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“Clever.” I glanced at her left hand. Her ring finger was empty.
“I should go,” she said abruptly.
Lena placed her hand on her friend’s shoulder. “You don’t have to, Grace. I have a hard enough time getting you here as it is.”
“I know. I promise that I’ll be better about it. If not, you can come drag me into town on a leash.”
Lena rolled her eyes. “Fine.”
Grace stood and turned to me. “You should come out to the ranch sometime. We can have dinner. Maybe you can get this one to come with you.” She nodded at Lena.
“I’d like that, thank you.”
“Us girls have to stick together, right?”
I laughed. “Right. And feel free to stop by for dinner too. I think we might be close to each other if you’re north of town.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah,” I said. “I’m staying at Resting Warrior. And there are dinners a couple times a week. Though I do have a kitchen in my house if that’s not your thing.”
I’d spent enough time controlling my reactions to know when someone else was doing it. Grace’s entire energy changed. It turned cold, her body stiffening. “I’ll think about that. But let me know if you want to come out my way.”
“Sure.”
She gathered her purse and Lena walked her to the door. They shared a few quiet words and hugged before Grace slipped out the door to the sound of the tinkling melody.
I closed my eyes, savoring the rich scent of coffee and a hint of baked sugar. If I could bottle this scent in a way that made it smell like it didn’t come from a bottle, I would do it. But this kind of smell only came from the real thing.
“I’m glad you got to meet her,” Lena said. “I was worried she was going to bolt before you came in.”
Grace hurried down the street away from us. “I’m sorry. Did I say something wrong?”
“No, why?”
“She seemed bothered when I mentioned Resting Warrior.”
Lena waved a hand, and I followed her behind the counter. “No, you were fine. Grace has a history with one of the men there, and they haven’t exactly worked it out yet. But don’t worry, I’ve folded it into my Reintroduce Grace to the World plan.”
My apron hung on a hook next to Lena’s, and I loved it. When she’d hired me, she’d taken me to one of the back rooms and pointed me at a box that overflowing with brightly colored aprons. The one I’d chosen was a vibrant teal, and Lena’s was deep violet. The aprons alone embodied the spirit of Deja Brew.
It had only been two days, and I already loved it here.
Because of that, it was hard not to run. Did I really want to get attached and have to leave again? Did I want to break people’s hearts and leave them wondering?
I’d sent an email to the managers of Sandia Bean resigning and saying I had to leave town indefinitely for a family emergency. It was always the same lie, one that kept the people I left behind from filing missing person’s reports that would make my life that much more complicated.
The shop was already spotless. There wasn’t much to do until the noon rush, so I leaned against the counter and turned to my new friend and boss. “Why do you need that kind of plan?”
Lena winced. “Grace’s husband died six months ago. Car accident.”
“Oh, shit.”
“Yeah. She’s been kind of isolated since then. Understandably. But she and her husband—Charles—had an interesting relationship. It wasn’t really a romantic thing, though she doesn’t like to talk about why. And I know that he wouldn’t want her to spend her time all alone on the ranch. Especially when everything there reminds her of him. So I try to get her into town as much as possible.”
I nodded. “Makes sense.”
“And now, you can help me,” she said. “You guys don’t know each other well yet, but you’re going to like each other.”
