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Chapter 3: Scarlett
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The Love Barn Chapter 4: Cole
Cole SAT SHOTGUN in Scarlett's Jeep, the cracked window blowing warm air on his face, which was not helping him cool down. He glanced at his chauffer, her hair dancing wildly in the wind.Every time he looked at her the world felt as though it fell away and all that mattered was her, this moment. He hadn't touched her and somehow sharing space with her felt intimate.Guilt bit into him.A couple of weeks ago he'd been engaged to another woman. A woman who now barely registered in his thoughts.Cole had to get a grip on his thoughts.Puppies.He should focus on that.Damn he missed going home to a dog. His old lab had passed away months ago and his new dog had bonded more with Allie seeing as how she was at home all day. Sometimes he wondered if he missed the corgi mix pup more than his fiancé. That was rather telling, but he wasn't ready to examine those feelings. He'd rather get on with it, settle into his new life and leave Allie behind."Sorry about the AC. It's gett
The Love Barn Chapter 5: Scarlett
Crap. What now?Scarlett spun and the three of them bolted out the rear door of the bakery into the alley that led to one of the streets that crossed the main drag of the small town.An old pickup truck sat across the street, a metal garbage can sitting on its side. A red head stood in the street, cursing a blue streak."Jessica, what happened?" Scarlett stopped at the curb, bouncing on the balls of her feet, poised as if to do something."Are you okay?" Harper bent and scooped up garbage that had rolled out of the overturned receptacle."I'm fine." Jessica threw her hands up. "A gold Buick just turned in front of me.""A gold Buick?" Scarlett echoed. "Like Sissy's?""I don't know." Jessica sighed.Cole grabbed the hefty garbage can and hauled it upright with a clang."I bet it was Sissy." Scarlett shook her head."I didn't say that it was," Jessica said then glanced at him with interest. "Well, hello there, stranger.""Hello." Cole gave a little wave then hooked
The Love Barn Chapter 6: Scarlett
Scarlett WINCED WHEN she saw both of her cousin's trucks in the drive.Of course they were back. She couldn't just slip in, grab her painting clothes then get out before either of the guys cornered her. Neither had texted her, but she knew the rumor mill had to have reached them about Cole and the canceled wedding.She shifted the Jeep into park and slumped in her seat, staring at the trees that had grown up around the house, providing a nice, shaded area.What the hell had happened to her today?It wasn't unusual for Scarlett to find a connection with someone. She fell hard and fast for men, sometimes without them knowing. But today? That chemistry? It was off the charts, and he'd felt it, too. She'd seen it in the way he looked at her, and then she'd gone and touched him. It had been an automatic thing, she hadn't thought about it, but when their hands connected, it was as if her body were on fire.This was bad.She shut her eyes and pushed thoughts of Cole down deep.R
The Love Barn Chapter 7: Scarlett
The blood went out of Scarlett's face and she stared at Benji."I don't think Garth saw that, but you probably don't want him to. Care to share?" Benji grinned."The pig. I slipped. He came over to help and fell." She covered her face with her hands, the memory of Cole's wet hair, those shoulders and the ridges of muscle making his chest and abs a playground."That's better than I'd hoped for." Benji let out a belly laugh and slammed his fist on the island.Scarlett kept her hands over her red cheeks. How had she forgotten about packing up his wet things?"You hungry?" Benji asked, no doubt fishing for an invitation to eat at her place."You mean, am I going to make dinner you can steal?""Maybe.""I'm headed up to the bed-and-breakfast to help the girls paint the new rooms. Ingrid's picking up a pizza. We could always use someone tall." She bat her eyelashes at him."I think I'll pass. I'm going down to The Hole, I guess.""Avoiding Garth that much?""Do you blam
The Love Barn Chapter 8: Cole
Cole PUSHED UP on the handlebars, enjoying the breeze against his skin. He couldn't stop smiling. His first day at the job, and while it hadn't been a cakewalk, the staff had welcomed him and his patients hadn't left scars. Starting on a Saturday where his only schedule was to handle whatever walked in the door wasn't his ideal way of easing into things, but it had gotten him into the groove fast. By the time he'd clocked out he felt like he might just like it here.It had all started with Scarlett.No.Nope.Not going there.He sat back down on the bicycle seat and pedaled.A month ago he'd been engaged. He wasn't getting involved with anyone.He steered his way into the parking lot of David's Market, a small grocery store just off Main Street not far from where he lived. It was hard to stock the pantry when he could only grab what he could carry either on foot or on the bike.Cole coasted up to the bike rack and swung his leg off."Afternoon, Doc." An elderly man li
The Love Barn Chapter 9: Scarlett
Scarlett STOPPED ON the walk leading to Cole's front door and stared at the place. Even the sight of his ass in those thin scrub pants wasn't enough to make her glance away from the house."Okay, I have some serious house envy. This place is adorable.""Is it? Come on in." Cole hauled the bulk of the groceries up the stairs and unlocked his door.Scarlett followed him inside, peering around. Despite the small look of the place the layout was spacious, letting in a lot of light."Is this a Rivas house?" She followed Cole into the kitchen."Uh, I thought it was a Tudor?" He scrunched up his face."No, I mean who restored it." She chuckled."I honestly have no idea.""I bet it was the Rivas.""Rivas? Who are they?" Cole opened a bag full of frozen foods."The Rivas family. They do a lot of restoration jobs and move old houses around. Houses in this style in Texas are usually boxy and claustrophobic. This has been opened up. It feels bigger than it looks. That's the kin
The Love Barn Chapter 10: Scarlett
Scarlett placed her hand in his and heat rolled through her. She got out, but he didn't let go of her immediately. He squeezed her hand and didn't let go."That." He lifted her hand and pressed his lips to her knuckles. "Is it always like this?"She swallowed, her mouth dry as he kissed each knuckle.Oh, God..."You feel it," he said.He studied her eyes, and she wanted to burst into flames. Anything would feel better than standing here wanting him."Come on, let's see about the wine." He tucked her hand into the crook of his arm then escorted her up the path to the front door and inside the house.She followed along in a daze, the smart part of her mind being drowned out by other ideas and thoughts, ones that involved Cole, sweat, heat.He closed the door behind them and let her go.Her chest felt too tight, the room too warm. It was like the oxygen had been sucked out of the room."Have a seat?" He gestured at the sofa."Thanks," she mumbled and watched him stri
The Love Barn Chapter 11: Cole
Cole SAT ON the front steps of the house sipping his coffee.Festus would have loved this big yard. The old dog had kept his energy up until the very end. He'd loved nothing more than a lively game of fetch.Damn, he missed that dog.It was probably a good thing his schedule was going to stay packed. Sundays were going to be his only off day for the foreseeable future, so he wasn't rushing to do anything today. It was an added boon he had a full pantry, thanks to Scarlett.Scarlett.Her name made him want to smile and frown all at once. What were they doing?Nothing smart, that was for sure.What he should be focused on instead of Allie or Scarlett was, what would his private investigator find out? That was the real question that concerned him.He pulled out his phone and looked at the message about his siblings. They were out there. He wanted to find them, see how their lives had gone, and maybe meet up. He wasn't expecting reunions or big holidays. They might hate him
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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
