When Arden Blossom returned to her hometown of River Hollow as a single mom to a newborn baby girl, she had to pick up the pieces of her life. Now, seven years later, she owns the local bookstore and cafe, has her dream house, and enjoys a high-stak...
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I'm walking through the house packing up last minute things into Noa's backpack. Folder, reading log, water bottle. All the essentials. Movement catches the corner of my eye as I walk closer to my stained glass bay windows.
Rory had just come back from his morning run, I hate admitting that I've been purposely late getting Noa's things together just so I can see him after his run. He uses his discarded shirt as a towel wiping the sweat from his face. My eyes greedily watch his sweaty glistening tight muscles. The early morning light was highlighting every perfectly sculpted ridge of his defined abs. I let out the most pitiful whimper. God he was so utterly perfect, it was almost painful how ridiculous my infatuation has been for this man and telling by the way my body is currently craving to be touched by him the infatuation hasn't stopped.
He drops his hands still holding on to the towel as he looks over towards my house, my window being the perfect view of his front lawn. I squeal dropping down to hide beneath the windowsill. Oh lord please tell me he didn't see me watching him like some creep.
"Mom?" Noa questions looking at me oddly.
"Morning pumpkin!"
"What are you doing on the floor?"
My cheeks burn with a blush. "I dropped something."
"Ok." She says moving along to the next topic. "Ready to walk to school?"
"Yup. Yes. Perfect." I say awkwardly crawling away from the window before getting up from the floor. Noa just looks at me like I've lost my damn mind, and I'm starting to really question if she might be right.
We head outside not even making it down one step before Noa spots Rory. She yells good morning to him, her hand waving enthusiastically fast. My heart warming at the excitement she has seeing him.
"Morning ladies!" Rory acknowledges the both of us. It was taking all of my will power not to openly stare at his bare chest and torso like I did in my window. "Are you off to school?" He asks Noa. She nods her head in answer.
"You should walk with us." She invites him.
"He's probably busy Noa. I'm sure he needs a shower or has somewhere to be..." I trail off as my eyes betray me taking in his glistening abs up close and personal. Mental imagines of him in the shower run through my mind...I'm going to hell.
"A walk with you both sounds perfect, besides I can take a shower later." He winks at me once I'm able to finally pull my gaze away from his drool worthy body. What the hell did they put in the water while he was in the army? He slips his shirt back on before we start walking down the sidewalk going through our normal weekly routine.
"What's on the schedule for school today?" He asks Noa breaking the silence that had settled between us. It was strange the way this felt so normal. Like we've always had Rory in our life. The sudden realization that Noa isn't the only one quickly becoming attached.
