The Switch by Debra Kayn (desktop ebook reader TXT) 📗

Shack getting one of the top-of-the-line e-bikes to put out on the floor left her gawking. "Should I stay and set all the batteries up to charge?"

"I'll do it. No use both of us sticking around."

"Okay, but I'm coming in early on Monday. I want to putter around on this one in the lot before customers start showing up." She stepped out of his way as he wheeled the bike toward The Shack. "I need to get going, but I'll see you at the get-together later if you show up."

She glanced at Trip. He had his back turned inside the trailer, unwrapping the rest of the bicycles. She hoped he heard her plans.

She wanted to see him, too.

Getting in her car, she pulled out of the lot. Highly aware Trip never looked at her once, she ran into the store, buying not only what the kids needed but a half-gallon of ice cream for her.

At the cash register, the woman eyed her. "Someone's having a bad day."

Realizing what a counter full of junk food looked like, she shook her head. "Most of it will go with my sons when they camp out tonight."

"Mm-hm." The woman, her nametag had J.J. printed on it, raised her brows, not believing her. "I've seen you hanging around Trip. I can guess you're going to drown yourself, scoop after scoop, in vanilla ice cream."

Taken aback, she tried to hide the warmth flooding her face. "Really, it has nothing to do with him."

It had everything to do with Trip.

She wanted to know what was wrong. It wasn't like him to ignore her. Granted, he wasn't much on talking, but there was something off about him. It was almost like he was afraid she'd ask him if he was going tonight.

"Hon, I don't blame you. Trip's a hard man to pin down." J.J. shrugged. "Many women have tried."

A sourness entered her throat, and she swallowed. She didn't like the sound of other women going after Trip when she was starting to think he was the perfect man for her.

"No worries about me. I'm a hard-core single mom. My boys are my world. Teenagers take up all my time." She grabbed the receipt from J.J.'s hand and the two plastic bags with her groceries.

The weight of the day on her shoulders, she slugged to the car. As she reached the house, she'd changed her mind about going to the get-together. She'd take the kids and hand them off to Hank and come back home.

She needed to shake off J.J.'s conversation about Trip.

A bath and a lounge in bed, going to sleep early, was precisely what she needed to recharge and think about what was happening to her, away from Trip. She couldn't forget who she was and what was set in her future.

The boys stood on the porch as she shifted the car into park. She smiled, knowing they were excited about tonight.

Getting out, she grabbed the bags and walked toward the porch. "I have everything you'll need for your night out. I wasn't sure how many kids would be there, so I bought a lot."

Kenny leaned over the porch railing. "Mom, you've got to see this."

"What?"

"Just look." He hit Zach, moving his brother out of the way. "Trip brought it for you."

The bags almost slipped out of her hands. "He what?"

Her gaze went to the left. A brand new e-bike took up half of the porch. She hurried up the steps, gawking at the bicycle, knowing it was exactly like the one she'd admired at work.

"He dropped it off a few minutes ago." Zach tapped the seat. "He told us to tell you it's yours."

"That can't be right." She cocked her head, looking at the boys. "This was one of the bikes in the order for The Shack."

"I don't know, but that's what he said." Zach took the bags from her. "Can we go now? You can drop us off at Trina's house. I told her I'd walk to the clubhouse with her."

"Yeah, sure." She stared at the bike. "Put the ice cream in the freezer first, and then we'll go."

"Pretty awesome, huh?" Kenny sat on the bike. "Can I ride it tomorrow?"

"We'll see," she mumbled. "Do you have your bag ready?"

"Yeah. Right there."

"Okay." Her pulse raced. "Put it in the car."

Why would Trip give her an expensive e-bike? Why wouldn't he say something earlier?

His behavior confused her.

Chapter Twenty Three

Bonnie pushed to her feet and pulled the plug at the bottom of the tub. Wrapping a towel around her wet body, she padded to the bedroom. A night to let herself cry until she laughed pathetically, a short nap in a scalding hot tub, and two cups of half-melted ice cream while she fed hot water into the tub, rejuvenated her soul.

She walked into the kitchen and looked at her cell phone in the one spot there was guaranteed cell service. She relaxed, knowing the boys hadn't needed her.

Turning the radio on low, she pivoted to go back in the bedroom to warm up when a large form stepped into the kitchen, blocking her path.

She screamed, clasping the top knot of the towel at her chest.

"It's me." Trip put his hands out to his sides.

"Oh, my God." She gasped for breath. "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see you."

She shook her head, exasperated with him. "Haven't we already gone through that? You can't walk into my house without asking, and I need more of an explanation than you stating you wanted to see me. You saw me after work and— Oh, I don't know, it didn't seem like you had a lot to say then. So, I can't see what's so important for you to come over—"

He hooked her around the neck and brought her forward, capturing her lips. She grabbed his vest, but instead of pushing him away, she clung to him.

Her body betrayed her. She moaned, breaking the kiss.

Her rapid pulse pounded through her neck. She was too old for drama or