Janie added the last part under her breath as she picked up a magazine, smirk in place.
Olivia went back to perusing the latest fashions in hers. The smell of sample perfumes leaked from the pages, fighting off the chemical smell from the fake nails being done across the room.
She toyed with the tips of her mocha hair, wondering if she should add a new cut or color to her new life. After the shattering of her heart a year ago, she’d done a makeover and ended up with longer layers. She’d kept the style because she liked it and felt as if it softened her face—not because she still had something to prove.
“Just so you know, he hasn’t dated anyone in years.”
Olivia glanced at the black-and-white clock on the wall with amusement. For three and a half glorious minutes, Janie had managed to stay quiet on the subject of Cash.
“And it’s not from a lack of women trying, either. Good-looking. Owns a ranch. Took custody of his little sister. What’s not to want?” Janie peeked out from behind her magazine shield.
“He only asked me to tutor his sister. He did not ask me out.” Olivia ignored the disappointment that crawled up her spine. She could not, would not, have any interest in Cash. And now she sounded like a Dr. Seuss book. But she felt certain that writing a new beginning in Texas meant that one of these days, her hurt would ebb away and she’d be able to move forward. One of these days, she’d forgive herself for making the biggest mistake of her life.
Unfortunately, those new feelings didn’t rush in with the pedicure water bubbling around her feet.
Janie leaned closer and Olivia felt Perm Lady do the same.
“I’m just saying that it’s been a long time since he’s shown interest in someone. You can think the tutoring is only for Rachel, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he has ulterior motives.”
Olivia shifted quickly to the right, giggling with Janie when Perm Lady readjusted her position so fast she almost fell out of her pedicure chair.
“Fine.” The only way to end the conversation would be to give in—a little. “Here’s my compromise. At this point it’s strictly business. If anything changes you’ll be the first to know.” And nothing is going to change.
Janie flashed a smile laced with victory—as if she could read Olivia’s mind and accepted the challenge. She tapped her plastic coffee cup against Olivia’s. “I’ll toast to that.”
* * *
The young girl behind the coffee counter yawned as she took Olivia’s money the next morning. Tell me about it. Olivia glanced at her watch. Seven a.m. on a Sunday—a day she could sleep in—and yet she’d found herself up at six. Haunted. Just like she’d been in Colorado.
She hadn’t had the dream since a week before she moved. She’d hoped and prayed it wouldn’t follow her to Texas, but it had. Brown curls. A little girl running. Always out of reach.
Olivia shuddered and moved to the end of the counter as the barista steamed the milk for her mocha. She was supposed to ride to church later this morning with the Smiths, but after waking early from the jarring images, she’d had to get out of her apartment.
The barista handed her a bright yellow mug and matching plate with a blueberry muffin perched on a paper doily. Olivia migrated toward the back of the coffeehouse, snatching a rumpled copy of the Fredericksburg Standard from an abandoned table along the way.
She settled into a comfy armchair and took a sip of her mocha, eyes closing in relief as the combination of sugar and caffeine rolled across her tongue. Olivia propped open the paper and ate her muffin, reading about the local pool being fixed, the proposal to plan an alternate truck route around Fredericksburg and the race for city council. Advertisements for the quaint bed-and-breakfasts that permeated Texas Hill Country filled the pages, along with an announcement for an upcoming German festival.
She stopped to text Janie that she’d meet them at church and then moved on to the sports section.
It already held talk about the approaching football season. Olivia perused the opinions, wondering how Jack handled all the pressure as the high school football coach. Made her thankful that Texas football would be at the forefront of everyone’s minds, leaving her to manage her team with much less scrutiny.
“Excuse me.”
Olivia looked up into the face of a man she didn’t recognize. “Yes?”
“I’m sorry to bother you, but are you the new French teacher and volleyball coach?”
Back in Denver, no stranger would ever walk up to her like this, let alone actually know her. Olivia took a deep breath. She was still reeling from the dream. No need to take her frustrations out on the poor guy in front of her.
She said yes and introduced herself, shaking his outstretched hand.
“Gil Schmidt. I’m the counselor over at the high school.”
Dressed in khaki shorts and a short-sleeved, button-down shirt, he was just the preppy type her younger—and much shorter—sister would consider attractive. But guys who towered over Lucy only came to Olivia’s chin. Not that it bothered her anymore. She’d long ago accepted that she would never own a closet full of fashionable heels.
Unless she met a man like Cash—as tall as Cash, she corrected, stopping that train of thought before it got way off track.
Olivia glanced around the shop, surprised to find it had filled. “Would you like to join me?” She regretted the words the instant they came out of her mouth.
Gil checked his watch. “Thanks, but I’ve been here for a bit and now I’m headed over to church. Just thought I’d stop and introduce myself. I’m sure I’ll be seeing more of you once school starts.”
She said goodbye and waved as he walked away, kicking herself for being so judgmental. Gil seemed like a nice guy. She’d have to get used to living in a small town.
Shocked at the time, Olivia grabbed her purse, depositing her mug and plate in the bin for dirty dishes on the way up front.
Gil stood looking out the glass door at the front of the shop, watching the rain that now covered the sidewalks and street. When had it started raining? Guess she’d been lost in her own world, tucked in the back of the shop.
Cars whooshed by, splashing through puddles with a sizzling noise that made Olivia think about bacon. She probably should have had more than a muffin with her coffee.
She glanced at Gil. “Everything okay?”
He motioned outside with a wry grin. “I hadn’t been expecting this. I rode my bike this morning.”
“Do you need a ride? I’m going to Cedar Hills Church.” They stepped to the side as a couple entered, shaking the water from their clothes.
“That’s where I go, too.”
“Can you put your bike in my trunk?”
When she pointed out her car, Gil laughed. “I don’t think it will fit. It’s not a problem, though. I’ll wait it out.”
“Why
