Aimee froze, and everyone around her seemed to also have gone still, most importantly Colin. Turning beet red, Aimee gave her brother a silent glare before sneaking a quick peek to the man in reference. His eyes were huge and round while his glorious mouth hung open in obvious shock. If it hadn’t been such a horrible moment, Aimee would probably laugh at his expression.
“Don’t talk foolish, Scott dear, and help your sister with her luggage.” Gwen spoke first trying to lighten the situation.
Somehow Aimee discovered her voice. “That was a long time ago, Scott. I’ve grown up since then.”
“Ow,” he cried out when she kicked him in the shin as she brushed past him. “Okay, okay. Sorry, but no one updated me.”
Wanting to ignore Colin she would have walked past him without looking in his direction, but he reached out and grabbed her arm. Looking up, his face had returned to his usual gentle expression and friendly smile. Though perhaps his smile was a tad softer than usual. “I’m going to head over to my parent’s house now.”
“Oh.” He had rebounded quickly but Aimee wasn’t as swift and had a hard time meeting his gaze. “All right. Thanks for the lift.”
“I’ll see you later.” He looked down at her and she almost melted at the sweetness of his smile. Good Lord, he felt sorry for her.
Nodding her head, she turned and started to continue her way upstairs. Her mother’s voice though detained her. “Why don’t you go with him, Aimee? It’s been awhile since you paid a visit to Jo and Verna.”
She turned around ready to flash an angry glare in her mother’s direction. This homecoming couldn’t have been worse. If he hadn’t realized her feelings from her brother’s callous if not harmless question, he was sure to figure it out with her mother’s meddling. But as she turned around he caught her eye. He actually looked pleased with the idea. Aimee felt her anger melt away and a familiar warmth stir in the pit of her stomach whenever he looked at her that way.
“Earth to Aimee.” Joel’s voice in her ear drew her out of her daydreams. “Where do you want these blankets?”
Flustered, she quickly looked away and ordered sternly, “Anywhere. On my bed is fine.”
From the bottom of the stairs, Colin said, “I’ve got to be going. My parents will be wondering what’s keeping me.”
“Give Verna my love.” Gwen pecked his cheek.
“I will.” He smiled back. Then looked up the stairs to Aimee. “You coming?”
“I probably shouldn’t—I mean I have a lot of unpacking—if you really want me too?”
He grinned. “Mom would love to see you.”
“Go on, Aimee,” her father demanded, “Don’t hold the boy up any longer.”
She descended the stairs slowly feeling gloriously happy and approached him without realizing her face was beaming. Her mother was grinning so proudly as if Aimee had just descended the stairs on prom night, confusing her daughter but nevertheless receiving a smile in response as Aimee followed Colin out to his car.
Once they were seat-belted, he pulled the Barracuda out of the driveway and drove toward his parent’s home a few blocks over. It remained silent in the car right up until he pulled in front of his parent’s turn-of-the-century house. “So you use to have a crush on me, eh?”
“I should have known better than to think you would drop it.”
He laughed. “It’s amazing what little secrets people keep from you.”
“It wasn’t a big deal. I wasn’t keeping anything a secret.” She grabbed the door handle and opened the car door.
“I was never aware of any crush.” He pointed out as he followed suit.
“I know.” Only too well.
“So you were keeping secrets.”
“I don’t think you would have wanted to know Dennis’ twelve year old sister had a huge crush on you.”
“Huge, eh?”
Her cheeks swiftly heated up. “I was twelve. Everything was a huge deal.”
“Wish I’d known.”
She froze. “You did?”
“Definitely.”
“W-why?”
“I would have thought it cute.”
Of course. What had she thought he’d say? He had shared the same feelings?
“At twelve, I wasn’t looking for cute.”
“Still—” he trailed off, not finishing what he was going to say.
“What?”
Grinning, he took her arm and propelled her in the direction of the front porch. “It would have given me a certain amount of leverage.”
She stopped walking. “Leverage? What type of leverage?”
“The best kind.” He leaned forward. “The teasing kind.” Then unexpectedly dropped a kiss on her nose before turning toward the house and opening the front door.
Aimee’s eyes fluttered shut and she hated herself for feeling the same way she had at the age of twelve. Any sign of affection from Colin always left her giddy with happiness. From the porch, she heard him exchange greetings inside the house before she heard his mother exclaim, “Where’s Sheila?”
Aimee could have shriveled up and crawled all the way back home. She was a poor substitute for the beautiful and sophisticated Sheila McNeil. But as she followed Colin into the house, his mother’s face broke into a huge grin. “Though Aimee is a wonderful substitute. How are you dear?”
Happily she exchanged a warm hug with the woman before shaking hands with his more reserved father. “Fine thank you. I hope you don’t mind me dropping in unexpected like this.”
“Of course not.” She led Aimee toward the kitchen while Colin took his overnight bag upstairs. Clutching Aimee close by the arm, his mother leaned in close and whispered “I didn’t realize you and Colin had started dating?”
“We’re not,” Aimee quickly amended. Lord if Colin had heard that, there was no telling what he would say. She didn’t think her heart could stand any more trampling for the day.
End of Excerpt
About the Author
Peggy Ann Craig is a writer of historical and contemporary romances. She loves old fashion romances mingled with a touch of mystery and/or humor. When she is not in front of her keyboard, she can be found behind her camera or hanging out with her barnyard critters. To learn more about her, please visit her website at http://www.peggyanncraig.com.
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Other books by this author
Please visit your favorite ebook retailer to discover other books by Peggy Ann Craig:
On the Mountain
The Color of Ivy
Princess and the Ox
Misfortune (The Miss Series – Book 1)
Misunderstood: In Love with the Nerd (The Miss Series Book 2) Page 22
