“I’ll let you ladies get back to your discussion,” Olivia said.
The woman with the black rimmed glasses and salt and pepper shoulder-length hair patted Olivia’s hand and looked at her with warm affection. “Don’t forget to stop by. I’ll find you something to combat the boredom.”
“Will do.”
Olivia followed Shane to the bar and slid onto her stool.
Shane nodded to the table. “Thanks for your help.”
Olivia waved his appreciation away. “It was nothing. I’ve known every single one of those women my entire life. And it worked out for me since I got the welcome back greetings done in one fell swoop.”
“In that case, you’re welcome.”
Olivia laughed under her breath, shaking her head as amusement danced in her eyes.
“Connor said they come in here every Monday for book club,” Shane said.
“It’s really the margarita club with a side of reading.”
Shane rubbed at his chin. “Connor said something along those lines, too.”
“They’re all really good people though.” Olivia turned her body slightly to face the women.
“Strap in. I’m about to give you a crash course.” She nodded to the table. “The lady with the glasses that has a Diane Keaton vibe, that’s Jean Kelly. She owns The Book Nook. You answer a few questions, and she will find you the perfect book. Her husband passed away when I was eleven. The whole town mourned with her and their two kids who are well into their thirties now. Mr. Kelly was one of the good ones.” Olivia was quiet for a moment before continuing. “Next to Jean is Maria. She owns the hair salon Shear Heaven with her husband, Antonio. Well, it’s split up into a barbershop/salon. I used to babysit their daughter Sofia when I was in high school. Next to Maria is Miss Karen. She owns Pie in the Sky where you will have the best pie you’ve ever had in your entire life. I have to limit myself when I’m home, or I’d be in there every single day it’s that good.”
“Does she have coconut cream?”
An adorable smirk quirked at the edge of her lips. “Is that your favorite?”
“Possibly.”
“Then you are in for a treat. Tell you what… I’ll buy your first slice. She closes early on Mondays for book club, so what about tomorrow morning? Say ten?”
“Are you asking me out?” Shane asked with a flirtatious tone. Since she just broke up with her ex, there was no chance she’d get attached. It was a win-win for both of them. He could help her move on and have some fun while he was in town.
Olivia’s teeth slid over her lip. “I’m asking you to join me for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. But if you’re not up to the challenge…”
“Oh, I’m definitely up for it. I just wanted to know if kissing you afterward would be bad form.”
Her eyes widened at his bluntness, but luckily for him, she didn’t look too upset by the suggestion. If anything, she looked flattered.
Shane usually avoided romantic entanglements. Everyone he’d ever loved had died, and he had no idea what his expiration date was. He’d managed to prolong his several times, but he knew it was only a matter of time before he couldn’t dodge the inevitable. Still, he was in a place he never expected to be, and there was nothing wrong with having a little fun.
“I don’t know. If you remember our disastrous first meeting, I was heartbroken over a very recent breakup.”
“You weren’t that heartbroken,” he said. Though, the fact that she’d recently got out of a relationship was exactly why he was pursuing this. She needed time to heal, to recover from the last guy, and he was willing to step in as her rebound.
“I love how you think you know me so well.”
“I don’t,” he said. “I’d like to, though.”
“Hypothetically speaking, if you were to kiss me after pie, I wouldn’t turn my cheek to you.”
“Good to know.” He motioned toward the table. “Now let’s get back to Morgan’s Bay town directory. Who is the older woman with the bright pink hair?”
Olivia smiled, and this time let it spread wide across her face. A spark brightened her eyes. “That is Lillian, the coolest person you’ll ever meet.” Shane eyed her with doubt. “No honestly. I wanted to be her when I grew up.”
“Why’s that?”
“Her store, Lillian’s closet, is my favorite place on earth. I used to spend all my time there in high school.”
“Is it like a clothing store?”
“‘Is it like a clothing store?’” Olivia mocked. “It is so much more than that! Lillian opened the store back in the early 2000’s when she decided to clean out her closet.”
“She had that many clothes?”
“You have no idea. The racks were packed with designer pieces. As she’d sell and free up space, she’d just go to her stockpile and add more. Now she goes to estate and yard sales to buy clothes to keep her stock up. But when she first opened, I was eight, and I’d go with my mom and try on all the costume jewelry and carry around the designer bags. I always said to myself, one day I’d have a collection of fancy handbags.”
“And do you.”
“I’m still working on it.” Olivia held up her checkered purse. “This is my first. One day I’ll have more.”
“Why bags? I mean what’s so special about them?”
She shrugged. “I guess they always meant sophistication and femininity—two things I always wanted.”
“From an outsider looking in, you don’t need a bag to be either of those things. You’re doing just fine on your own.”
Her thick eyelashes brushed the apple of her cheeks before her eyes popped open and pinned him in place with a sultry stare. “You’re just trying to seal the deal on that kiss.”
“Hadn’t crossed my mind, but if it’s helping, I’ll take the assist.”
“It’s helping,” she admitted just as Connor brought out her burger and ruined the moment. If that wasn’t what family was for…
Chapter 7
Olivia enjoyed her burger while Shane went to refill the book club’s drinks. She held her glass of water up—she had a golf cart to operate after all—and toasted them. Lillian dodged her head around Shane, pointed at his butt, and gave Olivia a thumbs up. Olivia choked on her water.
Shane returned to his place behind the bar. He’d only been bartending for a couple days, yet the ease in which he moved and the confident way he carried a conversation… it was as if he’d been a part of the town for much longer.
“Those women can drink.” He grabbed a lime and a knife, getting to work on refilling the condiment tray.
Olivia popped a fry in her mouth and chewed. “Oh, that’s nothing. Wait until after the Memorial Day parade.”
His hand stilled in mid slice. Her eyes roamed the long length of his fingers, and instant heat bloomed in her cheeks when her mind took her to an X-rated feature.
“Parade?”
She shook away the sexy thoughts and brought her attention to the confused look in his eyes. “What, they don’t have those where you come from?”
“They probably did, but I’ve never been to one. I’ve watched the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on television.”
“Oh, that parade is a masterpiece compared to any of the Morgan’s Bay parades. Most of the spectators come out to see what’s going to go wrong. Last year, Mr. Clifford’s dog jumped out of his classic Buick convertible and ate the ice cream right out of little Lily Cain’s cone. And the year before that, Miss Katy’s Daisy Troop was handing out red, white, and blue beaded necklaces when one of the girls decided she didn’t want to anymore, so she threw her stash on the ground and kept walking.”
“That’s not too bad.”
“It wasn’t until the school marching band came through, and an unsuspecting flag tosser face planted, causing a domino effect throughout the brass section.”
“Ouch.”
“That year we made more than the local news.” When she went back to work, more than one person had asked if
she was there. She’d been front row to the mayhem and recounted the entire mishap again and again. “Our little town was famous for a day.”
“Interesting.”
“What’s that?” she asked.
He rested his hands on either side of the bar and leaned forward. She swallowed at how close that move brought him to her. If it wasn’t for the bar between them, she’d be able to feel the heat from his body. She swallowed, thinking about what it would be like to feel his hands on her body, his lips moving across hers with passion fueled desire.
If he wasn’t kidding earlier, there was a possibility she’d find out. The thought both thrilled her and terrified her. She hadn’t kissed anyone other than Daniel in over three years. What if their styles weren’t compatible? What if he thought she was a terrible kisser?
His greener eyes—thanks to his green shirt— focused on her. She cleared her mind of all the ways his lips could move against hers. “What’s interesting?” she asked, her words soft and breathy.
“When I first met you, I assumed you were this city girl, but you’re not, are you?”
“Of course I am. I’ve lived in the city since my first semester of college.” As soon as she got off the train at Penn Station it was like she was finally home. She always felt held back living in a small town, and she didn’t feel that way in the city. She felt wild and free, reckless and unrestricted, able to do whatever she pleased without the rumor mill making it back to her parents.
More than anything, she felt alive—the energy of walking through Midtown, the calm of strolling through Central Park, and the elegance of the Upper East Side, knowing she got to call all of it home.
“Lived there, yes, but your heart, it never left here. I can tell by the way you talk about this place. You get this glint in your eyes and this adorable smile.”
“It’s funny. I was just thinking about this on the way here in my parents’ golf cart. My whole life all I ever wanted was to be a city girl. But it was nice to see Hal on my way here and be able to stop and offer him a ride. That’s something you don’t get in the city. People are too consumed in their lives to stop and chat. I guess I missed that.”
Shane held his hands up, lips parted ever so slightly, a befuddled look on his handsome face. “I’m sorry, you lost me at golf cart.”
“I just had a touching revelation, and all you got out of that was I drove here in a golf cart.”
“It was kind of a banana ball.”
The skin above her nose pinched in confusion. “A what?”
“A little golf humor.”
“Wait… did you just hit me with a dad joke?”
“It wasn’t a dad joke. It was golf humor.”
“A dad joke disguised as golf humor.” Olivia laughed.
“Go ahead make fun of me. But remember you’re the one who drove here in a golf cart.”
Olivia held up a fry and pointed it at Shane. “Touché.” She pushed the plate away and slumped against the high back of the stool.
“Done?” Shane asked.
“Yes. If I eat another fry, I might not fit in the golf cart.”
She reached into her purse, grabbed her wallet, and handed over her Amex. He took it from her, his finger brushing gently against hers. Sparks ignited at his touch and traveled up her arm in an explosion of heat. A tiny gasp escaped her, and she cleared her throat to try and cover it up.
Shane took her card, seeming unaware of the things his touch had done to her body. He went to the credit card machine and swiped. Olivia took the second his back was to her to take a breath.
He returned with the card and slowly slid it across the bar.
She picked it up looking for the receipt to sign, but all he gave her was the card. “Don’t I have to sign the receipt?”
“Don’t worry about it.”
Her eyebrows pinched in confusion. “I always sign when I come here.”
His gaze casted downward. “Your card was declined.”
“What?” Her eyes widened, and she shot off the bar stool. “What do you mean it was declined? Try it again.”
“I put it through twice. Both times it was declined.”
“That no good—” She stopped herself. Of course Daniel would cancel her credit card. It didn’t matter that she paid the damn bill for it every month. If it wasn’t for him, she never would have been able to get the card in the first place. When they started dating, she’d had no credit history. Her parents had taken out loans to pay for her schooling in their name and she never bought a car since she lived in the city.
She grabbed her phone, fingers ready to shoot off an angry text, but she stopped herself. It would only reinforce his stance on her acting like a child. She didn’t need him or that stupid credit card. She could figure out how to pay her own way. Maybe she could wash dishes… but her manicure was already chipping...
Her eye caught on the strip of white paper Shane slyly—or so he thought—slid beneath the machine. She pointed toward the paper. “Wait. I saw a receipt come out.”
His hand fell away, and he shrugged. “I put my own card through.”
Olivia stared at him, trying to figure this man out. “Why would you do that?”
“I didn’t want to embarrass you.”
“Thank you. That was very sweet of you, but I’m going to pay you back.”
“You paid for my ride the other night. Consider us even.”
“What ride…oh. I was paying anyway.” It would have been the same price whether Shane got in the car with her or not.
“We shared the ride; I should’ve paid my half.”
“Okay, fine. We’ll consider it even.” She placed her card back in her wallet and checked the cash slot, but other than a few singles, it was sadly lacking. “So, about tomorrow… I might need a rain check.”
“Oh no,” Shane said. “You promised me the best pie I have ever eaten, and there is no way I’m going to miss out on that.”
“But I don’t have…” She couldn’t even finish the sentence. Embarrassment prickled in her throat. How did she go from living in a penthouse apartment above one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Manhattan to not even being able to afford a single slice of pie?
If she didn’t clear her bank account out during that sale last week, she’d be able to buy Karen’s entire day’s inventory. Maybe Daniel was right… Maybe she was a child.
Shane tapped the bar, drawing her attention back to him. “I’m treating tomorrow, and I don’t want to hear any arguments.”
Guilt edged at her gut. She was the one who offered, and she felt silly that she couldn’t hold up her end of the deal. “Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.”
“Then it’s still a date?”
The corner of his mouth quirked, creating an unexpected dimple. “It’s still a date.”
“I can’t wait.” She slid off the stool and adjusted her shorts. “In the meantime, I have to go try to figure out how to make some extra money while I’m home.”
“Ever think about waitressing?” Shane asked.
“No, but I wouldn’t be opposed to it.” Harper waitressed for a few summers and made a killing in tips. At this rate she would take any source of income she could get, even if it meant putting her manicure at risk. “Why do you ask?”
“I heard Connor on the phone with someone about placing an ad in the local paper for another waitress. I can put in a good word for you.”
“Technically, I’ve known Connor longer than you, but if you’re offering, why not? It couldn’t hurt.”
“What about I go grab him, and you two can work it out.”
“You wouldn’t mind working with me?” Anticipation sat idly in her stomach while she waited for his response.
“Not only wouldn’t I mind, I’m looking forward to it.”
Heat crept into her cheeks, and she let her hair fall forward to conceal her face. Blotchy red had never been a good look on her. “In that case, go get him.”
It wasn’t a positi
on in her field of marketing or social media, but until she figured out her next move, it was something to help pay the bills. She might even make enough in tips to head back to the city and get her hair and nails done at her favorite salon.
“I’ll be right back.” Shane offered her a wink, and she suppressed a giddy smile.
Three days ago, Olivia thought her world was coming to an end, but now the idea of working with Shane, spending time with him and getting to know him, suddenly her world seemed like it wasn’t ending but starting anew.
Chapter 8
Shane dressed in his usual shorts and t-shirt before heading out. It’d been a long time since he’d been on a date. He’d been more of a casual hook-up kind of guy since both people went in knowing it was only for the night. He had a strict rule about relationships, but since Olivia was currently bouncing back from one, she wouldn’t be looking for anything serious from him. Besides, there was just something about her he couldn’t resist.
What appealed to him most was her love for the town even if she claimed to be a city girl at heart. Chasing the cheapest rent never gave him a chance to stay anywhere long enough to establish a sense of home. Mom became home, and when she passed, he was in every way homeless.
Shane wanted what Olivia had. He wanted to know what it was like to have roots. Maybe he’d never get the father on the doorstep at nightfall in monster slippers. But a place to call his own, a place where he knew everyone and was accepted? That sounded nice, but it also scared the hell out of him.
There was a reason he avoided relationships. For so long he had been a burden, and he never wanted to force that on anyone again. It was safer to avoid entanglements—avoid the pain and suffering that came along with caring for someone.
When Mom died, the heartache was enough to ignore what she had told him about the family he didn’t know existed. He had been mad at her, and not because she’d kept it from him, but because she told him. He was perfectly content going through life never knowing.
He’d had no intention of reaching out to Mimi, or any of the McConnells for that matter, but something in the back of his head kept nudging him to make the call.
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