The Second Chance Café (Hope Springs, #1) Read Free

in until the construction’s finished.” Another thing that couldn’t wait. “Speaking of construction, do you know of Tennessee Keller?”
    “Oh, sure. Everyone knows Ten. Are you looking to hire him to do the work?”
    “I’d like to go with a local contractor if possible.”
    “Then Ten’s who you want. No one’s better. Ask anyone in town and they’ll be able to point you to a job he’s done.”
    “Carolyn Parker told me he’d done some work for Wade.”
    “For Rick’s mother, too. Ten’s helped her out a lot since Rick’s dad died. He’s a good man.” Jessa paused, smiled, then pressed her hands to her cheeks as if doing so would hide her blush. “He’s also quite a man, if you know what I mean.”
    Kaylie had never had girlfriends. She’d had classmates and coworkers; then she’d had employees. She’d also had neighbors, but no one to talk to about men. Not the confident roll of their hips as they walked. Not the fit of their clothes, the strength of their hands, their opinions. Not the zeal in their eyes when they had something on their minds.
    She gave Jessa what she hoped passed for a look that said she knew exactly, when in reality she was more interested in the work he did than in the man. As busy as she was going to be over the weekend, talking to him now would make for one less chore on her list. “I’d love to see him while I’m out, but I only have a phone number. Does he have a shop? Or an office? Though I guess I could call for directions…”
    “Do you know where Grath Avenue is?”
    “I’m sure my GPS does.”
    “He’s at the end. A big barn where he works, and a couple of other buildings. His house is at the very back of the bunch. You can’t miss it.”
    “Thanks, Jessa. It’s good to see you again.”
    “You too. I can’t wait to tell Rick you’re back.”
    Climbing into her Jeep and rubbing her cheek against Magoo’s, Kaylie was certain more people today than Rick Breeze would be hearing that particular news.

CHAPTER TWO
     
    “H ello?”
    At the sound of the female voice, all soft and southern syrup, Tennessee Keller froze. Dolly Breeze ran his front office and handled any visitors who dropped in without calling. But Dolly had cut out early—something about getting ready for a weekend craft fair—leaving Ten alone in the shop.
    He really should’ve locked the barn door, but the horse already being gone and all that had him heading toward the front to see who’d decided a phone call wouldn’t get them what they wanted.
    It was a dog. Well, a woman and a dog and the red Jeep Wrangler they’d arrived in, but the big loping shepherd caught his eye before the long legs striding toward him. Yeah, some sorry state he was in when a dog got his pulse racing, and a woman was more afterthought than anything.
    “I’m looking for Tennessee Keller?”
    That voice again. “You found him.”
    “Hi. I wanted to talk to you about some construction work I need done. Jessa Breeze and Carolyn Parker bothsaid you’re the man I want.” She came closer. So did the dog. She held out her hand. “I’m Kaylie Flynn.”
    “Ten Keller.” He shook it quickly, smelled fields of sun-soaked flowers when she leaned in, and then lowered his palm for the dog, waiting until he’d been sniffed and licked before scratching the spot of soft hair behind the stiff ears. “What’s his name?”
    “Magoo.”
    “As in Mister?”
    Strands of copper-blonde hair escaped her ponytail to blow in her face. She snatched them away and nodded, and he smelled the flowers again. “When I got him, he had this tiny scrunched-up face. Mister Magoo was the first thing that came to mind.”
    “He’s got more in him than German shepherd.”
    “The shelter thought rottweiler.”
    “Good-looking dog.”
    “Thanks. I think so.”
    Good-looking owner, too, though he kept that P.S. to himself. She wore a white T-shirt caught loosely around her hips. Not Hanes or Fruit of the Loom, but something classy,