The Wishing Season Read Online Free PDF Page B

on.”
    A bit much for PJ, she meant. “I could’ve handled it just fine. But Mrs. Simmons felt Cole Evans’s plan had merit also.” She sighed and let them in on the rest of the plan. “She couldn’t make up her mind, so she wants to see our plans in action. We have one year to make a go of it, and then she’ll make her final decision.”
    “Wait,” Dad said, a chicken breast hanging from the massive tongs in his mitted hand. “You have to wait a year?”
    “That’s ridiculous,” Mom said.
    “Yes.” PJ’s leg bounced under the table. “It’s like a trial run. We’ll each have our separate enterprises.”
    “Separate!” Jade said. “You’ll be under the same roof. What do you even know about this guy?”
    “I don’t like this, PJ.” Dad lowered the chicken to the grill and closed the lid.
    “You need to think this through, honey.” Mom stilled PJ’sleg with a hand. “Getting a restaurant up and going will be expensive.”
    “You know, most businesses don’t even make a profit the first few years,” Madison said.
    “Do you think I haven’t thought this through? I won’t have to pay rent, so my overhead will be low. If, God forbid, I lose, I can store all the equipment and open my restaurant later. As for operating expenses, I can work part time if I need to.” And staff would come really cheap, but she wasn’t about to go there. Besides, she didn’t see that working anyway.
    “But you’ll have the construction loan,” Beckett said, taking a two-second break from Madison’s massage.
    “I’m aware of that. I’ll keep the build-out to a minimum.”
    “What if he’s dangerous?” After what Jade had been through in Chicago, it was a legitimate question. A date rape had left her pregnant and alone. It was only after coming home that she’d managed to find stability again—and Daniel had played a big part in that.
    “His background check was clear,” Ryan offered.
    PJ shot him a look of gratitude.
    “Isn’t it kind of a weird coincidence that he showed up on her doorstep, rented the same house?” Mom said.
    “Apparently the house got caught in the middle of the Tacketts’ divorce,” PJ said. “Deb rented it to me, and Herb rented it to Cole.”
    “I still don’t like it,” Mom said.
    “I can ask the sheriff to run a more thorough investigation if that’d make you feel better, Mama Jo.” Daniel wasn’t one to throw his mayoral weight around, so it was hard to be offended by the offer.
    “Thanks, Daniel.”
    “He may have already done that for Mrs. Simmons,” Ryan said.
    The sheriff was Mrs. Simmons’s nephew, after all. It made sense she’d want to check his background before letting him move in.
    “Cole has a good heart,” PJ said. “He wants to help foster kids, and his business plan is viable. He even has his funding in place already.” Why was she taking up for him? “I’m not saying it won’t present some challenges, but I can make anything work for a year.”
    “You seem awfully solemn for a girl about to move in with Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome,” Madison said.
    “Oooh, you never said he was good-looking,” Jade said.
    Daniel gave Jade’s shoulder a squeeze. “Hey now.”
    Jade kissed his knuckles. “Just don’t sign anything until you get the background check—I don’t care what he looks like.”
    “And have an attorney look over the documents,” Ryan said.
    Too late. On both counts.
    Dad crossed his arms. “I still don’t like this. I’m going to have a talk with Mrs. Simmons.”
    PJ stopped short of rolling her eyes. “No, Dad. I’m an adult. I can handle this.”
    Mom patted her back. “That’s right. She’s an adult. I’m sure everything will be just fine. And we’ll pitch in, won’t we, kids?”
    “Sure.”
    “Of course.”
    PJ didn’t miss the skeptical looks on their faces. She clenched her teeth. She was going to win this house if it killed her.
    It was late by the time PJ left her parents’ house, worn out from