Sweet Surprises Read Free Page B

had a houseful of people living with her, he’d have been back for a visit a long time ago. Instead, he’d believed every word she’d told him over the phone. Probably because he’d wanted to believe them. He’d had a restaurant to run. Another one to open. He’d been back for Dillard’s funeral two years ago. Once more after that a few months later. He’d promised a visit at Christmas but had had to cancel because one of his chefs had quit. He hadn’t worried, because Belinda had assured him that things were great. Everything is wonderful. The house is so peaceful. I miss Dillard, but I’ve got my friends, and my women’s clubs .
    She might have thought things were wonderful, but there was no way in hell she’d thought the house was peaceful. Not with the scraggly group of people she’d collected living there.
    He shut down the thought, forced himself to let go of the anger, focus on the red-haired woman in the old car.
    â€œYou’re Brenna Lamont,” he said. Not a question. He already knew who she was.
    â€œAnd?”
    â€œYour family owns Chocolate Haven.”
    â€œIs there a point to this, because it’s after midnight, Mr . . . ?”
    â€œRiver Maynard.” He didn’t add anything else. He knew he didn’t need to. She might not remember his face, but she’d remember the name.
    Her eyes widened, and she rolled down the window, studying him for a few long moments.
    Finally, she smiled, an ear-to-ear grin that made her look about ten-years-old. “Holy sh—crap! You’re the kid who sheared all of old man Morris’s sheep.”
    â€œAnd his dogs,” he added.
    â€œThat’s right. Three Old English Sheepdogs, shaved down to their skin.”
    â€œIt was summer. They were hot.” And he’d been young and stupid and itching for a fight.
    â€œIs that why you let Henderson Baily’s bull out of the pasture?”
    â€œI did that because Henderson was an asshole.”
    She laughed, a light, easy sound that rang through the quiet parking lot. “So, River, what brings you back to Benevolence?”
    â€œBelinda had a stroke a month ago.”
    Her smile slid away. “I’m so sorry. Is she okay?”
    â€œNo, but she will be. With enough therapy and enough time.” And a little more peace than what she’d been getting. River was working on that, but Belinda’s “guests” were a touchy subject with her, and kicking them all to the curb was out of the question.
    â€œI wish I would have known. I’d have sent her some flowers, come for a visit.” She brushed the thick bangs from her forehead, shook her head. “We’ve had a lot going on in the family this past year. I guess the news of Belinda’s stroke got lost in the chaos of everything else. If there’s anything I can do-”
    â€œThere is,” he said, cutting her off, because he saw an opportunity, and he wasn’t going to miss out on it. “I need to buy some of your family fudge.”
    â€œWe open at ten. Stop in then, and I’ll hook you up with some.” She started to roll up the window, but he put his hand on the edge of the glass.
    â€œI told Belinda I’d do everything I could to bring some home tonight. It’s the one thing she looks forward to after a long day at physical and occupational therapy. When she found out some punk had eaten the last piece, she started crying.”
    â€œWere you the punk?” she asked, that smile hovering on her lips and in her eyes again.
    â€œFor once, I’m innocent. Belinda has houseguests. If they can be called that. They’re more like squatters, making messes and eating her out of house and home. Huckleberry is one of them. He ate the fudge.”
    â€œIf they’re squatters, you could tell them to leave.”
    â€œIt seems like it, right? But, the night I arrived back in town, I went to the hospital to