Stronger By Your Side (Great Love Book 2) Read Free Page A

was hot. Honestly, he was smoking hot. He was around 6 feet tall, with short, light brown hair and light hazel eyes. He worked out and ran a lot, and it showed. He was toned and had a bright, wide smile with full lips. He had a couple of light freckles that splattered his nose and on his shoulders. He had a tattoo on his right arm of three skulls—hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil—and he’d added Charles’s initials to the underside of it. Travis had one on the left side of his chest of an American flag with 1776 under it, and then across his broad shoulders on his back, he had his last name, “Farmer”, which was ironic because he came from a long line of farmers and ranchers. “Farmers Pumpkin Patch and Ranch” was owned and run by Travis’s father, Frank. It was a local favorite place to spend the day, especially in the fall. It was also a favorite place to buy local meat, produce and goodies.
    Travis’s meaningful tattoos gave him a sexy bad boy look. Add that to his all-American, hardworking, country boy morals, and his bad ass attitude, and you had a dangerously charming catch. Girls threw themselves at him all of the time. Seriously. All. The. Time. Travis left shortly after our conversation, and Charlotte and I went over to Jules’s for dinner.
    I woke up the next morning with sun pouring in the windows and warming my face. The apartment was completely bare, and today was the day to redecorate our home. It was time for a fresh start and a new life. Suddenly, a little hand slapped my forehead, and then two of the brightest emerald green eyes popped over my pillow.
    “Good morning, Princess,” I said as I scooped Charlotte into my arms.
    She giggled as I gave her little kisses all over her cheeks. “Mornin’, Mama,” She said.
    “Let’s get dressed, go get some breakfast, and see Auntie Jules.”
    She nodded her little sleepy head and rubbed her eyes as we walked into the bathroom. “I hungy.”
    As we got ready, I thought of everything I needed to cross off my list. I had one week to get the apartment all set up and our lives in order. The current kindergarten teacher had up and quit to fulfil her lifelong dream of being a rodeo clown right before the school year started. No joke. I had a lot to do both in our home and in my classroom to get ready. After locking up our new home, Charlotte and I walked downstairs to the coffee shop and were welcomed by a line out the door. I smiled to myself that Jules was obviously doing well. The town had a hard time holding onto local businesses, but Jitterbugs seemed to be the exception.
    Jules’s wild blonde curls spilled from her head and over her shoulders from behind the counter. Jules was in her forties, but you would never know. She looked maybe thirty-two and was slim and pretty in a unique way.
    She waved her hand in the air to signal me. “Good morning, my girls, come on up here.” I smiled politely at the line of people. Then Jules stepped out from behind the counter and addressed the line. “These are my daughter-in-law and granddaughter, Megan and Charlotte, everyone!”
    I could feel my cheeks burning red as everyone looked over at us, smiled and said things like, “Welcome!” I waved shyly, trying to be polite despite my embarrassment, and Charlotte buried her face in my neck. I propped her on my hip and prepared myself for Jules’s overpowering embrace. I was right in doing so, because she flew the couple of feet between us and wrapped her arms around Charlotte and me.
    As the crowd returned to normal, Jules kissed both our cheeks and then gave us a love-filled smile. “Morning, ladies, you want some breakfast?”
    Charlotte nodded her head and began clapping her hands wildly. “Num, Num, Num! Yup, I hungy.”
    I laughed. “That would be awesome.”
    Jules took off her apron and placed it on the counter. As she opened the swing gate for us to walk behind the counter, she turned to the two girls she had working. “Chels, take over