That thought sure hit home. Austin’s stomach turned sour.
Debbie may be pretty, but she had expensive tastes. Her new SUV proved that. Austin learned a long time ago that not only could he not support such a lifestyle, he had no desire to live that way.
“Yeah, it’s been about four years since she came back to town,” Darrell said, interrupting his thoughts. “And she’s been on a quest ever since to find husband number three.”
A sudden chill filled Austin. “Why do you say that?”
Did Debbie have ulterior motives in asking Savvy to paint a mural? Is that why she was so eager to have the kids come to her house after school? So Austin would have to come pick them up. He thought back on their multiple run-ins with each other at the grocery store a few days ago. Had those been planned?
No, they were accidents.
And as much his fault as it was hers, especially the second one. Surely, Debbie wouldn’t use his daughter to get to him. But hadn’t she said if she wanted something, she went for it? All she had to do was make people an offer they couldn’t refuse. And she’d done that with Savvy. He’d seen the wheels turning in his daughter’s mind, despite the trepidation in her eyes. She wanted to do this painting.
He shook his head. Why would Debbie be interested in him? Just because he found her attractive didn’t mean she thought the same of him. Besides, he certainly didn’t have anything to offer her.
“Yeah, she’s flaunted all her assets, if you know what I mean…” Darrell waved his hands in a curvy, hour-glass motion in the age-old sexist action used to denote a woman’s figure. “…in pursuit of one man after another pretty relentlessly over the years, but most of the eligible bachelors are married now.”
Austin didn’t know what to think of Darrell’s implications concerning Debbie. What exactly was he saying? No way would he let his daughter hang around a woman who used her body to—
“Maybe she finally gave up trying to find a husband and that’s why she’s dressed so normal. Gotta say I almost didn’t recognize her without all the jewelry and sexy clothing.”
Sexy clothing?
Austin wished his talkative neighbor would shut up now. If Darrell hardly recognized her, how did she usually dress?
He pictured the rose-colored blouse Debbie wore today. It wasn’t as form-fitting as the t-shirt she wore at the grocery store last week, but it—coupled with the expensive slacks—definitely accented her figure. Neither outfit could be considered revealing or inappropriate in any way.
Debbie had been sweet and kind with the boys, but before he agreed to let Savvy paint the mural, he needed to make sure Widow Wheeler wouldn’t be a negative influence on his impressionable teenage daughter.
CHAPTER6
Austin parked his truck in Debbie’s driveway. Her house—or rather mansion—looked much larger in the daylight than it had last week when he drove her diapers home for her. He studied the steep pitch of the gabled roof.
Glad I didn’t have to shingle that.
A grin pulled at his lips as he recalled Debbie’s frustration over the box of tampons that had repeatedly fallen at his feet. She was cute when embarrassment colored her cheeks.
Shaking his head, he climbed from his truck and raked his hands through his hair then turned to check his reflection in the truck window to make sure he hadn’t messed it up. He wasn’t trying to impress Debbie, but he had to discuss a delicate topic with her. Showing up looking disheveled wouldn’t help.
He made his way to the front door, smoothing down the front of his shirt, before pressing the doorbell. He wore a flannel shirt—his typical October through April attire—but at least it was clean.
It had only been twenty-four hours since Debbie came to his house and Savannah had hounded him all afternoon to make a decision. Last night, she’d been reluctant because she wasn’t sure if she could do what Debbie wanted, but after talking to Ms. Jessie, who promised to help her get started and guide her, Savannah was eager to start the project. She’d called him at work half a dozen times this afternoon to see if he’d made a decision yet. Repeatedly, insisting she could do it and was eager for the chance to earn the money for art camp.
But Austin needed to figure out what kind of woman Debbie was. Was she the woman he met at the grocery story, who got carried away buying diapers? Or was she the woman people called Widow Wheeler, who was looking for her next husband?
The door opened, and he sucked in a sharp breath. There stood Debbie in a flowing white skirt and a pretty blue blouse—Savannah would probably call the color cerulean or something equally exotic. All Austin knew was it made her blue eyes look almost electric. She was gorgeous.
His heart skipped at the sight of the mass of red curls surrounding her face. Again, he marveled that this woman was single.
“Hi, Austin.” Debbie smiled, and his heart raced a little faster.
“Hey.” His voice squeaked. He cleared his throat. “I mean, hi.”
Her face fell. “I’ve been waiting for a call or text. But you coming to see me in person means you probably don’t have good news for me.”
Austin scratched his neck. “Not bad news necessarily, but I do have some questions before I agree to let Savvy work for you.”
He wished he could afford to pay the tuition for Savvy’s art camp himself and not subject his daughter to working for the wealthy redhead. What if she turned out to be critical and demanding, like Cheyenne’s parents?
