She smiled at him.“Yeah, wow.”
He laughed.“Okay, let’s begin this journey of ours.Hopefully, it will be everything we both want.”
Hazel felt tears spring to her eyes.She felt lucky to have discovered Mike’s true nature.He was an exceptional man who wanted to be loved and was willing to return it to her and show it to a little boy named Jed.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Over the next several days, Mike worked with Melanie to devise a deal to buy the house.Because he was flexible about putting off the purchase date, they agreed to a very fair price, making all parties satisfied.
The new tennis pro, Paco Sanchez, was elated to be in town working at the Sports Center.His girlfriend, Mallory Warren, was given the job of running the camps for kids, something Tracy was supposed to have done.
Hazel worked with Mallory, helping her to organize schedules and come up with extra games and activities for the students.
One morning, Ross stopped in Hazel’s office.“How are things going with Mallory?”
“Good.She’s eager to help and is great with the kids.Much more committed and positive than Tracy.The kids love her.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”He paused.“So, you and Mike are together.He seems very happy about it.”
“We’re seeing how a relationship might go,” Hazel said primly, unwilling to seem overly confident.Thoughts of their lovemaking last night made her cheeks blush and heat roar through her.Mike was an exciting lover, passionate and generous.
Ross beamed at her.“I think the two of you are great together.It’s about time Mike found some true happiness.”
After he left the office, Hazel sat quietly thinking of Mike.They’d talked for hours about their thoughts for the future, what it might mean to have a foster child, and that fostering meant the children were in your life forever.
Mike couldn’t get over the fact that Hazel was excited about the possibility of fostering Jed, or if that didn’t work out, fostering another child at a later date.
“You’re a very special woman,” he told her one night as they curled up on the couch to watch TV together.“I’m sorry I didn’t make a favorable impression on you when you first came to town.”
“You had women of all ages falling over you.I thought you liked that kind of attention,” Hazel said.“Now, I know better.It’s just part of your job.”
“My job now is to make you happy,” teased Mike.
She laughed.“It’s a two-way street.Staying here with me until the house is ready will be a big test of that.”
“Thanks for letting me turn the condo over to Paco and Mallory,” he said.“That gives them an easy start.I’ve told them about coming to Jake’s this Saturday.”
“I hope they stay and become part of the town.Everyone likes them and the way they work at their jobs.They’re a good addition to the group.”
“I should’ve known better than to agree to hire Tracy,” Mike said.
###
Saturday evening, Hazel and Mike decided to meet up at Jake’s rather than go together.Hazel was glad they had.Her girlfriends gathered around her and quizzed her on what had happened between Mike and her and when their relationship had begun for real.
Hazel managed to get most of the information out before Mike showed up.
When Mike greeted her with a kiss, she heard a couple of her friends sigh.Theirs was a sweet story—pretending to be together and then making it happen.
Soon, Elliott and Brooks Beckman arrived, and everyone’s attention turned to them.
When Paco and Mallory showed up, both Ross and Mike made sure they were introduced to everyone.
Sitting there, chatting and eating with the others, Hazel liked the feeling of being included.Her thoughts drifted to Jed.She hoped, whether he went with Lisa and her family or ended up here in Lilac Lake, that he’d have this same sense of belonging.
Later, when people started to leave, Mike turned to her.“Ready to go home?”
She drew in a breath, caught off guard by how easily those words came to Mike and what they meant to both of them.
