Hooked on You by Kathleen Fuller (hot novels to read .txt) 📕

A more chilling thought entered his mind. What would happen to Maple Falls if there were no businesses? No parades? Nothingto draw people here to spend their money and enjoy what used to be a quaint, and yes, a little bit quirky, town. Would MapleFalls end up like so many other small Southern cities and become a ghost town?

Could he allow that to happen? Did he even have the right or the means to stop it?

*  *  *

Riley pulled back one of the pleated sheer panels that covered the front window in Mimi’s living room and peeked at the driveway.Hayden still hadn’t arrived. She frowned, kicking herself for being so snippy to him earlier. Then again, he had been a bitsnippy himself by mentioning her having a lawyer. Was he making fun of her business sense? Or was he expressing frustrationwith her insisting on a contract for a few common repair jobs? She suspected it was the latter. Can’t blame him for that.

After calling she had worked the rest of the day at Knots and Tangles. She’d had to force herself to focus on organizing theback room so she didn’t think about seeing Hayden later or worry that she had driven him away.

She’d decided to move all the shelves, the table, and boxes of yarn away from the walls so she could clean behind them. Onceeverything was in the middle of the room, she saw that the space needed a paint job and added that to her ever-growing punchlist. Between the shop and Mimi’s house, there was no way she could finish even half of what she wanted to do without help.

When she arrived in Maple Falls last week, her sole goal had been to take care of Mimi until she got back on her feet. Nowthat goal had changed, and she wanted her grandmother to have the house and business she deserved, instead of settling forwhat Riley considered subpar. The thought that it might not happen all because she’d gotten into a snit over a trivial commentbothered her. She didn’t like that she had become so touchy lately. It wasn’t Hayden’s fault she liked him. Well, it was alittle, but he couldn’t help being himself. She was the one who had a problem, and she needed to get a grip on it.

She looked out the window again. There was nothing she could do except hope she hadn’t driven him away

“Don’t fret, sugar. He’ll be here soon.” Mimi tapped the end of her ballpoint pen against her temple, then said, “Aha! That’sit.” She filled out the final squares of the newspaper crossword. “Viola! Done. That was a toughie.”

Riley turned to her. “You must be the last person who gets a physical copy of the newspaper.”

Mimi took off her reading glasses and gave Riley a stern look. “I’m sure I’m not, or there wouldn’t be any newspapers available.Also, doing a crossword puzzle on a computer isn’t the same.” She set the paper on the table next to her recliner, then startedto use her free leg to push the footrest down.

Riley hurried over to help before Mimi hurt herself. If she ever made any extra money, she was buying Mimi an electric recliner,one with a remote and massage capability. Her grandmother would fuss, but Riley knew in the end she would like it. Thoughthat would be a long way off. The idea of extra money was a pipe dream.

“I’m fine, Riley. Look, I can even scoot into the wheelchair myself.” Mimi positioned herself in the chair, then grinned withsatisfaction. “See? No problem.”

“Until you fall off the recliner. Why won’t you ask for help?”

Mimi’s expression grew serious. “I’m not used to it,” she said in a low voice.

Riley almost nodded. She had difficulty asking for help, too, a trait she must have inherited from Erma. While it could beannoying to others, she was proud of being independent, and she was glad to have that in common with her grandmother. Funnyhow the characteristic had skipped a generation when it came to Tracey.

“There he is,” Mimi announced, perking up.

“How do you know?” Riley glanced at the front door.

“I heard the car door slam.”

Riley hadn’t heard it, but Mimi’s hearing was impeccable. Her pulse started to thrum, and she was relieved he hadn’t changedhis mind about helping.

“Are you going to tell me why you and Hayden are meeting tonight?” Mimi asked, wheeling closer to her.

“Eventually.” Riley smoothed her hair, which was pulled back in a bun at the nape of her neck.

Mimi touched her hand. “Don’t worry. You’re pretty as a posy.”

“I’m not thinking about how I look—” A knock sounded at the door.

“Be right there!” Mimi hollered, then shoved Riley toward the door.

Off balance from the unexpected shove, Riley steadied herself before opening the door.

“Hi, Hayden,” she said, keeping her tone as neutral as possible.

“Hey.” He wasn’t paying attention to her. His gaze scanned the yard as he added, “Sorry I’m late.” Then he turned to her.“Ready to talk?”

“Yes.” She started to frown. Now he was examining the front of the house, his normally bright expression twisted in a studiousgrimace. Wow, she didn’t think the house was that bad.

“Come on inside, Hayden,” Mimi called out behind her. “I’ve got fresh sweet tea, extra sweet, of course, and lemon cookiesin the kitchen.”

Hayden nodded, and before Riley could fully open the door, he walked inside, passing right by her as if she were Mimi’s butler.He leaned down and kissed her grandmother on the cheek. “How are you today, Erma?”

Riley watched as Hayden gave Mimi his undivided attention while she listed her complaints, the chief one concerning her wheelchair.

“I don’t need this contraption anymore,” she griped, sneering at the armrest.

“Is that what the doctor said?”

“Doctors don’t know everything.” Mimi sniffed, lifting her chin. “If he tells me when I see him Wednesday that I have to keepusing this, he’s getting an earful.”

Hayden’s brow lifted. “Glad I’m not that doctor.”

While he was still listening to Mimi and nodding as she continued her tirade on the medical profession, Riley noticed he wastapping