Hottie from the Superette.” Rachel’s smile broadened. “Tell me he called to ask you out.”
“I’m not exactly sure what he did.”
Shannon slowed her steps as the two women strolled down the sidewalk of the quaint community with its cute little shops with canopied frontage and large pots of flowers. “He said he had a proposition for me.”
A mischievous gleam sparked in Rachel’s eyes. “What kind of proposition?”
Shannon swatted her friend’s arm and laughed. “Not that kind.”
“Don’t be so sure.” Rachel gave her an admiring glance. “You’re a hottie, too. He’d be a fool not to be interested. And that man didn’t look like anyone’s fool.”
“Thanks for that.” Still, Shannon held no such illusions. If guys thought of her at all, it was as a buddy. She was twenty-five and had only had two boyfriends. Hardly a guy-magnet. “But remember, his home is in England. I want a nice local guy. Is that too much to ask?”
To Shannon’s surprise, Rachel didn’t go for the flippant response. Instead Rachel’s dark brows pulled together in thought. Her friend was a strikingly pretty woman, tall with big blue eyes and long hair so dark it looked almost black.
Though they were good friends, so much of Rachel was still a mystery. Sometimes when she turned serious and got this faraway look in her eyes, Shannon could only wonder what she was thinking.
“I love it here, too,” Rachel admitted. “I can’t imagine living anywhere else. So when you find that nice local guy, make sure he has a friend.”
“Will do. Just don’t hold your breath.”
Shannon stopped short of telling Rachel if her friend was back in Austin, she’d have men beating her door down. She still didn’t fully understand what had caused Rachel to leave Austin and move to Horseback Hollow. But in the five years that Rachel had been in town, she’d become part of the community.
“I’m not giving up hope. And you shouldn’t either. Look at Quinn,” Rachel continued. “Amelia shows up in Horseback Hollow and—boom—she and Quinn fall in love.”
Amelia Fortune Chesterfield had come to Horseback Hollow last year for a wedding and had a romantic fling with cowboy Quinn Drummond. Now they were married with a baby girl. It was their baby shower that loomed on the horizon.
“That whole thing was like a made-for-TV movie,” Shannon admitted. “But really, how often does that kind of thing happen, especially in a town the size of Horseback Hollow?”
“The fact is, oh ye of little faith, almost anything is possible. Hey, Mr. Oliver Fortune Hayes could fall in love with you, give up his home in London and the two of you could live happily ever after right here.”
Shannon paused in front of a bakery, inhaling the scent of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. “Have you seen a pig fly?”
“Pigs don’t fly,” Rachel said automatically.
“Exactly right,” Shannon agreed. “Until they do, your little scenario isn’t going to happen.”
* * *
Oliver glanced at the Patek Philippe watch on his wrist. His new living room was so small he could cross it in several long strides, which did nothing to dissipate his agitation.
He’d asked Miss Shannon Singleton to come over as soon as possible. That was precisely one hour and forty-five minutes ago. Oliver wasn’t used to his requests being ignored.
Of course, as she didn’t work for him, Miss Singleton was under no obligation to comply. Still, she’d promised to come as soon as she was able.
Another full hour passed. Ollie was sitting in his high chair, eating a snack of yogurt and apple slices, when Oliver heard the sound of a vehicle coming up the gravel drive.
Barnaby’s head jerked up. He let out a surprisingly deep woof, then raced to the front door, tail wagging.
Oliver tousled his son’s light brown hair. “Be right back.”
His hand was already on the doorknob when the knock sounded.
Looking decidedly windblown, Shannon stood on the porch, holding her flapping purse firmly against her waist as the strong breeze continued to pummel her. Her shoulder-length brown hair whipped around her pretty face and he realized her lips reminded him of plump, ripe strawberries.
He wondered if they’d taste as good as they looked.
She cleared her throat. “May I come in?”
“Of course.” Pulling his gaze from her lips, he stepped back and opened the door wider to allow her to pass.
“Whew.” She stopped at the edge of the living room to push her hair out of her face. “It’s like a hurricane out there.”
“Hurricane?” The wind couldn’t possibly be over thirty knots.
She laughed. “A figure of speech. If there’s a hurricane in the gulf, the only thing we get this far inland is rain. And that’s usually in the fall.”
Oliver found himself intrigued. Most women of his acquaintance would never think to appear at a requested meeting dressed in blue jeans and a white cotton shirt. Yet, he was oddly drawn to her. It didn’t hurt that she smelled terrific, like vanilla.
Yes, the beastly day was definitely on the upswing. “I appreciate you coming on such short notice.”
“I’m sorry it took so long.” She smiled up at him with such charming sweetness he found himself returning her smile and taking her arm as they strolled to the kitchen.
“You’re here now. That’s what counts.” He resisted the urge to brush back a strand of hair from her face, even as he inhaled the pleasing scent that wafted around her.
“My friend Rachel and I went to a movie in Vicker’s Corners. That’s where we were when you called. Then we went and got coffee at one of the little specialty shops. This time, we got ice cream, too. I told Rachel we shouldn’t. I mean we had a big lunch, but—”
He did his best to process her rapid-fire speech but it was as if she was speaking a foreign language. Apparently cueing in to his glazed look, she broke off and laughed without a hint of self-consciousness.
“I’m babbling.” She laughed again. “Which I sometimes do when I’m nervous.”
“I make you nervous?”
A bright pink rose up her neck. “A little.”
Truly puzzled now, he cocked his head. “Why?”
“You’re different from the men I know, the guys in this town.”
“My brothers live here. I’m not different from them.”
“I’m not well acquainted with your family. At least not with the ones from England.”
“Hopefully
