Read Dipping In A Toe for Free Online

eight students was before I approached his chair. Anxious flutters invaded my stomach. “Hey, Rick. You playing hooky?”
    “Jessa.” With a wide grin, he eased forward and the front chair legs dropped to the dirt. “I’m glad to see you.” For several seconds, his gaze scanned my face and then he waved a hand at the open field. “My students are performing part of their required community volunteer hours at the patch.”
    Relief at his response relaxed me. Had he arranged this meeting? I thought back on our phone conversations and wondered if I’d mentioned chaperoning Sadie’s class on this activity. Remembering none, I shoved away that thought. “That’s great. I can see how helpful they are.”
    Even after the conversation ebbed, I couldn’t deny how glad I was to see him and to hear his voice again. The fact was plain—I’d missed him and needed to do something to change that. “You know, I’ve been wanting to talk to you, to explain why I overreacted that night.”
    For several seconds, his intense gaze searched my face before he responded. “I’m glad to hear that.”
    “About overreacting?” I glanced back to the field and used my finger in the air to count orange circles on children’s shirts. Good, I spotted eight kids.
    “No…that you’ve wanted to talk.” He smiled and moved around so his back was to the field. “Let me stand here. Don’t worry. I won’t get offended when you check on your charges.”
    “Thanks, that’s thoughtful.” Another positive action in his favor.
    I bit my lip, very aware I hadn’t spoken these next words aloud to anyone but my sister. But a chance at any relationship had to be built on basic truths. “Okay, here’s my story. My late husband was a controller. His word was how the house was run and what the family did. I told you we started dating in high school and then married right after I graduated. I was too young to know any better.”
    A breeze blew a strand of hair against my cheek and I tucked it behind an ear. “I own my part in allowing that marital dynamic to continue but in recent years, I’ve changed. Being thrust into widowhood made me realize that I like determining how things will run and setting my priorities.”
    My hands tightened at my sides and I forced them to relax. I hated admitting my faults and I had to force the next words over a knot in my throat. “My response was overblown because I resented your offer. Your spontaneity seemed rash and threatened my sense of control. Plus I hated seeing Adam and Sadie upset about the whole situation.”
    A frown drew his brows tight over the bridge of his nose. He stepped close enough to grasp my hand and squeezed. “After my plans fell apart, I thought about what happened. When I’m focused on something, I get an idea, make a quick decision, and take action.”
    The corner of his mouth quirked and he shook his head. “Heather’s always ragging on me to listen to other people’s opinions. I have to agree she was right…again. That won’t happen the next time.”
    So he wants a next time? As relief relaxed my muscles, I whooshed out a breath. “I’m so glad I haven’t scared you away.”
    “Nah, I’m tougher than that.” In a single step, he moved to stand next to me, pulling our clasped hands against his thigh. “And when it’s required, I know how to go slow.”
    The kids were still searching for their special pumpkins in the patch. I spotted Sadie squatting a few rows over. A tall guy wearing a football jersey pointed at different pumpkins.
    A faint cool breeze brushed my cheeks and insects buzzing nearby played at the edge of my awareness. Mostly, I was aware of a building anticipation over a potential relationship. At this moment, my worries over our age differences didn’t seem that important. What were four or five years as long as the people involved didn’t care?
    Unwilling to toss away what might be, I turned and squeezed our clasped hands. “Rick, come over