About as long as Anita had known Tanner. Why couldn’t she see him like a brother the way Harper saw Dylan? “I don’t know about this.”
“I won’t push you and Dylan together, I promise.”
She trusted Harper, but no one had ever given her a makeover before or set her up with a possible date. And yet, if she was going to move on from Tanner, she needed to ignite her social life. “All right. I’ll meet Dylan.”
“Yay! This is so exciting. Once I’ve worked my magic, you’re going to be a knockout. Dylan won’t know what hit him. Remember what happened to the last person I made over?”
“Riley?”
“Yep. For her first date with Hayden. I’m not saying that you and Dylan will get married, but... youneverknow.”
Anita gulped.
“Oh, before I forget, I’m still working on tracking down the owner of #3. For some reason, this guy—or gal—doesn’t want to be found.”
“Is that a problem?” Anita asked.
“This is just a hiccup. I’ll use every detective skill I have to track him down.” Harper paused. “You’re still sure about this, right?”
Anita frowned. “Yes. Why?”
“Running your own business is hard work, especially in the beginning.”
“I know.” In fact, she knew quite a bit now, having made it through two chapters ofBeginner Business.She had struggled with the reading, but not as much as she’d anticipated.
“You can still change your mind, you know,” Harper added.
Where was this coming from? When she’d first toldHarper about her idea, her friend had been as supportive as Olivia. Now it seemed like she was trying to talk her out of opening the café. “You don’t think I can do this?”
“That’s not what I said. Iknowyou can do this. But I wouldn’t be a good friend if I didn’t point out that there will be some bumps in the road. That happens with every business, including mine.”
Relieved, Anita nodded. “I appreciate you looking out for me, but I’m not changing my mind. I’m buying #3, and I’m opening a café.”
“Even if someone gets mad at you for it?”
Who would be upset about her opening a café? She thought for a minute. She’d been so convinced that a new business, especially one that was so popular everywhere else, would be welcome. “George, maybe?”
“George is a possibility. Or someone else,” Harper added, her last words barely audible.
But Anita was convinced that George would be fine with her decision once she explained her reasons for opening the coffee shop. Her business reasons, that is. “If George has a problem with me, I’ll deal with it.”
“Well, I declare. Look who’s being Ms.Tough Guy.”
Anita chuckled at Harper’s exaggerated southern drawl. The giggle disappeared, though, when she said, “I should have toughened up a long time ago.”
“You’re not allowed to be jaded, Anita. We need your optimistic sweetness in our group. You balance out the rest of us. I’ll see you in an hour or so.”
“Bye.” Anita set down her phone, trying to ignore the sudden worry swirling in her stomach. Would George reallybe angry with her for opening the café? She’d worked for him for a long time, and even though he hadn’t been around the diner much since Tanner took over as assistant manager, he was a reasonable man.
No, she didn’t need to be concerned. She could handle George. What she wasn’t sure she could handle was tonight’s party. A new outfit? Makeup? Dylan?
She drew in a deep breath and tried to relax. If Harper said Dylan was a nice guy and someone Anita would like, then she needed to give him a chance.
But what if she liked him and he wasn’t interested in her? What if it was the Tanner situation all over again? She couldn’t handle another one-sided relationship.
Great, she was working herself into a tizzy over a guy she’d never met and a guy she was trying to forget.I’m the one who needs a therapist.
Enough of that.
