AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter One
Oh Mylanta, Mylanta. This cannot be happening. I scanned through the article my second cousin Arlene had sent me on my phone, hardly able to comprehend what I was reading.
Edenvale welcomes Prescott Technology, the up-and-coming software company started by owner and CEO Ryder Prescott. In the past five years, Edenvale has become one of Colorado’s premier technological centers due to its . . .
How could this be? I couldn’t breathe. I needed to talk to Emma.
I walked out of the boutique’s back offices to find only a few customers browsing our new summer line. Macey and Marlowe were taking care of them beautifully. Until the summer months began, weekdays were slower than weekends. At least that’s what the sales data said that Mr. Carrington had provided me when I bought M&M on Main last year. Now it was M&M’S on Main. Memaw had loaned me the money to take on this new adventure. She, more than anyone, knew how much I wanted out of my family’s business and my family out of my business.
“Ladies, I will be right back.” I waved as I walked out the door into the beautiful late May day. I loved the Colorado sunshine and less humid days than I was used to in Georgia, but I was happy to see the snow go. This Southern girl had missed her mild winter, but it was worth it not to have to worry about running into my ex-fiancé, Ryder Prescott, cheater among men, love of my life, and crusher of my soul.
I scooted my heels down the cobblestone sidewalks of Main Street. Carrington Cove was a darling town that belonged on the Hallmark Channel. Close-knit shops and boutiques with brick storefronts, some with cute awnings like my store. Most of them had welcoming display windows. Some of the cafés had outdoor seating when it was warm enough, though the natives around here walked around in shorts in two feet of snow.
The sun’s rays felt good on me as I hustled to Carrington Cove’s Eye Center, owned by some of the best friends I had ever had, Emma and Dr. Sawyer King. They weren’t open for business yet but would be in the next two weeks. Carrington Cove was happy to finally get their own optometry practice. Not as happy as the newlyweds were to be fulfilling one of their dreams.
The eye center was two blocks down from us on Willow Street. They were renovating an old coffee shop nestled between a family practice and an old-fashioned candy shop. I peeked through the Frameport glass door with Carrington Cove Eye Center etched into it to find the lovebirds painting—more like kissing and pretending to paint—the reception area wall. I tried not to be jealous of the sweetest couple I had ever known.
I knocked before letting myself in. “I’m sorry to interrupt.”
The happy couple was covered in paint from head to toe as if they had rolled around in it, which wouldn’t have surprised me. They gave each other one last peck before turning my way with big grins.
“Hey, Shelby, what’s up?” Emma set her paint brush down in the rolling tray.
“I’m having sort of a dilemma and I need someone to talk to.”
“Is this female related? Should I leave?” Sawyer asked.
I shook my head. “No. Actually it might be good to have a male perspective.” I approached their reception desk, trying not to inhale too many paint fumes.
Both Emma and Sawyer hopped on the plastic covered desk, ready to hear my tale.
“Remember when I told you I was engaged?”
They both nodded.
“Well . . .” I paused, hardly able to say it, “it appears my ex-fiancé has started his own company and is moving to Edenvale.”
Emma’s mouth dropped. “Does he know you live nearby?”
“I don’t think so. I haven’t talked to him since, well, since I left town and never said a word to him.” Not to mention I had done my best to keep my whereabouts secret from him, everything from deleting my social media and email accounts to changing my phone number. Momma and Daddy had convinced me it would be better this way. And after seeing those pictures of him with that woman on his supposed business trip, I had agreed.
“Maybe it’s a coincidence,” Sawyer offered.
Emma patted her husband’s cheeks, adding more paint to his scruff. “Hmm,” she considered what he had to say. I loved that about them. “I don’t know, babe.”
He took her hands and kissed her as if I wasn’t there.
I cleared my throat.
They broke apart with apologetic smiles.
“Sorry.” Emma grinned. “This is interesting.”
“Ryder Prescott—” I almost hated to say his name. It used to be the most wonderful bits of alphabet to escape my mouth. Now I felt like wiping my tongue off each time I had to speak it. “—moving to Colorado is more than interesting. I’m not even sure he’s been west of the Mississippi.”
