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Chapter 65: Benji
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2022-11-24 14:09:48Related chapters
The Love Barn Chapter 66: Dixie
TWO HOURS AND THE best Dixie could do was hold a couple strings down and strum. It had taken them almost an hour to even get to actually playing the instrument. Benjamin was a surprisingly thorough teacher. She understood the anatomy of the instrument and some music theory before he'd gotten to how one actually played the thing.She'd done better at the anatomy and theory.Make a G chord.That sounded easy enough.But getting there was a contortion act. Her wrist was bent at an unnatural angle and the strings bit into her skin, but damn it, she was going to hold those three strings down and strum if it was the last thing she did.Learning to play an instrument had sounded beautiful and romantic. Hunched over glaring at the strings was neither of those things."Almost." Benjamin reached over from where he sat across from her and adjusted the way her fingers pressed on the strings.She caught a whiff of his cologne again and sighed.Damn him, why did he always have to sme
Last Updated : 2022-11-24The Love Barn Chapter 67: Dixie
Dixie opened her mouth to say no. Why would she reveal her past to him? Except he knew her history. He wasn't one of her co-workers or her ex's army friend that only saw her as she presented herself."I was just thinking about how Mom and Dad always pushed me so hard. Because if I got a better education than they did, maybe I wouldn't be as trapped as they were. My family's poorness was always a point of contention with Jace, then-never mind.""Hey. I mind." Benjamin's hand slid down to her elbow then her hand. "Talk to me?"Dixie shook her head. No part of her wanted to poke at those wounds. She was doing just fine ignoring them."Okay. But if you change your mind, you know where I'm at." He squeezed her hand, holding on tight.She glanced up at him and her stomach tightened. She had this crazy, illogical desire to throw herself at him, tell him everything she hadn't shared with anyone except her lawyer and just let it all out. She couldn't because what would he think of her
Last Updated : 2022-11-24The Love Barn Chapter 68: Benji
BENJI LEANED BACK AND studied the thumbnails of the edited shots from last week's wedding. It was some of his best work by far. But he'd also had an attractive, photogenic couple to work with.Photogenic.He tabbed computer screens without thinking until that image of Dixie came up. The one he couldn't stop staring at. It was that moment when she'd glanced up, her eyes on him before she noticed the camera. She'd smiled so big and bright it made his heart hurt."You going to pick up this mess?" Garth stood in the open doorway leading into the office."It's fine." Benji tabbed back to the thumbnails to continue his last evaluation before sending the proofs to the bride and groom. They'd select their images, and he'd do further editing after that."It's a disaster in here."Benji blew out a breath, leaned back in his chair and swung a bit to face Garth directly. His brother had a bone to pick about something and wasn't going away."Can I help you?" Benji asked."You can pi
Last Updated : 2022-11-24The Love Barn Chapter 69: Benji
Benji rolled the question around in his head. She needed answers. Real ones."Like I said, you and Luna used to be close. I figured you might want that again. Besides, you haven't really lived until you've been to a Jones family fish fry these days." And I'd like to see you. He wanted to see that she was okay that this first week of freedom from her ex hadn't left marks.Dixie sighed into the phone.He braced himself for another no."Can you give me twenty minutes?" she asked."I can.""Okay. Twenty minutes. Bye."Benji pushed to his feet grinning.It was too bad Scarlett wasn't coming tonight. Eventually he'd like to see the whole gang back together again. Or at least the ones still living near town. If he'd learned anything from watching Scarlett get back on her feet, it was that the support system around her mattered.He couldn't be part of that system. Between his teenage crush on Dixie and his fascination with the woman she'd become he knew his interest in her wa
Last Updated : 2022-11-24The Love Barn Chapter 70: Dixie
DIXIE'S CHEST ACHED FROM the tension between her shoulders. Or was that her heart? Or was it Luna?The other woman had her arms clamped around Dixie, squeezing the life out of her."Oh my God, I haven't seen you in forever." Luna finally relaxed her hold on Dixie and leaned back. "How are you? And-did you come where with Benji?""That's a long story," Dixie said slowly. She could feel the man watching her, which had a whole other set of chemical reactions going off in her brain."I need to hear it and you need a drink.""Oh, no. Nothing for me." No need for a repeat of last weekend."You have to have something or else Mamaw is going to yell at me for being a bad host." Luna hooked her arm in Dixie's and led her toward the outdoor kitchen.She was able to talk Luna into sweet tea instead of a beer or whatever was in the punch. They settled on a wooden swing not far from the fire pit. It was close enough to the party that they were present, but far enough away Dixie didn't
Last Updated : 2022-11-24The Love Barn Chapter 71: Dixie
"Hey, Dixie?""Hm?" Dixie glanced to her left at Luna.The other woman leaned closer and lifted her hand, whispering, "He's still looking at you.""Shut up," Dixie mumbled.Luna tossed her head back and laughed. She wrapped an arm around Dixie's shoulders and squeezed."I missed you," Luna said."I missed you, too. All of this.""Well, you aren't going to get rid of us easily next time." She wagged her finger at Dixie. "And just wait until the L.O.L. Gang get their hands on you.""L.O.L. Gang?" Dixie repeated slowly."Yeah." Luna grinned. "I think it was that new stylist at The Hair Box-well, new like ten years ago, new-she said all her cosmetology girlfriends called their much older clients their L.O.L.s. Little old ladies.""Oh, I see.""But you know the group that meets up in the antique shop tea room? That's a gang of L.O.L.s, so someone started calling them the L.O.L. Gang and it stuck.""Of course it did." Dixie shook her head. How was it she'd lived in Ra
Last Updated : 2022-11-24The Love Barn Chapter 72: Benji
BENJI STOOD IN THE open barn doors gazing in at the bare floor.Half an hour ago it had been strewn with streamers, confetti and a billion napkins.He'd have to remember that whole throwing them in the air thing if they ever hosted another Greek wedding. They really hadn't been prepared for this group, but everything had gone off well enough. All of the attendees had appeared to have a good time. And the newlyweds had paused on their way out the door to gush about the event.It was a job well done.And Benji was ready to pass out.He glanced at the single light shining from inside his house. Garth had bailed earlier, leaving Benji with the last few things. That was highly unusual. Garthmicromanaged everything they did. Letting Benji turn the lights off was strange.His stomach growled.He turned his attention on the cheery light coming out from the open windows of Scarlett's house.What were the chances he could beg a plate there?The only thing to eat at his place wa
Last Updated : 2022-11-24The Love Barn Chapter 73: Dixie
DIXIE CURLED HER LEGS under her and pulled the fluffy throw with a giraffe motif across her lap. Shonda's home was one of those special, few places that had become a kind of safe haven for Dixie. A place where she could go and vent without judgment. Monday nights when she and Elisabeth were invited over were her favorites. It was when Shonda's husband cooked and he was always trying out new things. Tonight was no different. Dixie couldn't pronounce the dish they'd eaten, but it had been delicious, much like everything else he cooked.Maybe Dixie needed to add cooking classes to her list."Have you started this month's book?" Elisabeth toed off her shoes and hugged a pillow to her chest. With the end of the school year looming, she was showing the seasonal stress."No. Have you?""I can't even think about getting it." Elisabeth pressed her fingers to her temples. "My brother, DeeDee. He's just...""I'm sorry.""Ever since he started getting letters from dad, it's like I don'
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
