Page 12 of Ethan

As Serena drove them to town, Naomi watched fields of green fly past the window. Old wooden barns stood in the distance, weathered and leaning, looking like a strong gust of wind could finish them off.

Once they arrived, Serena found a spot and parked. They hopped out and started working their way through the shops. Naomi wanted to buy everything she touched but held off. She wasn’t fully settled yet, and she needed to be smart. Still, she was already halfway in love with the place.

“There are a lot of people around for a small town,” she said.

“Tourists.” Serena nodded.

“Really?”

“It started when Becca Daniels arrived to inherit her grandmother’s place. She’d never even met her grandmother, but she had six months to decide whether to sell or keep it. She ended up meeting Jake Stone, fell in love, and never left. They’re married now with two kids. She turned the old colonial into a bed and breakfast, and people come from all over the country to stay there.” Serena steered her around a slow-moving couple on the sidewalk. “There’s also a guest ranch over in Spring City called the Bur Oak Guest Ranch. Between the two of them they bring in a lot of traffic. They both close for the winter, but once spring hits the towns are packed.”

“Fascinating.” Naomi glanced around. An antique shop, a coffee shop, a bakery, an ice cream parlor. She was going to need more than one afternoon.

“Have you had a burger from the diner yet?”

“Oh, God, yes.” Naomi pressed her hand to her chest. “Ethan got one for me the day I moved in. I can’t get over how good it was. I’m going to have to behave myself or I’ll be buying a whole new wardrobe.”

Serena laughed. “I totally understand. So, have you been married?”

“I was, for about a minute. I threw him out when he cheated on me. Said it was my fault for being gone so much for shows.”

“What a charmer.”

“I miss him about as much as you’d miss a toothache.” She grinned when Serena laughed. “What about you?”

“Divorced. Years ago, now. We just grew apart, no drama. We’re still friends actually.”

“That’s rare.”

“It is.” Serena smiled. “Some people are just better as friends than anything else.”

“Oh, I have to go in here.” Naomi stopped in front of a window display packed with ornaments, garland, and twinkling lights. The sign above the door read Festive Finds.

“Mallory Nichols owns it.” Serena pulled the door open and nodded for Naomi to go ahead. “She and her mother make the best fudge you’ve ever had in your life.”

Naomi stepped inside and stopped. The whole place smelled of cinnamon and pine and something warm she couldn’t quite name. Christmas music played softly somewhere in the back.

“I feel like I should be looking around for Santa,” she said.

A woman appeared from behind a display of snow globes, wiping her hands on a red apron. She was pretty, with long, dark wavy hair and a smile that matched the shop perfectly.

“Serena, hi.” She came around the counter and hugged her. “I haven’t seen you in weeks.”

“I know, I’ve been buried in work.” Serena stepped back. “Mallory, this is Naomi Austin. She just moved to the ranch. She’s one of Ethan’s new trainers.”

Mallory turned the smile on Naomi and extended her hand. “Welcome to Clifton. How are you liking it so far?”

“I’m already in love with it.” Naomi shook her hand. “This shop alone might do me in.”

Mallory laughed. “Browse as long as you like. And you have to try the fudge before you leave. I just made a fresh batch this morning.”

“Serena already warned me about that.”

“Smart woman.” Mallory moved back behind the counter. “I have peppermint, chocolate walnut, and salted caramel today.”

Naomi looked at Serena. Serena looked at Naomi.

“One of each,” they said at the same time, and Mallory laughed as she reached for a box.