All Chapters of The Love Barn: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

167 Chapters

Chapter 31: Scarlett

IF Scarlett HADN'T needed to be in the office to handle client calls Tuesday morning she'd have stayed in bed. Cole's bed to be exact. But she had an afternoon event tomorrow and three weddings for the upcoming weekend. It was a busy time to have a hangover, even a small one.It was far earlier than she'd have liked to be awake, but between his alarms and needing a lift to his car she was up at the crack of dawn. She had a few hours to treat her headache so she couldn't justify canceling her Tuesday in favor of nursing her hangover.That glass of midnight wine had been a terrible, awful idea. At least until it led to sharing the shower after she sloshed them both.She shifted into park and the front door of the guy's house swung open.Scarlett cringed. So much for sneaking in before they were up and going.Garth, followed by Benji, stepped out in their work duds. They'd mentioned tackling the weeds encroaching along the property line from the neighbor's field. Was that today?

Chapter 32: Scarlett

Scarlett drank her water and took her medicine. Though a nap sounded heavenly, she never could fall asleep once it was daylight. Her internal clock was not a fan.Her first order of business was coffee and simply sitting in the stillness of her house, existing. Her mind was quiet and with Garth taking over her meeting for the morning, there was no pressure to hurry from one thing to another. By the time she finished her coffee she felt steadier, more human.She scooped up her phone and glanced at the notifications.There were quite a few, but then she'd let them stack up over night. Now she tapped through them. Garth had texted her twice very late. The rest were from Ingrid, one from Jessica and even a message from Kasima.She created a group text with the three girls and fired off her reply: Too hung over to type. Come over.That done, Scarlett got in the shower for a proper washing up. When she turned off the shower she heard voices in her bedroom."Did you let yourself i

Chapter 33: Cole

Cole WAS RUNNING off coffee and his cup was empty. He'd been in better shape than Scarlett that morning, that was for sure. The woman was a lightweight. He'd have to remember that in the future.He checked his watch.There was an hour break in the schedule he wanted to use to research food options for two diabetic patients. His go to brand wasn't appetizing to one, and the other hadn't responded to the special food the way they'd hoped. With all the new products hitting the market every year, he hoped to find a new solution for both. But that meant time and research.He strode to the front of the clinic. The break room coffee pot was empty, but they kept a small machine in the lobby stocked for patients. He was hoping to make this his last cup of the day, so there was no need to brew a whole new pot."Afternoon, Luna," he called out."Busy morning, huh?" She shuffled the papers around."That it was.""You had fun last night I heard." Luna delivered the line as easy and br

Chapter 34: Cole

Cole STARED AT the doors leading into the restaurant. He couldn't recall the name of the place or take his eyes off that point to look at the sign. Ever since his phone call with Cal and Eve this morning he'd been operating in a daze. This wasn't the hangover or lack of sleep. He was wound too tight for that. Anticipation and anxiety had his stomach in knots. He'd changed his shirt twice before leaving the house due to sweat.He was a wreck.Without looking at his phone he hit dial again and listened to the ringing.Once. Three times. Five.Voicemail.He ended the call before Scarlett's voice could tease him.She'd been pretty rough that morning. Chances were she'd gone to work and was passed out already. He wanted her to be there with him, but this was all happening so fast. He couldn't fault her for nursing her hangover.A couple strolled toward the door of the restaurant. The man was in cargo shorts and a T-shirt. The woman wore leggings with a long, loose dress that d

Chapter 35: Scarlett

Scarlett PRESSED HER back to the side of the house. She'd heard an engine, but was too chicken to see who it was.It was going to be Cole.She just knew it. But she couldn't face him right now. It was too soon, and she didn't know what to do.Feet crunched in the gravel coming closer.Shoot.She peered at the back side of the house. Could she dart around there and over to the guy's place? Climbing over their makeshift fence might give her away."Scarlett?" Benji called out. A light shone straight in her face."Hey." She held up her hand and squinted at him. The fading light cast long shadows, partially obscuring him."What are you doing?" Benji picked his way around her ruined garden plot."Just looking to see if I can salvage anything. I think it's a lost cause this year.""I thought we knew that already.""Yeah, well, I was just making sure. Coming inside?" She waved him to follow her."Sure."Maybe what she needed was a man's perspective. Talking to the gir

Chapter 36: Cole

Cole PULLED INTO the driveway and stared at Scarlett's front door. He hadn't heard from her since she dropped him off Tuesday morning to get his car from The Watering Hole. There was this big, gaping hole where she belonged.What the hell happened?It was Friday.He'd texted.He'd called.And silence.She'd mentioned having a few events this week. He'd done his best to stay patient, not demand too much of her time. But three days of silence?His first assumption was that something had happened to her. But that was quickly discarded. If something had happened, word would have spread. Hell, he'd heard about some kid's broken arm, a marital spat that went down at David's Market in the parking lot and teenagers loitering too long outside The Grill. Anything that would have kept Scarlett from returning his calls would have been town news by now.Which meant there was only one explanation.She was ducking him. He couldn't call it ghosting because the town was too small. She

Chapter 37: Scarlett

Scarlett closed her eyes so she wouldn't have to see him. "I hadn't realized it then. I was too caught up in...this. Us. I was overwhelmed.""What do you want, Scarlett? Do you want to work on this, or are you done?" Given what she'd been through with her ex, he couldn't fault her for wanting to protect herself."I want this to work out, but I'm scared it won't. I'm scared of how much it could hurt if it doesn't." She chuckled. "I've got that curse to watch out for and all.""But how good would it be if this does work?" The tight fist that had clenched on his insides relaxed a little and he sucked down a breath. He wasn't ready to commit to the idea of kids. It was too soon for that talk, but his eyes were open to the possibility."I think I'm scared of that, too. I'm just-scared. It's stupid. I'm sorry. I-""Baby. Sh."He gathered her to him, all the anger and fear gone out of him. He was asking her for everything she could give him. She was right to be afraid. He didn't h

Chapter 38: Scarlett

Scarlett let go of Cole and frowned at the screen, then glanced at the window before answering it."What?" She stared out the window toward her cousin's house.Cole followed her gaze and saw Benji waving at them."Goodnight," Scarlett said, then ended the call."Ever heard of curtains?" It wasn't the first time Cole had noted the lack of window coverings."I like the sunlight in the morning." She turned toward him, hand on her hip. More of her hair had fallen down and her dress sliding off that shoulder was giving him all kinds of ideas."Come here." Cole held out his hand."Benji and Garth are right there." Scarlett held up her hands."If they don't want to see they shouldn't watch."He grasped her by the wrist and pulled her toward him. She came willingly, a sparkle in her eye. He kissed her again and ignored his phone vibrating."I brought you home. Now what?" she whispered. The smile on her face was happy. He liked the flush in her cheeks, the way she looked at

Chapter 39: Scarlett

Scarlett REACHED ACROSS the car and squeezed Cole's hand. This morning had taken a surprising turn when Cole's brother called to ask if they wanted to do breakfast. After some back and forth, Cal and Eve were driving up to attend the high school's fall pancake breakfast charity to benefit the local firehouse. Given that half the town had been burned down in '68, the fire department was one thing no one skimped on."You want to get out, or wait on them?" Scarlett asked."Let's get out." Cole squeezed her hand back. "Thanks for making time to do this.""Thanks for letting me tag along."Cole leaned across and kissed her cheek. It was a sweet gesture after a night of intense heat. She wasn't looking forward to seeing Garth later. He'd been cool about Cole showing up, but she was dreading his real reaction later. Garth couldn't stop being Garth even if he wanted to."Come on." Cole opened his door.They got out and walked hand in hand across the grass toward the small parking l

Chapter 40: Cole

Cole FLIPPED CHANNELS on the TV without much consideration for what was on. Sunday nights were now about quality time with Scarlett. With their schedules they didn't get a lot of it, but they were finding a rhythm. Not to mention over the last week his world was taking a dramatic shift what with introducing his blood family to the woman who had taken up residence in his heart.He was ready for Scarlett to be there.Whenever she wasn't there, he wanted her to be. It was a silly wish. They both had jobs they loved, lives, friends and family besides each other, and yet he wanted to do all of those things with Scarlett.He'd never wanted to be with someone as much as he wanted to be with her.Which was one of the two reasons why his butt was still on the sofa and not in the car headed up to her house.The other reason was the five pounds of fluff currently snoring on his thigh. They'd learned the hard way since last Saturday that Pip, the little Terrier-Chihuahua long haired mutt

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