Page 70 of One Kind Soul

“Yeah, well, tell Donovan I found you first too.”

“Okay, good point.” Tessa pointed to Nicole’s leggings. “Are you here to join my dance class?”

“I am.”

Tessa clapped and did a little jig. “Yay! Like old times.”

“And I’ll do you one better in the like-old-times department.” Nicole enjoyed the crease of confusion between Tessa’s blonde brows. “You might want to sit for this.”

Tessa backed up toward a window seat and lowered. “What’s happening? I’m unexplainably excited.” Her eyes widened as she stared up at Nicole.

“Christian and I said I love you to each other last nig—” Her words got cut off when Tessa leaped to her feet and threw her arms around Nicole.

“I’m so happy for you guys! You’re so cute together!” Then she suddenly released Nicole. “Wait a minute! Does this mean . . . does this mean you’re moving to Vermont?”

“If you can stand to share a zip code with me again, I’d like to give Maplehaven a try.”

Another rib-busting hug nearly crushed her as she jumped up and down with Tessa. Having her best friend back and a hot cowboy farmer was hitting the jackpot.

“I’m over the moon about this, Nicole! Over. The. Moon!” Tessa released her. “We’re going to be able to do so much stuff together again. Old stuff we’ve always loved doing, like dancing and movies and shopping—remind me to take you to Cynthia’s Boutique—but we can also do all new things like hiking and blueberry picking and snowmobiling.”

“You snowmobile?”

“Yes. And let me tell you, being on the back of a snowmobile with a Henley brother is not to be missed!” She waved her hands as if she were a cheerleader. “This is the best, best, best news!” Her eyes widened again. “Did you already tell the resort?”

“Yup. I have to work one more week and then you’re stuck with me.”

“Oh, wonderful! I’ve missed you so much. This is going to be so great!” She grabbed Nicole’s hand and jerked her toward the group of people milling about at one end of the studio. “C’mon, let’s dance!”

Nicole shuffled along behind Tessa, barely able to keep up. “You need to calm down or you’ll dance these people into an early grave.”

Tessa gave Nicole one more hug. “I’m happy for me because I get you back, but I’m especially happy for you. I had my doubts about Christian and specifically warned him to stay away from you, but it doesn’t take a genius to see how perfect you two are together. Who would have thought offering to pick you up in Boston would lead to him becoming a one-woman man?”

Who would have thought one night in those hotel rooms would have allowed her to find real love? One night with the kindest, sweetest, sexiest soul she’d ever met.

Now she’d have unlimited nights with him.

“Everyone!” Tessa called. “Attention, everyone!” The group quieted down. “I want to introduce my best friend in the entire world who will be a Maplehaven citizen in a few weeks. Meet Nicole, everyone.”

She received several hellos and welcomes then Tessa started the class with a warm up. In no time at all, Nicole was sweating along with the group, enjoying the dance music and the light, airy feeling in her chest. She had her best friend back. She had a man to love. She had pack cats and horses to commune with. She had everything she never thought she would.

Fuck you, Lynda.

Her sister had been dead wrong. An amazing man loved Nicole so she had to be the opposite of how Lynda had always described her. Revolting, repulsive, trash, garbage, ugly, disgusting . . . Princess Uggers. The list was long and apparently incorrect. Going forward, she’d keep that in mind.

The dance class was a blast and by the time it was over, Nicole’s muscles ached in that pleasant, post-workout way that told her she’d done something good for her body. A few of the attendees chatted with her and she felt like a true part of the Maplehaven community.

“That looked like a great class.” Aliza walked over to them, giving Nicole a quick hug. “Good tunes.”

“You know what made it even better?” Tessa hopped over to Aliza.

Aliza chuckled. “I have a feeling you’re going to tell me.”

“We can add a new member to our Women Who Love Henley Men Support Group!” She looped her arms around Nicole’s shoulders. “My girl is staying in Vermont!”

Aliza let out a cheer. “This is wonderful!” They engaged in a little threesome hug, jumping together in a circle and Nicole relished the pure glee coursing through her.

“It’s nice to have people again,” Nicole said. “Since Tessa left Kauai, I’ve had no people.”