Wildflower Wedding Read Online Free Page B

her.”
    â€œShe’s still cute as a button, isn’t she?”
    More like sexy as hell.
“Yeah.”
    â€œYou gonna ask her out?”
    â€œMom! Jeez . . .”
    â€œIt was just a question.”
    â€œI think she’s dating that mayor dude,” Reese replied. He waved a hand through the air as if he didn’t care.
    â€œNo, she’s not.”
    â€œMom, how do you know this?”
    She tucked a lock of dark curly hair behind her ear. “This is a small town. Trust me, they’re not dating.”
    â€œWell, he’s eating dinner with her right now.” Reese couldn’t keep from scowling. “So I think that’s about to change.”
    â€œBeat him to the punch,” his mother suggested. “You always were sweet on Gabby.”
    Reese shook his head. “The two of you need to butt out of my love life.”
    â€œNot gonna happen,” his mother and uncle responded together.
    Reese had to laugh. “Well, at least give me a chance to unpack my suitcases.” He loved them both—even if they couldn’t keep their noses out of his business.
    â€œTony, you should go on home and let Digger out,” Tessa suggested. “You’ve got circles under your eyes. Get some rest. Reese and I can handle any deliveries that come our way. We’ll close up the kitchen and store the sauce.”
    â€œThanks, Tessa. I think I’ll take you up on that. I could use a jog and Digger really needs some exercise. I feel rotten that he’s been cooped up day after day. Irish setters need to run.”
    â€œThen get outta here,” Reese insisted. “Mom and I got it covered. Seriously.”
    â€œAll right already. Feels like you wanna get rid of me. I might develop a complex or somethin’.”
    â€œYeah, right.” Reese shook his head.
    â€œHey, Tessa, the menus arrived. Proofread them and let me know what you think.”
    â€œWill do.”
    â€œAnd—”
    â€œTony! For heaven’s sake. Go!” She shooed him with her hands.
    Reese laughed when his uncle continued to shout instructions to them as he walked out the door. A minute later a text message came for them to think of a tag line for ads. “He never stops,” Reese said with a shake of his head.
    â€œI sure hope this restaurant is a success,” his mother said while she stirred the sauce and then turned the flame down. “I knew it was a bit of a gamble telling him to come here, but I also knew he needed to get out of Brooklyn and away from what Gloria did to him.”
    Reese started slicing some mushrooms. “Mom, closing the Brooklyn pizza shop really tore Uncle Tony up. Losing the family business because you have to hand half of it over to a woman who cheated on you? Yeah, he needed a fresh start.”
    She smiled. “Well, despite the circumstances I’m glad to have both of you in Cricket Creek. I sure did miss you, Reese. Sending you to Brooklyn to live with Tony was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. I hope you know that.”
    Reese paused in his slicing. “You might have mentioned it a time or . . . twenty. Mom, I was hell on wheels and heading down the wrong path fast. I didn’t like it at the time, but trust me, you did the right thing.”
    â€œIt’s hard not to act out when your father up and leaves you. Rebellion was your way of dealing. Depression was mine. I’m so sorry I was in that dark place, Reese. After he left I should have been there for you.”
    â€œHave you filed for divorce?” Reese hated to ask, but his mother needed to find closure and move on with her life.
    â€œNo.” She concentrated on the sauce as if it had the answers to the universe.
    â€œYou can get one based on abandonment. All you have to do is post a notice in the paper and make a reasonable effort to find him, Mom.” Reese had done the research. “Come on, we don’t