Chapter 3

Leigh Anne washed the sea salt off her body in her shower. It was an exquisite bathroom for a tiny house. White subway tiles on the floors and the walls from the doorway to the shower stall, a deep, white farmhouse sink, and a compost toilet. Leigh Anne had done all the research into composting in case she wanted to venture off the grid. People didn’t give her enough credit. She was over the intelligence spectrum, but her mother always discouraged her from learning anything beyond being a loyal, obedient, and supportive wife.

Her mother didn’t know any better. That’s how her mother raised her, and her father had no opinion about how Leigh Anne’s mother raised her. So, she always felt the need to dumb herself down. When in reality, she surpassed her peers on many levels. Even Ethan had been in the dark about her intelligence. Little did he know she had been behind the scenes, saving his company from ruin.

Leigh Anne had been happy the first five years of being alone. But now, she was worried about having enough food in the house for Gretel. She’s gotten to the point now where she lives on off-brand cereal, ramen, and corn dogs. As long as Gretel ate full meals, she was content, but desperately wanted to be happy again.

Sitting at her window seat, looking up into the starry night sky with Gretel purring in her lap, she thought of him... Theodore.

 

Three Weeks Pass

Leigh Anne had no intention of seeing him again. She wanted to make money, pay her bills, and get kitty smooches from Gretel. Today, for some reason, on her way to Dusty’s, she had pep in her step. And although she constantly ran a script of what she would say if she saw Theodore again, she knew she would freeze when she saw him. She realized he knew her from her street performing, but he had never approached her until that night, when she felt at her lowest. She felt terrible for her behavior with him, but swore never to put herself out there again.

If she were Catholic, she’d run off to a convent, but her life could never be that simple. So, loneliness and celibacy would have to do. She wasn’t going to be hurt again. The aroma of lavender had faded since summer ended three weeks ago. That was until she strolled past the house shielded by tall iron gates. A shift in the air made her freeze. The gates opened, and a vintage silver sports car pulled out of the driveway.

Leigh Anne stood there patiently, waiting for the driver to let her cross or pull into the street to be on their way. Instead, the driver hesitated, rolled down the window, and smiled at her.

Theo...

Sweet Ride to Work

“Good afternoon. Leigh Anne.” Theodore greeted her with a lilt to his naturally gritty tone. “Hop in. I’ll give you a lift.”

“No thanks. I don’t take rides from strangers.” She crossed her arms over her chest and stared at him. “Especially those who know my name, but I don’t recall telling you that. So, all the more reason to respectfully decline.”

Theodore wasn’t budging.

“Well, it appears we’re at an impasse. You want to cross, and I want to give you a lift. Crossing from behind is unsafe, and I didn’t leave you enough room to walk past my grill...”

“Why would you want to give me a lift? You don’t know me, and I don’t know you.”

She attempted to walk behind his car, but that’s when he revved his engine and made her jump back onto the sidewalk. He gleefully smiled at her in his sideview mirror as she sighed in frustration.

“See, not safe.”

“You’re an asshole. You realize this, don’t you?”

Shrugging, he rested his left arm on the window ledge of his car. “I’ve been informed.”

“And that doesn’t motivate you enough to change their outlook?”

“You’re just making us later. Don’t you have a shift to report to in ten minutes?”

She scowled at him; her gears were grinding. How does he know my shift?

“I did my homework, honey. Not in a creepy way. It’s not like I know where you live.”

“No, just where I work and when I’m expected to be there.”

Reluctantly, she squeezed past his front bumper to the other side of the car, but instead of getting in, she jetted off down the sidewalk toward Dusty’s, leaving him speechless.