“Is that really a rule?” Riley questioned.
“Well, ya it is. Think about it if you have one child, they have no one to play with but with two, they have a play mate with three, there is always one left out with four, they each have a play mate. Problem solved we have to have four children that’s all there is to it.”
“Oh, really is that your final answer James Tucker Frazier?”
“Yep, final answer. What’d ya say? Wanna call your parents so we can get busy makin’ more babies.?” Tuck replies as Riley grabs the phone and begins to dial her parents.
“Already on the phone.”
“That’s my girl.” Tuck picks up Tucker and he changes his diaper as Riley makes arrangements for their mini makin’ babies’ vacation.
The End
Continue the ARES Team Series, Book One Rules of Engagement or any of Shannon’s Books
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About the Author
www.shannonnemechek.com
Shannon is a multi-genre author who writes, Military, Contemporary, Historical Romance and is working on her first Fantasy series.
* * *
Shannon started her writing career while still serving in the US Army. Serving from 1987 to 2015 during Operation Desert Storm and during Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. In April 2015
* * *
Shannon retired from the US Army with 23 years of service.
* * *
Shannon is a mother of 4 children and a grandma to 2. She was born and raised in Macomb, IL and has been married 26 years to her husband, Ken. They reside in Staunton, IL a small town along Old Route 66.
Lemon Tarts & Stolen Hearts
Dylann Crush
Lemon Tarts & Stolen Hearts © 2019 Dylann Crush
* * *
All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
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Lemon Tarts & Stolen Hearts
When life gives you lemons, juice those suckers and make something sweet out of them.
* * *
Misty Greene has only ever fallen head over heels for two things… her mama’s homemade lemon tarts and her on-again-off-again boyfriend, Jake Duncan. The lemon tarts are easy to replicate. The feelings she’s carried for Jake Duncan? Not so much.
* * *
So when Misty decides it’s high time to rekindle their romance, Jake better get with the program or get out of town. He’s always had a thing for Misty. But he’s been hurt in the past. Will the two of them be able to find their happily-ever-after before they tear down the tiny town of Swallow Springs, Missouri trying?
1
Misty
I rolled the giant lemon around in my hands. It was the perfect degree of ripe for a batch of my mama’s lemon tarts. If only a heart could be tested for ripeness just as easy. I’d been back in Swallow Springs for two days now and still hadn’t mustered the courage to follow up on the reason I’d returned—Jake Duncan.
“Are you going to put it through the juicer or pulverize it with your bare hands?” Mama nudged her chin toward the lemon.
“Oh, sorry. Where’s that hand-held doohickey that grandma used to use?” I’d told Mama the little white lie that I’d taken some vacation time because it looked like I might get laid off from my job. I didn’t want to deal with the fallout yet of revealing the real reason I’d returned was to win back Jake’s heart. If she knew I’d only come back to rekindle a flame that had been snuffed out years ago, she’d send me back to Omaha faster than I could say “See you next time.”
“It’s in the drawer where it’s always been.” Mama tucked a package of tissues into her purse. “You sure you’ve got everything under control?”
“Of course. I’m just whipping up a batch of lemon tarts. Then I’ll nose around town and see if anyone has any Help Wanted signs in the windows.” My parents had been happy to see me, but they weren’t terribly excited when I said I might move back to Swallow Springs. As far as they were concerned, job prospects up in Omaha seemed much more promising. I just wanted to prep them for the possibility of me moving back. If I couldn’t win Jake back if wouldn’t matter. I’d have no choice but to head back to Omaha and leave him in my past for good.
Mama pursed her lips and smoothed her hair back, tucking an errant strand into her bun. “I still don’t understand what made you decide to come back. Seemed like you couldn’t wait to get out of town when you and Jacob broke up.”
My heart skipped a beat. She was right about that. But that was back when the draw of the city seemed too hard to deny. When I thought of Jake as a backward country boy who had no sense of adventure. I’d tried to convince him to come with me, that we could strike out on our own and leave Swallow Springs behind.
But he’d wanted to stay in the tiny town in southern Missouri where he’d been born and raised. It had just about killed me to leave him behind, but at the time I felt like I didn’t have a choice. If I didn’t get out of Swallow Springs I was sure I’d suffocate and wither away.
So I’d left and he’d stayed. As much as I loved my studio apartment and hard-won job, I’d been trying to move on for over a year. Every other part of me embraced my new life. Every part except my heart.
“Make sure you clean up after yourself.”
“I will. Go on and have fun.” I gave Mama a quick hug, eager to be left on my own.
“I’m going to a wake, sweetheart.”
I’d been so caught up in my own thoughts I hadn’t noticed she had on her black suit, the one she usually wore to church events. “Oh, sorry. Please give my condolences to…” I tried to remember who’d passed. With Daddy being the local pastor, my mom was always following him to a funeral, a wedding, a baptism, or a variety of other gatherings.
“It’s Patsy’s husband, Duke.”
“The ones who own the Lovebird Café?” The café was an icon in downtown Swallow Springs. It was where I’d first met Jake when I’d moved to town as a high school sophomore.
“That’s right. It was a blessing he didn’t suffer, but I don’t know what poor Patsy is going to do now.”
An ache of longing bubbled up inside my chest. Patsy and Duke had been together forever. Theirs was the kind of love story people talked about when they needed an example of what true, long-lasting love looked like. The kind of love story I hoped to write with Jake.
I had to see him. He’d always been a sucker for mama’s lemon tarts. I’d finish up a batch and take them over. If I showed up with baked goods he’d have no choice but to talk to me.
2
Jake
“Oh, hell no.” I ducked into the open doorway of my co-worker Haney’s office. Either my eyes were playing some nasty tricks on me or I’d just caught a glimpse of Misty Greene chatting up the admin at the front desk.
“Can I help you with something?” Haney shuffled some papers into a pile and set it on the corner of his desk.
“Yeah, um…” As I racked my brain, trying to come up with a plausible reason for darting into his office, I peered around the edge of the doorway.
Haney cleared his throat. “Everything okay?”
“Of cour
se.” I straightened, turning to face him. “I wanted to make sure everything was on target for the fundraiser this weekend.”
“Nothing’s changed since you asked me about it an hour ago.” The old chair squeaked as he leaned back and clasped his hands behind his head. His office could have been lifted right out of the 60s. That was probably the last time the city had updated any of the furnishings.
“Great. Just making sure.” The sound of footsteps click-clacked on the tile in the hall, heading our way. I ducked behind the doorway.
“Jake?” A frown creased the middle of Haney’s forehead. “You sure you’re okay?”
“Shh. Don’t say my name.” My pulse thundered through my veins. I wasn’t prepared to see Misty. Not yet. Probably not ever. The last time I’d seen her she’d cut out my heart and left me sitting in our favorite booth at the Lovebird Café.
“What the heck is going on?” Haney leaned across his desk, craning his neck to look through the doorway.
I waved my arm, motioning him to sit down. “It’s Misty. She’s back.”
“Misty Greene?”
“Shh. She’ll hear you.”
“Haney, is that you?” Misty stepped into Haney’s office. She only stood about five-foot-five, even in heels, but her presence filled the doorway. Sucked all of the life out of the room and all of the breath right out of my lungs.
“Well hi, Misty. What brings you back to town?” Haney stepped around the desk and offered her an awkward half-hug.
She hugged him back. “Just back for a quick visit.”
I tried to disappear, fade into the peach-colored cinderblock wall. My feet wouldn’t move. I knew I’d run into her eventually. Her parents still lived in town. Of course she’d come back at some point. But I figured by then I’d have moved on, started a life with someone else. Someone who looked nothing like the woman who’d shot me down and hulled out my chest cavity.
She pulled back first. “It’s nice to see you, Haney.”
“Nice to see you, too.”
Then she turned her gaze on me. “Jake.”
“Misty.” As I forced her name through my lips my voice cracked.
The edges of her eyes softened, just like they had the last time we’d been together. When she thought she was letting me down easy.
“So…” Haney rocked back on his heels.
Heavy silence shrouded the room. I wouldn’t speak first. Didn’t want to give her the satisfaction.
“How have you been?” Misty asked.
“Fine. I mean, great. Yeah, I’ve been doing fantastic.” The lie spun out before I had a chance to consider my response.
“Good. I’m really happy to hear that.”
Damn, why did she have to look so good? Her long, dark hair fell around her face in waves. Bright-blue eyes peered up at me through those thick, dark lashes. And her lips. Rosy red, and plump as a ripe strawberry, just begging to be kissed.
“How about you? What have you been up to?” I didn’t want to know. Didn’t want to hear about her new life in Omaha—the life she had to have.
“Things have been, well, good. I got a promotion.”
“That’s great.”
“Uh, congratulations,” Haney offered.
I’d forgotten he was even in the room. Misty had that effect on me. Or at least she used to. Those days were over though. Like hell I’d let her see how she still made my heart rev.
“I brought you something.” She held out a plate wrapped in cellophane, tied up with a sparkly red bow.
My mouth watered at the sight of the platter she held in her hands. I hadn’t had a taste of her mama’s lemon tarts since Misty moved away. But it would take more than a plate of sweets to make up for the way she left things. “No thanks.”
She looked down at the platter, her tentative smile turning into a frown. “They used to be your favorite.”
“Yeah, well, things have changed around here since you left.” My heart seized. I couldn’t believe those words had come out of my mouth. She might have broken my heart, wrenched it right out of my chest, but I couldn’t stand to be the reason for her frown.
“I was hoping we could talk.” She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, suddenly not so sure of herself.
Haney prodded me with his eyes, glancing back and forth from me to Misty. I shook my head.
“Thanks for stopping by, but I’m really busy.” I slid my hands into the pockets of my jeans, doing my best to appear unaffected by her sudden appearance.
“Maybe tonight then?” The way her lower lip caught on her teeth, making her look so unsure, so vulnerable, made me want to pull her into my arms. But she’d played me before like a fucking fiddle, and I wasn’t about to let her get to me again.
“Wish I could, but Haney and I have plans.”
“We do?” Haney asked.
“Yeah, happy hour at the Dive Inn, right?” He’d been asking me to join him for the weekly Wednesday night happy hour for weeks. Karaoke had never been my style, so up until now I’d declined.
“Oh, right.” Haney nodded, apparently catching on.
Misty tilted her head, assessing me with those blue eyes that could go from warm and welcoming to frosty as an Alaskan iceberg. Right now they lingered somewhere in between. “Maybe I’ll see you there.”
“Oh, it’s guys’ night,” I said.
“Not really.” Haney shrugged. “We’d love to have you stop by.”
My jaw clenched. Why did I get stuck with such a moron for a friend?
“Great. I’ll see you later on tonight.” Misty made a move toward the doorway. Before she reached it, she turned back. “Say, Haney, do you want some lemon tarts?”
I tried to catch his eye before he reached for the platter. “Thanks, Misty.”
“You’re welcome. I sure hope you enjoy them as much as Jake used to.”
My mouth watered, anticipating the tang of lemon nestled into the perfect shortbread crust as she made her way down the hall. Her hips swayed from side to side in the clingy dress she had on. Reminded me of days gone by when the sight of her sashaying away would drive me to catch up to her, dip her into a deep, slow kiss, and run my hands all over those soft curves. No more. I waited until she disappeared through the double glass doors, wanting to make sure she was really gone.
“Give me one of those.” I reached for the platter as Haney snatched it away. He’d already slipped one of the tiny tarts into his mouth.
“These are really good,” he said, trying to talk around a mouthful of what should have been my lemon tart.
“I know they’re good. Give me one.”
“You didn’t want them. She gave them to me.” He stepped behind his desk and set the platter on the credenza behind him.
“Fine. I didn’t want one anyway.”
“Right.”
I could tell he didn’t believe me, but I didn’t care. As long as I’d made it clear to Misty that her tarts had no hold over me anymore, that’s all that mattered.
Except they did.
So did she.
And she knew it.
“See you later, Haney.” I had work to do. Work that went beyond stuffing down any lingering feelings I might harbor for Misty Greene.
“Want to head over to the Dive Inn around six?” Haney asked.
The Dive Inn. Dammit. I had no intention of wallowing in my beer tonight while I tried to figure out what brought Misty back to town. Haney would have to handle the wild karaoke crowd on his own. “Maybe next time. I feel a headache coming on.”
A headache that stood about five-foot-two with pouty red lips and curves that went on forever.
3
Misty
I pressed a tissue to my lips, blotting my signature red lipstick. A quick glance in the rear view mirror showed a woman full of confidence. Deep down, I was anything but. The run-in with Jake this afternoon had thrown me for a curve. Granted, I hadn’t expected him to melt into a puddle of emotion, forgive me for shattering his heart, an
d welcome me back into his life with open arms. But I’d also been a little taken aback by the frosty reception. Which is why I’d primped and stuffed myself into one of my most flattering dresses to give it another shot.
Jake might not be looking forward to seeing me again, but Haney had definitely extended an invitation. So what if it was guys’ night? The Dive Inn was a public place. It was just too bad I didn’t have a girlfriend left in town who I could con into meeting me for a drink. No, I’d have to handle this on my own.
I pulled open the thick wooden door and peered into the bar. Twinkle lights surrounded the edges of the room, making it seem festive all year round. Swallow Springs wasn’t known for being a hot spot of social activity, so this was just about the only place to go out on a Wednesday night.
My gaze swept around the room, while my eyes adjusted to the dim interior. A few couples swayed to a slow song on the small dance floor. The rest of the patrons sat at bar-height tables or on stools at the massive bar that stretched from one end of the building to the other.
I didn’t see Jake, but Haney had folded himself over one of the stools at the bar. Taking in a deep breath, I pasted on a friendly smile and headed his way.
“Hey, Haney. Fancy seeing you here.” I hung my purse from the back of the stool and slid onto the seat next to him.
“Oh, hi, Misty. Did you come for karaoke?” He twisted his torso to face me. Tall and lanky, his body was made up of angles and long limbs. He’d been a year ahead of us in high school and hung out with a different crowd but did play on the same baseball team with Jake in high school. While Jake had always been athletic, Haney looked like a colt trying to take his first steps anytime he stepped onto the field.
Sweetest Obsessions - Anthology Page 306
