“We want to welcome you to Fool’s Gold. You’re new here. I moved here only a few years ago, so I know what it’s like to be a stranger in a small town where it seems like everyone knows everyone else.”
“That would be tough,” Larissa said, thinking when she’d moved to Fool’s Gold in the spring, she’d been with her Score family. So she didn’t have to feel by herself. But Shelby might not know anyone.
Shelby glanced between them. “I’m doing okay. I have a job at the bakery.”
Patience, the owner of Brew-haha walked up with a large tray. She put down three lattes and a plate of pastries. “You work for Amber, right? You’re the new baker? That’s great.” She pointed at the pastries. “I’ve been eating too many of those. You’re doing a really good job and you need to stop. I mean it.”
Shelby smiled. “Thanks. I like my job. Amber is really easy to work for.”
“She’s just lovely,” Patience said. “All right, I’ll leave you three to your afternoon treats. Yell if you need anything.”
Each of them took a latte. Shelby ignored the pastries, but Larissa reached for the cheese-and-blueberry one and took a bite.
“Heaven,” she said when she’d chewed and swallowed. “One of yours?”
Shelby nodded.
Bailey eyed the high-calorie snack before pushing the plate away. “So, Shelby, how are you enjoying the town?”
“It’s fine.”
Larissa sensed the other woman wasn’t comfortable with their meeting. “Have you been to any of the festivals? They’re pretty fun. I loved the books festival. I met several of my favorite authors and got books signed as birthday and Christmas gifts for family. I grew up in Los Angeles. Killer weather, but there’s not much of a small-town feel.”
“Fool’s Gold would be a change,” Shelby said. “I’m from Colorado. I’m used to smaller towns but nothing like this.”
“Fool’s Gold is unique,” Bailey said.
There was a moment of uncomfortable silence. Bailey glanced at Larissa, her expression desperate. Larissa struggled for something to say.
“Um, Bailey works for Mayor Marsha,” she blurted. “She’s the longest-serving mayor in California, by the way. She knows your brother.”
Shelby turned her attention to Bailey. “When did she meet Kip?”
“Earlier this year. Right after his accident. She was in New Zealand.” Bailey paused. “I’m not sure exactly how she met him, what with him being in a hospital and all.”
Shelby’s wariness faded. “Then it was her!”
“What was her?”
“The old lady my brother told me about. After...” She swallowed. “My mom died a couple of months ago. She had cancer and it wasn’t unexpected, but it was still hard.”
Larissa instinctively reached for Shelby’s hand. Bailey was already touching her arm.
“I’m sorry,” Bailey said. “About your mom. When you lose a family member, it’s awful.” She swallowed. “I lost my husband last year.”
“Then you know,” Shelby said quietly. “Thank you both for meeting me. I’m sorry if I seem a little standoffish. It’s just things were hard with my mom and my dad...well, there’s no need to talk about him.” She managed a slight smile. “Let’s just say that right after Kip’s accident, two men showed up out of nowhere and took care of me and my mom.”
“Do you know their names?” Larissa asked, wondering if there was a town connection.
“Ford and Angel.”
“Those are our guys,” Bailey said. “They’re both at the bodyguard school. Interesting that they came and found you.” She looked at Larissa. “It has to be Mayor Marsha.”
Larissa nodded. “Everyone says she knows things there’s no way to know. It’s kind of mystical. I like it.”
Shelby nodded. “Me, too. I owe her.” She glanced at her watch. “I have to get back to work, but it was great to meet you both. Maybe we could do this again.”
“I’d like that,” Larissa said.
Bailey nodded. “Very much.”
They exchanged cell numbers and Shelby left. Bailey grabbed one of the pastries and took a bite.
“That was a challenge,” she said when she’d swallowed. “I thought she was going to bolt when we first sat down.”
“She was wary,” Larissa said. “She’s dealing with something and I think it’s more than what happened to her mom.” There had been something in her eyes. Something Larissa sometimes saw when she talked to parents of a child in need of a transplant that didn’t look as if it was going to happen. Hopelessness.
Bailey finished the pastry and licked her fingers. “Thanks for coming with me. I would have totally blown it on my own.”
“No, you wouldn’t have. You would have done great.”
“I wish. So what’s new with you? Ready to admit you’re in love with Jack?”
Larissa felt her mouth drop open. “How did you know?”
Bailey stared at her. “What? You are? I was kidding. You’re in love with Jack? When did that happen? When did you two start dating? Why am I always the last to know?”
“We’re not dating. We’re friends.”
Until We Touch (Fool's Gold #15)
Susan Mallery's books
- A Christmas Bride
- Just One Kiss
- Chasing Perfect (Fool's Gold #1)
- Almost Perfect (Fool's Gold #2)
- Sister of the Bride (Fool's Gold #2.5)
- Finding Perfect (Fool's Gold #3)
- Only Mine (Fool's Gold #4)
- Only Yours (Fool's Gold #5)
- Only His (Fool's Gold #6)
- Only Us (Fool's Gold #6.1)
- Almost Summer (Fool's Gold #6.2)