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After Sunday dinner with the Steeles, Lawson, Nora, and Evelyn stopped at Wayde and Darlene’s to share their happy news before it was time for band practice. Milking Lawson’s willingness to play chauffer for the weekend, Nora convinced Lawson to tag along. He didn’t need much convincing. He’d yet to see the band perform live, and he liked having the excuse to watch his songbird do her thing.
With Evelyn occupied, having opted to stay inside in order to play a game with Tex’s wife, Christine, Lawson had his firstfew minutes to himself that day. While Nora was busy laying down a melody for Taylor, Ford, and Tex to layer upon for a new song, Lawson stepped out into the cold evening with his phone. Propping his shoulder against the side of Tex’s shop, he pulled up Ashlynn’s number and constructed a text.
Me: I can meet tomorrow. 8AM.
Just as he suspected, he didn’t have to wait long for a response. She sent a message of her own not sixty seconds later.
Ashlynn: Bright and early. I can do that. I’ll need coffee, though.
Ashlynn: I’ve heard there’s an amazing coffee shop downtown. Haven’t been yet. Meet there?
Lawson shook his head, annoyed he had to meet her at all—let alonedowntown.Nobody called The Squaredowntown. Technically speaking, it was; but the fact that she didn’t know the nuances of Shelby or that she couldn’t call Rock-N-Joe by name was just further proof she wasn’t where she belonged.
Running a hand down his face, he sighed and forced himself to seriously consider her question. Another thing she didn’t know about her chosen location was that it was anything but inconspicuous. Having coffee at Rock-N-Joe was like trying to find privacy in a fishbowl. No doubt, Billie would be there, which meant Justice would get a play-by-play before Lawson could make it home to Nora.
Then again, maybe an audience wasn’t a bad thing. While he was pretty sure he’d assuaged any worry or doubt Ashlynn’s presence after church had stirred up in his future bride, it wouldn’t hurt if the gossip mill helped keep the record straight. He didn’t know what to expect from Ashlynn. She seemed innocent enough, but he still couldn’t fathom why she’d left the city for his hometown. After seeing him with his family, he wascurious why she was still so quick to want to meet him—but Nora had been right. She needed to know the full truth. He’d moved on. End of story.
Me: Rock-N-Joe. 8AM.
The next morning, after they both received a parting kiss from Nora, Lawson drove Evelyn to school. An Ashley Hicks song came on the radio as they drew near their destination, and Lawson turned it up at Evelyn’s request. He also made sure, after he parked his truck, not to turn it off until the last note was sung.
After Lawson helped her out of her booster seat and strapped on her backpack, they walked hand in hand to the building. As soon as Evelyn spotted her teacher, she turned and flung open her arms, anxious to join her other classmates. If there were two things Lawson knew with absolute certainty about Evelyn Belle, it was that she loved to sing and she loved to learn; not to mention, she never did anything half-hearted.
“Bye, daddy.”
As he’d grown accustomed, Lawson squatted so she could wrap her arms around his neck. He held her long enough to kiss her temple and murmur, “Have a good day, darlin’.”
“I will. You, too,” she said before she turned and left him in his spot.
He stood, hesitating as he watched her go. The moments leading up to that one had come and gone too quickly. Both he and Nora had the day off, and the last thing he wanted to do was spend a moment of it with Ashlynn. Reminding himself the sooner he got it over with the sooner he could be with his woman, he turned and headed back for his truck.
Lawson was parked in front of the empty salon fifteen minutes later. As he walked the half block to Rock-N-Joe, he kept an eye out for Ashlynn. He was three doors down when he spotted her, waiting for him outside the coffee shop. Her appearance the day before had been subtle, as if she didn’t want to draw too much attention. Now, it was obvious she was trying to make a statement.
The jeans she wore were so tight, they could have been painted on. The brown leather jacket she wore was simple, but the shirt she wore underneath it was cut low enough to remind him—and show everyone else—of her noteworthy cleavage. While she’d left her hair straight, she’d gone all-out on her makeup. Her red lip was a declaration in and of itself.
He hadn’t been wrong to assume she’d moved for him.
He didn’t get it. He hoped after a cup of coffee, there would be no confusion—for either of them.
Ashlynn noticed him and smiled, turning his direction. She took a couple steps toward him and spoke as soon as he was in earshot. “Mornin’. Thanks for meetin’ me.”
“Sure,” Lawson replied with a dip of his chin. He then nodded toward the door and said, “Shall we?”
“Yeah.”
It didn’t go unnoticed how she positioned herself to allow him to open the door for her. His manners prevented him from reading into it, and they entered the crowded establishment. They got in line behind half a dozen people, “Hotel California” playing from the sound system in typical Billie fashion.
“Wow, this place is unique,” Ashlynn mused, taking in the room.
“Town staple. It was an old record store when I was growin’ up. When it turned into a coffee shop, the owner wanted to keep the integrity of the music store intact.”
“Let me guess, the blonde behind the bar is the owner?”
Lawson glanced over to see Billie bobbing her head to the rhythm of the Eagles guitar solo as she dressed the top of a latte with whipped cream. She was wearing a vintage Guns and Roses t-shirt, and it was obvious she fit right in. Smirking, he replied, “That’s her.”
Ashlynn hummed a quiet laugh. “I’m lookin’ forward to learnin’ the quirks of this town. I’m still getting’ settled, but it’s hard to deny this place has its charm.”
Lawson’s crooked smile fell at the thought of her settling in Shelby, but he didn’t respond. He didn’t want to get into it before they ordered their coffee. Fortunately, with two people manning the espresso bar and another at the cash register, the line moved quickly. “Edge of Seventeen” came on just as they stepped up to give their order. Billie was mouthing the words when she looked up from her task and saw Lawson. She quirked an eyebrow, gave Ashlynn a once over, then met Lawson’s eyes once more. He merely reached for his wallet.
