“Come on, aren’t you a little bit curious?” She raised an eyebrow. “I met her yesterday. Wren had a good excuse to knock on her door.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Then I’ll tell you anyway. We had a plan to offer to help, but she had it all done. She’s a fast worker. Nervous, though. So, you’ll have to work on your mean mug.”
“I don’t have a mean mug.” At least I hoped I didn’t. My size and tattoos didn’t help anything, but the landscape painted onmy arms was better than the homemade ones my brother had given me when we were waiting for Dad to be done with a deal.
“You have a bit of resting bitch face.”
I sighed. “Thanks.”
“I’ll do the talking. She seemed to get used to us after a bit.” Kelsey leaned forward on the counter. “You wanna know the best part?”
“What?”
“She’shot.”
I blinked. “You know I don’t care about that.”
Kelsey rolled her eyes. She’d met me and instantly joined Marjorie in trying to set me up. She’d grilled me about all the single women in town, trying to figure out my type.
Little did she know I wouldn’t go for any of them.
I didn’t date. I didn’t sleep with people. I just didn’t.
Nothing would change that.
“One day, we’ll find the woman who makes you tongue-tied. And I’ll never let you live it down.”
I rolled my eyes and focused on the front.
Dr. Henry Connor came in before the clinic opened and got a flat white. Kerry came in for her peppermint latte right after. Jackie got her pumpkin spice latte. Midway through the morning, Grace and Dean walked in with Sammy, their young son.
Dean was the most recent addition to the town. Wren had brought him in when working on my shop, and the two of us got along decently well. I’d had an inkling he and Grace were having some kind of fling when she came in to get him coffee, but I kept that to myself.
I could tell Dean wanted to be friends, but I kept them both at the same distance I tried to keep everyone else.
After giving both of them my usual polite but conversation-ending smile, they got their drinks from Kelsey, who put themon the front counter since she’d memorized their usual orders, and walked to their table.
But there was someone else behind them, someone new in town.
And for once, I did a double take.
Bright blonde hair with a heart-shaped face. Pillow lips that would be perfect to kiss. And a yellow dress that fit her perfectly.
Fuck.I didn’t notice customers, but she was something else. Just one look and I knew I’d be thinking of her again.
But I couldn’t. I refused to.
Instead, I took her in as she surveyed the shop. If I were lucky, she would be a tourist just passing through. Then I wouldn’t have to see her again and feel this way.
All I had to do was treat her like everyone else. That was my only goal.
I was about to tear my eyes away from her when Grace walked past. Instead of a polite smile, the woman reacted differently. She leaped out of the way, hands folded tight over her heart.
All I could do was stare. I’d never seen anyone react like that to someone getting close to them.
She spoke to Grace and Dean, but I could see the way her breathing kicked up and how she couldn’t stay still while talking to them. It reminded me of the day I’d moved to Strawberry Springs and had no idea what I was doing.
