Read Be Sweet for Free Online Page B

forehead. “Sure wish those boys were home to help.”
    â€œCan’t you get some teens from the church to help?” I ask.
    â€œWe might have to. I hate to bother other folks, but we could sure use a few more hands. It works best if we can get a couple of shifts going. Janni needs help in the kitchen to make food for the workers too.”
    â€œChar’s right. Let’s check with the kids at church. Teenagers always want spending money.”
    â€œWe got some retired guys that might be able to help out too.” Daniel’s beefy arm reaches over and pulls Janni to his side as we step up to the porch. “Right now I’m getting mighty hungry. Whatever you got in that Crock-Pot is driving me wild, woman.” Daniel nuzzles Janni’s neck, and she giggles.
    Please. First horse slobber, now this? My stomach can only take so much. One glance at my watch tells me I haven’t much time before Russ will be here. I’ll just grab my handbag and head to Mom and Dad’s.
    Once we step inside the house, I rush past Daniel and Janni and up to my room. After running the brush through my hair, freshening my lipstick, and grabbing my handbag, I trot down the stairs.
    â€œI’ll see you guys later tonight.”
    â€œYou aren’t staying to eat with us?” Daniel’s lips form a pout.
    â€œI need to go see Mom and Dad.”
    â€œJanni made beef stew.”
    He knows that’s my favorite, doggone him. “I know. She’ll have to save me some.”
    â€œNo promises,” Daniel says with an evil grin. Remembering how he chowed down those cookies, I figure I’m out of luck on the beef stew.
    â€œCome on, Daniel, let her go. Mom will give her what for if she doesn’t get over there.”
    â€œHey, you’re not leaving because Russ is comin’, are you?” Daniel asks, fidgeting with the keys in his pocket.
    Do you see this, God? They’re pressuring me. You promised to help me through this, not give me more than I can bear and all that.
    â€œDanny, we’ll talk later.” Janni’s voice is firmer now, for which I’m grateful.
    After tossing her a smile, I edge for the door, reach into my handbag, and dig for my keys. Once I find them, I yank a little too hard on the doorknob, causing it to fly open and my keys to drop to the floor. Bending over, I reach down and pick them up when I hear a deep-throated cough coming from the outside. I shoot upright and make a desperate attempt to smooth my hair.
    â€œI was just getting ready to knock,” says the man on the other side, who’s dressed in khakis, a blue Polo shirt, brown loafers, and a toothy grin that melts my heart like a clump of chocolate in a warm kettle. “Charley, is that you?” His teasing blue eyes penetrate mine, setting butterflies loose in my stomach.
    Charley. It’s hard to remember the last time someone called me that. I think I was in high school.
    As awkward as this moment is right now, I’m thankful I’m not a fainting goat. Falling on my backside with my legs shootin’ straight up isn’t quite the look I’m going for.
    â€œHi, Russ.”

four
    â€œHow’s the geometry coming along?” Russ says.
    My mouth clamps shut just short of drooling. The heat in my face cranks up a hundred degrees. This is that skinny, gangly kid with the big, perfect teeth? Let’s just say he’s grown into his teeth. His hair has thinned a little, but it’s still a rich mocha brown. The added wrinkles around his sparkling blue eyes give him a rugged, handsome appearance.
    Okay, God, maybe I can bear this.
    I let out a delicate chuckle. “I’m afraid my geometry days are over.” The good news is he recognizes me—extra twenty pounds and all. ’Course, with the way I’m sweating, I just might lose five pounds right here in the doorway—which would be a good thing, because right now I’m