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I took stock of how many cucumber sandwiches we had, as well as egg salad. We had plenty of both. With a smile, I held up the perfect scones I had made earlier. It had taken me months to master the art of scones. If you worked the dough too much, they came out flat. I had finally gotten it down. Of course, if you asked any of the men who walked into the tea room, they’d tell you scones were just biscuits that tasted sweet. And then they’d ask for the gravy and laugh. It was strange how many men made that same joke over and over again.
“How’s everything going?” I asked Terry.
“Good. Stop worrying. Your father’s here.”
A smile broke out across my face. I was about to ask her where he was when the back door opened and the scent of lavender filled the kitchen.
“Daddy,” I said as I made my way over to him. With a wide smile, he set the box down, took off his cowboy hat, and kissed me on the cheek.
“Darlin’, how are things going?”
I shrugged. “I’m not sure. She didn’t make a face when she tasted the tea, so that’s a good thing!”
He laughed. “Even I like it, Sweetheart, so don’t worry.”
“Yeah, everyone keeps telling me not to.”
Daddy glanced over at Terry and then back at me. “I heard about Saturday night and what the little prick said.”
I sighed. “Daddy, I don’t want to talk about Anson right now.”
He frowned. “I’m not talking about him, I’m talking about the little bastard you dated after him. The one I never liked.”
I stared at him. “Josh?”
“Yes, Irwin told me what he said about you and how Anson damn near jumped over a table to beat his ass, then warned him to never say another word about you again.”
My stomach did a little flutter. I internally yelled at myself to get my emotions in check.
“From the way I hear it, both your brother and Anson were ready to pound his face in. Might do it myself next time I come across him.”
I lifted up on my toes and kissed him on the cheek. “You will not. Thank you for the lavender and the cucumbers.”
“You’re welcome. If I haven’t told you lately, you’re my favorite customer.”
I smiled. “I better be!”
Daddy lifted his hand and waved goodbye to Terry then slipped out the back door.
“Bristol, sweetheart.”
I spun around to find Pearl, Anson’s mom, standing in the kitchen.
“Pearl, is everything okay?”
She looked pale. Almost as if she was about to get sick.
“My goodness, Pearl, sit down quickly. You look like you’re about to pass out,” Terry stated.
Her fingers went to her temple and she paced the small kitchen. “Oh my, oh Lord. Oh, baby Jesus in heaven. I’m in a pickle.” She stopped and looked directly at me. “Actually, a pickle would be an improvement. I’m fucked is what I am.”
My eyes went wide in surprise. In all the years I had known Pearl Meyer, I had never heard her swear. Okay, she said hell and damn sometimes. But the F-bomb? Never.
“Um…ah…why are you…in something worse than a pickle?” I asked, still taken aback.
“Jemma mentioned Anson being back in town. Then the sweet and lovely, yet very dense, Renee brought up his latest song. It didn’t take Annie long to put two and two together. She asked me to introduce her to Anson.”
That nearly made me choke on my tongue, but I tried not to show my reaction.
I walked over to the door that led out to the tea room. Barely opening it, I peeked out to see Annie deep in conversation with Ida. Even from where I stood, I could see her excitement. What was Ida talking about? Anson? Why get Annie interested in Anson when she’s been pushing me to make up with him?
I let the door shut and then spun around and looked at Pearl. I tried to think of something logical to say. I shouldn’t care that Annie wanted to meet Anson.
Then Annie’s bright smile popped into my head. The moment she stepped into the tea room, nearly everyone went silent. She was beyond beautiful. Her blonde hair, with perfectly done low lights, was swept up and piled on top of her head. Her blue eyes seemed so blue that Mindy thought for sure they were fake. She quickly corrected Mindy when she asked if they were contacts. Don’t even get me started on her body. She was toned from top to bottom. Her pencil skirt showcased an ass that had to have been formed from doing countless squats. Unlike my ass that was perfectly formed from eating scones. Her breasts were perfect…and perfectly on display.
And she…Annie…wanted to meet Anson.
Finally, I looked back at Pearl. “Well, that’s nice. Did you make plans to introduce them?”
It was her turn for her eyes to go wide. “You want her to meet Anson?”
