Read Something Old, Something New for Free Online

as Reg got him back on his feet, Gennie knocked him out again. Crumbled like a wet cotton sheet.”
    In spite of her answer, Trent got the impression that her mind was elsewhere. “Rock? You okay?”
    â€œNo,” she replied and turned to meet his eyes. “Why does he keep asking me out?”
    â€œWho?”
    â€œJack.”
    â€œAh.”
    â€œDon’t ah me. I’ve told him no a hundred times, and he keeps coming back.”
    Trent viewed her with humor and affection. “Man’s sweet on you.”
    â€œI need him to be sweet on somebody else.”
    â€œWhat’s wrong with him?”
    She folded her arms tightly across her chest and sighed with frustration. “In truth, nothing. And that’s why I keep trying to run him off.”
    Trent never claimed to understand the women in Henry Adams, or anywhere else, for that matter; after all, he’d been divorced twice. “I’m sure there’s logic behind that answer somewhere, but you’ll have to explain it to me.”
    â€œHe’s nice, Trent.”
    â€œAnd?”
    â€œI’m vulnerable to nice.”
    He still didn’t get it. “More logic, please.”
    She rolled her eyes. “Never mind.”
    And before he could say anything else, she got up and walked out.
    He wondered if there was something in the town’s water that made the females around him so special. First Genevieve, and now Rocky. The only woman who seemed relatively sane was the colonel’s wife, Sheila, and that was because she’d yet to show any personality at all, but Tamar, Bernadine, or Lily could always be counted on to take up the slack.
    He was still pondering Rocky’s visit when another knock sounded. Seeing Gary Clark standing in the doorway, he stood up and said with surprise, “Hey. How are you?”
    Gary shrugged. “Need to talk to you about something.”
    The emotion on his old friend’s face was plain. “Come on in.”
    Gary glanced around the well-furnished office. “Nice place you got here.”
    â€œI think so, too. Blame it on Fontaine. She picked out most of the stuff. Have a seat.”
    Gary chose one of the plush brown leather chairs.
    Trent rested his hip on the edge of his desk and folded his arms. “How’re things going?”
    â€œNot so good.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    Trent listened as Gary told him the same story he’d told Lily, and finished up by confessing. “Only reason I’m here is because Fontaine threatened to tell you all this if I didn’t.”
    â€œKudos to her. It’s what friends are for.”
    â€œYou’d think she’d’ve grown out of being so bossy.”
    Trent laughed. “I know, but that’s part of her charm.” He brought the conversation back to the topic at hand. “How much work do you think your parents’ place is going to need before you can move back in?”
    â€œMore than I can afford, that’s for sure. Thousands more, probably.”
    â€œThen let’s take a ride out there. Once I get a look, I can make a rough estimate of what it’s going to cost.”
    â€œDoesn’t matter, Trent, I can’t afford it.”
    â€œWho said anything about you being able to pay?”
    Gary went still.
    Trent said, “I know you’d rather eat rat poison than take charity, but let me make a phone call. I know a place where you and the girls can probably stay until we get your place back in shape.”
    â€œTrent—”
    Trent turned away and called Tamar. After a short conversation with her, he closed his phone. “Okay. Found you a place.”
    â€œWhere?” Gary asked with wonder on his face and in his voice.
    â€œThe town owns some trailers out on Tamar’s property that are used for emergencies like this. They’re fully furnished, and Tamar’s on her way to the grocery store in Franklin to fill the