her at another point in his life, he'd have been interested. But it wasn't the burning connection he'd had with Noemi. Nothing could compare to that.Garth headed for the stairs, taking them two and three at a time. He skirted the tables between
The Love Barn Chapter 159: Noemi
Noemi PARKED HER CAR out on the grass along with all the other cars.She could do this.Hopefully Garth wasn't angry with her. Well, he could be a little angry. She'd deserve that much. She just hoped he'd hear her.Noemi began walking with the crowd, toward the festival clustered around the barn. Her heart gave a twinge as she got closer to the houses.She hadn't told anyone she was showing up, partly because she was nervous and feared she'd chicken out. Through all the jumble of thoughts, the one thing she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt was that she loved Garth.As the crowd folded her into their midst, Noemi realized there were a lot more people there than she anticipated. How was she going to find Garth in all this?"Noemi?" a familiar voice called out.She turned and saw Scarlett standing with a basket of something hanging from one arm and a toddler perched on her hip looking at Noemi with wide eyes."Hey." Noemi fidgeted with the hem of her T-shirt.Scarlett gr
