Laying his humiliation before her, he replied, “My last play did really well.”
“The reviews were fantastic.”
He lifted his hands and made finger quotes. “‘A rising star on the horizon.’”
“You are.” She grinned. “You’re right there on the edge of greatness. I can feel it.”
“Yeah.” He scratched at his beard. “Have you ever looked over that edge?”
She quirked her eyebrow. “Should I have?”
“You should, because it’s terrifying.”
She laughed. “Right.”
“I’m serious. They call it anedgefor a reason. When you’re right there, you can see the three-hundred-foot drop to certain death.”
“Ah, Russ. Try lifting your eyes to the horizon.”
“I’ve tried everything from communing with nature to writing with my nondominant hand.” He scratched at his beard. “I think what I need to do is ignore it for a few days. Tracking down this book for Lillian will be a good distraction for me.”
Her eyes lit up with excitement. “I wonder if The Bottom Drawer has a copy.”
Nothing like a book chase to get Alice going in life. “We can check it out later. What I think we should do now is get you a slice of birthday pie.”
She groaned. “It’s not fair—you know both of my weaknesses, and I have yet to discover yours.”
Apparently, my weakness is your lemon lotion. “You are susceptible to pumpkin, apple, and cherry pie, and old books.” Russ winked.
Alice shrugged and held up her hands in surrender. “I’m a lost cause.”
Russ laughed as he hurried around to open her door. He didn’t really have a weakness, except writing, and that wasn’t something a person could give. Although Alice’s hug had been a pretty wonderful experience. The woman had more power inside of her than she understood.
Good thing she’s unaware of her strength.
Being around that much untapped potential was like flying down the mountain on his bike, wondering if he could make the next turn or if he’d end up plastered across a tree. The temptation to push just a little and see what would happen simmered under his skin.
But this wasAlice.
Sighing, he opened the door to the café. He couldn’t push her, because if he did, he might push her away—and that was the last thing he wanted to do. He might not be able to hold her, kiss her, or romance her, but he could be her friend. That would have to do.
Chapter Four
The Big Barn parking lot was already full by the time Alice arrived for the pre-festival final planning meeting. If there was anything the festival committee loved, it was holding meetings. They happened all year long and always lasted longer than anyone planned or could believe.
She circled the parking lot to find a spot. Jocie and Allie ran past her car. They were the other set of twins in town. But where she and Dean were invisible, Jocie and Allie were the all-American teenagers with blond hair and beautiful smiles. In short, where Alice fell apart, those girls pulled it together. They had a honey business, selling skin care items and honey in the raw. If they were running, that mean she was late. She cursed, grabbed her book off the passenger seat for strength—if she had a book, then she had a friend—and made her way inside.
Rows of chairs filled the barn, and people visited as they waited for the meeting to start.
She’d read the information Lillian had given her last night. She was supposed to make sure that they still had the barn space reserved after the costume parade, and that it was listed on the calendar of events. The indoor carnival games were as much of a tradition as the corn maze. There was no way the council just forgot to include it.
She really didn’t need to be here, but she’d promised Lillian, so she’d come.
Alice huggedThe Three Musketeersto her stomach while searching for a seat in the overcrowded room. She passed Mirabelle Mason and overheard her say, “… huge influencer who’s going to take my business to the next level. I can’t wait …”
Alice’s cell chirped, and she answered quickly. “Hello?”
“Hi,” said Russ.
