Smitten

by Colleen Coble

  “Have you talked with Nick since he brought his daughter home?” Natalie asked as she, Julia, Reese, and Shelby took a walk around Timber Lake.

  “Poor kid. That’s tough to lose your mom and your home all at the same time,” Reese said.

  The others struggled to catch up to her.

  “Yeah. Maybe you can ‘mother’ her, Shelby. After all, you have no real risk of involvement with Nick. You’ve said so yourself,” Julia said with a wink.

  “Nick is a good friend. That’s all he’ll ever be,” Shelby said.

  “No matter how much the three of you want it to be otherwise.”

  “But you’re perfect for each other,” Reese said.

  Shelby stepped over a stick. “You can’t base a marriage on a mutual fixation on Christmas.”

  “It’s a start,” Natalie said. “Besides, he’s so cute.”

  “Come on, you guys. The man has chin stubble. You know I can’t handle that. And he probably eats from a can.”

  The girls laughed.

  “He’s just a friend,” Shelby said.

  “Whatever,” Julia said. “Still, friendship is a pretty good place to start. Who’s to say what will happen once you start working on his property?”

  “Now, cut that out. Our goal is to save the town, not get me married off,” Shelby said.

  “You do look cute together,” Reese said.

  They all laughed, the laughter of good friends sharing together.

  Natalie shrugged. “Oh well, girls, we tried.”

  “I have news,” Reese said, changing the subject. “I’ve taken steps toward the purchase of my outfitters shop. I’ve applied for financing to see how much I qualify for.”

  Natalie’s eyes grew as wide as chocolate cupcakes, with the same sweet sparkle. “That’s wonderful!”

  The women talked excitedly about how they could help.

  Their conversation finally dwindled as they attempted to catch their breath while keeping up with Reese’s walking pace.

  “My skin is drying out already, and it’s not even winter,”

  Julia said, touching her cheeks.

  “Mine too. The good news is I’m coming into the spa soon for my facial.” Shelby grinned at Julia.

  “Oh, good. When you come, plan on staying for lunch at the grill.”

  “Sorry, friend, but I don’t eat goopy hamburgers, even for my best friends.” Shelby laughed.

  “You don’t know what you’re missing,” Reese said.

  “I’m willing to take my chances.”

  Natalie sighed. “Girls, if she won’t risk a hamburger, there’s no hope of her taking a chance on love.”

  Laughter rang through the air, and Shelby wondered if they knew just how true that was.

  After the morning walk, Shelby showered and dressed. She passed the day finishing her current project, a dress and leggings that a young girl would pick up this evening, then worked on her class plans. Hopefully she’d get a few more students before registration was closed.

  She walked into the kitchen to get a glass of iced tea when the phone rang.

  “Hello?”

  “Hi, Shelby. This is Dad.”

  Her stomach tightened. “Dad. How are you?”

  “I just got the scarf and cap you knitted me for Father’s Day. Thanks.”

  “But I sent that months ago.”

  “Yeah, it just got to me. You sent it to Minnesota. I’m in Florida now.”

  He’d moved . . . again. “Sorry. Guess you won’t have much use for a cap and scarf there.”

  He laughed. “Oh, that’s no problem. I’m just tired of this dead-end job,” he said. “I’m thinking of looking for something else.”

  She could recite this conversation by heart. “There in Florida?”

  “Oh, I don’t know. I have an old army buddy in Tennessee.

  He told me they’re hiring where he works.”

  Same old, same old.

  “Dad, when are you going to settle down?”

  Why couldn’t she just let it go? He’d never change.

  “Why do I need to, Shelby? I’m not hurting anybody.”

  Not now. But what about all those schools you dragged me through?

  “You could move here with me, Dad. I have a huge house—” It was the right thing to say. But what would she do if he accepted?

  “I won’t mooch off my daughter.”

  They both knew it had nothing to do with that. He couldn’t—wouldn’t settle down. It was just as well. It would be like living with a stranger.

  “Well, I just wanted to thank you for the gifts. They’re nice.”

  “Um, you’re welcome.” Why was it always so awkward to talk to him? “Let me know if you move again,” she said. “We should, you know, stay in touch.” Sad that she had to say that to her own father.

  “Will do. Talk to you later, kiddo.”

  “Okay. See you, Dad.”

  Shelby clicked off the phone and stared at it in her hand.

  The one thing she wanted more than anything was a relationship with her dad, but with her mother gone, she doubted it would ever happen.

  Her thoughts flew to Nick and Willow. She prayed it would go better for them. Maybe she could help . . .

  CHAPTER THREE

  Ellie Draper wore her forty-two years with pure joy. Round, puffy cheeks stained with pink gave her a jolly image. And who wouldn’t be in a constant state of bliss running a fudge shop? A hairnet pulled her cropped dark waves tight against her head. A full-length white apron, streaked with chocolate, covered her plump torso. She wiped her hands on a cotton cloth. “Shelby, so good to see you.”

  “Morning, Ellie. Is it all right if I post a flyer on your bulletin board?”

  “You know you can. You don’t even have to ask. I think it’s a wonderful thing that you’re doing, helping young girls the way you do. God bless you for that.”

  “Thank you.” Shelby stepped up to the display case and looked at the candy. “Oh my.”

  Ellie chuckled. “Now you know why I have such a time with my weight.” Her hand flew to her mouth, followed by another jovial chuckle. “Guess I shouldn’t say that. It’s bad for business.”

  “I haven’t had your peanut butter fudge in a very long time.” Shelby eyed the candy with longing.

  “Then it’s high time you did.” Ellie reached for a bag, gave it a quick snap to open it, and scooped a couple pieces of fudge inside. She shut the display door and handed Shelby the bag.

  “How much?”

  Ellie waved her off. “Consider it an unexpected blessing.”

  That was Ellie, always thinking of others.

  “I walked around the lake with the girls this morning, so a little indulgence can’t hurt. Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome. I’d give you a hug, but I don’t suppose you’d want chocolate all over that beautiful sweater you’re wearing.” She waved good-bye and had gone back to stocking fudge before Shelby reached the door.

  She stepped out of Sweet Surrender and came face-to-face with Nick and Willow. “Hey, what are you up to?”

  “Oh, I’m looking into getting new windows for my house,” he said. “Since we were in town, Willow wanted to look around.”

  “Windows, huh?”

  “Yeah. The locks don’t work on half of them, and I want to make sure Willow has a lock on hers. Too many weirdos out there.”

  Willow looked uncomfortable with her dad’s overprotective attitude.

  “New windows would help with winter too,” Shelby said.

  “True enough. Listen, Shelby, I thought Saturday might be a good day to start moving tables and whatever you need for your classes. Does that work for you?”

  “Works fine. Are you sure you’re still up for it? I mean, you’ve got a lot on your plate right now.”

  “Nothing I can’t handle. I’ll be by around nine o’clock Saturday, and we’ll get started.”

  “Thanks so much, Nick.”

  Shelby took another
look at Willow. The girl’s thick, wavy brown hair stopped at her waist. Her expression reminded Shelby of Nick, but the bright blue eyes beneath dark, thick lashes must have come from Willow’s mother. Nick’s eyes were brown. Chocolate brown. Almost liquidy smooth, like melted chocolate.

  Willow wore a newsboy cap, a frilly blue and black dress with matching leggings, and tan boots.

  “I love your outfit, Willow,” Shelby said. “Did you know I’m a seamstress? Maybe you can come over sometime and give me your opinion on a couple of outfits I’ve been considering.”

  Willow nodded shyly. “You said you run that etiquette school too?”

  “Yes, I do.”

  “I was signed up for one in Boston. It would have started at the end of this month.”

  “Well, I don’t know why you couldn’t come to mine instead.”

  Willow’s gaze shot up. “Really?” She looked hopefully toward her dad, but Nick said nothing.

  “Sign-up is right now for the next class,” Shelby said, trying to nudge Nick into giving his approval.

  Still nothing.

  “And with your dad so graciously letting me use his building for my classes, we’ll be right there on his property.

  So you’d just walk across the yard to go to class. Oh, and of course, your class sessions would be free.”

  “Could I go, Dad?” Willow practically whispered.

  Nick frowned at Shelby. What was the deal?

  “Willow, I was hoping for some chocolate-covered cherries.”

  He pulled out his wallet and gave her a ten-dollar bill. “Would you mind getting some for us while I talk to Shelby for a minute?”

  Taking the money, Willow headed inside the store.

  “Well, good to see you, Nick,” Shelby said, hoping to make a quick getaway. She turned to go.

  “Oh no, you don’t,” he said, grabbing her arm.

  “What?”

  “Shouldn’t you have asked me first?”

  “I’m sorry about that. We’ve never talked about it, Nick, but I don’t have a great relationship with my dad. I was hoping maybe I could help you with Willow. Give you some pointers on what might have helped me when I was a kid.”

  “You could have done that without the school thing.”

  “The school thing? What do you mean?”

  “I don’t want to fill her mind with all that mumbo-jumbo high-society stuff.”

  “It has nothing to do with ‘high society,’ but everything to do with behaving like a lady. In another year she may not want to take those classes. Don’t you want your daughter to learn some manners?”

  “No offense, Shelby, but you don’t have any kids of your own. I’d appreciate it if you’d let me handle this.”

  “Wow. Okay. So that’s a no, then, on the free classes?”

  “Yes, that’s a no.”

  Just then Willow stepped out of the candy store and looked at them both.

  “Shelby, we’ll see you on Saturday,” Nick said. He grabbed Willow’s hand and practically pulled her away with him while Shelby looked on, utterly confused.

  Saturday morning Shelby watched as Nick checked each cable around her things in his truck bed for the umpteenth time. She could have had everything in the building and completely settled by now, but he had to check and recheck. If there were an award for safety observance, Nick would win it hands down.

  At least he didn’t seem miffed with her anymore, and for that she was grateful. But he hadn’t changed his mind either, and she was hoping she’d get a chance to talk him into letting Willow take her classes after all. She just hadn’t figured out how.

  When they arrived at Nick’s place, Nick had another guy there to help him unload the truck. Willow joined Shelby, and they carried in the chairs while the guys hauled the tables.

  Once the tables were in their places, chairs crowded around them, blackboard hung, and dishware stacked on shelves, everything was ready to go—or should have been. But as Shelby looked everything over, she couldn’t get over the institutional look of it all. It would never do. She couldn’t wallpaper or paint, but she could add things that she could take with her once she moved out.

  Nick’s cell phone rang. He pulled it out of his pocket and flipped it open. “Hello?”

  Shelby moved a couple of files into her desk drawer.

  “Today?”

  The urgency in his voice made Shelby look up. Nick was rubbing his neck as though it ached.

  “Give us time to get packed and on our way. Okay, see you later.” He snapped his phone closed.

  “You okay?” Shelby asked.

  He sighed. “Yeah. I have to go back to Boston to settle some affairs for Camilla—on behalf of Willow.”

  “You’re leaving today?”

  “Depends on how long it takes me to get ready. At the very latest, tomorrow morning.”

  “Do I have to go, Dad?” Willow asked.

  “Don’t you want to see your grandma and grandpa?”

  She shook her head slightly, as though she didn’t want to be disrespectful.

  “Well, you can’t stay here by yourself.”

  “She can stay with me.” The words were out of Shelby’s mouth before she could stop them.

  Willow brightened. Nick frowned.

  “I’d love to have her, Nick. She can help me get this room ready for the students—if she’s game?” Shelby smiled at the young girl.

  “Can I, Dad? Please?”

  Nick waited, clearly weighing the situation on all sides. “I guess it’s all right,” he said finally. “If you’re sure, Shelby. I’ll be gone for several days.”

  “That’s fine. It will be fun.”

  He scratched the stubble on his chin, and Shelby gave an involuntary shiver. Oh, how she’d love to get her hands on a razor right about now.

  “All right, then. I guess it’s settled,” he said, though there was still hesitation in his voice.

  “How did you like going to the church here?” Shelby asked Willow as they walked to the car in the church parking lot.

  “I like it better than the one in Boston. We stayed in with the adults there. It was boring.”

  “Did you like the youth pastor?”

  “Yeah. He’s cool.”

  Shelby smiled. “I’m glad.” They settled in the car. “So how does Parmesan chicken with asparagus sound?” Shelby placed her key in the ignition and turned to Willow, who said nothing.

  They locked eyes.

  “Pizza?”

  Willow gave a vigorous nod.

  Shelby laughed. “Okay, pizza it is.”

  After lunch Shelby and Willow went back to Shelby’s house. Willow sat in the living room and flipped channels on the TV while Shelby worked at her sewing machine in a corner of the room—a temporary work space until her dining room repairs were finished.

  “What do you think of this?” She held up a peasant-style dress in vibrant colors of gold, pink, and cream, complete with short puffy sleeves and a gathered skirt below an empire waist.

  Willow’s eyes widened. “Oh, I love it.” She jumped up from the sofa and came over to inspect it. “You know what would look cool is if you made some ruffled leggings to go with it.”

  “I like the way you think,” Shelby said.

  “There’s a boutique in Boston that sells clothes like this.

  Mom used to buy them for me and for her friend’s daughter.”

  A shadow crossed her face.

  Shelby put her hand on Willow’s arm. “I’m sorry, Willow.

  I know you must miss her very much.”

  Willow nodded.

  “Do you sew?”

  “A little,” Willow said. “I took lessons from a lady in town.”

  “Really? A wonderful experience for someone your age,”

  Shelby said. “Do you think you could make some headbands for me if I show you how? They’ll basically be a band with a big flower.”

  “I’d love to.”

  “Well, it just so happ
ens I have a spare sewing machine.”

  The two of them spent the afternoon sewing and talking together. By the time they were done, Willow had completed her first headband.

  “What do you think?”

  It was a black band with a thick black-and-white ruffled flower attached.

  “Oh my goodness, I love it, Willow! You did an amazing job,” Shelby said as she looked it over. “We may have to go into business together.”

  The look of pleasure on Willow’s face touched Shelby’s heart. “I’m cold. How about we get some hot chocolate and sit in front of the fireplace?”

  Willow’s face brightened. “Yeah.”

  Once the hot chocolate was ready, Shelby loaded Willow’s cup with miniature marshmallows and sprinkled a couple in her own. Then they went into the living room to sit in front of the fire.

  “I wonder how Dad’s getting along,” Willow said before taking a sip from her mug.

  “I’m sure he’s fine. Do you mind terribly staying here?”

  “No, no,” Willow said. “I’m having fun. It’s just that . . .”

  Her voice trailed.

  The girl had already lost one parent, Shelby realized; she was bound to worry when the other one wasn’t around.

  “I’m sure he’s fine. He’ll be home on Tuesday.”

  Willow nodded and took another drink.

  “I know you haven’t spent a lot of time with him, but you’re lucky to have a dad like him, you know?”

  Willow was silent for a moment. “Does your dad live in town?”

  “It’s funny you should ask. I’m not sure where my dad lives.

  He moves around a lot.”

  Willow looked down at the floor. “It seems like dads are never around when you need them.”

  Shelby’s heart squeezed. “Sometimes they can’t help it.”

  “Sometimes they can.”

  Shelby couldn’t argue with that. One glance at Willow, and Shelby’s heart determined all the more to make things work for that little girl and her father. They would not have the same type of relationship Shelby had with her dad.

  She would see to it.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Shelby had just poured her morning tea when the phone rang. She glanced at Willow, who sat on the sofa watching television.