Page 14 of Sugar Plum Serenade

CHAPTER 6

Thursday at Dawn’s Radiance was a little too slow for Olive’s liking. There were fewer customers than usual, and the ones who did come in were efficient, in and out, giving her nothing to complain about.

Rearranging clothing and doodads only took so much time and effort, so she did a little shopping of her own. Wear something sexy. She should be perverse and dress in her Christmas gnome T-shirt, sweats, and tennis shoes for their date, but the idea of dressing up for Tuck was appealing. She set aside a slinky red dress and tried on a couple pairs of shoes before settling on the black heels. They’d go with pretty much anything, she reasoned. She plucked a pair of dangly earrings from a rack by the checkout counter, and then placed a very pretty, sparkly evening bag behind the counter.

Why was she going to so much trouble for a friend? Kiss or not, that’s all Tuck was, all he could ever be. Still, there was nothing wrong with putting in a little extra effort to look spectacular for the first date she’d been on in… years. Holy cow, had it been that long?

She carried her purchases in an oversized shopping bag, as she walked home. On the way she passed a couple of women she recognized from the boutique. They’d been so familiar with the store, so comfortable in the space, they had to be regular customers. They smiled and waved and she did the same as best she could with her hands full. Small-town living was a new experience for her. She didn’t want to like it so much, but she did.

Her leftover shrimp and grits made for a great supper, but to be honest they’d been much better with Tuck sitting on the other side of the table. There was just something about that man. The way he smiled, the twinkle in his eyes. Maybe he was a player, maybe he made every woman feel as if she were the only one in the room, in the world…

The truth was, reheated shrimp and grits tasted just as good as they had right out of Maggie’s kitchen, but she missed the company.

Tuck’s gray truck wasn’t parked in the driveway. She checked more than once from the side window, the one behind her little Christmas tree. He did have a life, she conceded. A business. Other friends. She shouldn’t care, shouldn’t even bother to peer out the window. As she’d told him plainly, she wasn’t looking for a relationship.

Olive went to bed disappointed that Tuck wasn’t at home, in his own bed, next door where he belonged. She slept deeply; she dreamed and woke a little late to the tail end of a dream she couldn’t quite remember, even though she wanted to. She was pretty sure she’d dreamed about her neighbor.

She should’ve enjoyed her slow Thursday instead of complaining, because on Friday she arrived to a couple of customers, friends judging by the way they talked, waiting for her to open. It wasn’t yet ten but she let them in to browse while she got set up. Dawn called just after opening time to ask her to stop by that evening and to bring the books. Olive made a note to make sure the accounting ledger was up-to-date. Who didn’t use computer software for this kind of thing? Her sister, that’s who.

The day was a blur of happy and/or stressed customers. There were less than two weeks until Christmas. Shoppers were running out of time. Olive was happy to help them find just the right gift. It kept her mind off Tuck, sexy dresses, and unexpected kisses.

She hadn’t been involved with a man for years. Romance was too messy, and yes, she was still wary of all men after her experience with Stefan. Friends had set her up a time or two, or tried to, but those awkward meetings for coffee or maybe the occasional actual date never went anywhere. How could they, when she started off every relationship wondering how and when these men would disappoint her?

Whatever this was with Tuck didn’t have to go anywhere, either. How could it? He had a life here; she had a life in Birmingham. Just because they’d hit it off didn’t mean whatever this was had to be serious. She could enjoy his company for a couple of weeks, date, maybe even…

Yes, maybe even. It had been a long time.

Anna stopped by after lunch. Olive wouldn’t drive any customer away, but… why was Anna here? The few times she’d seen Colt’s fiancée, Anna had been casually dressed. Jeans, T-shirts, tennis shoes. She looked great in them, but other than the jeans that hung on a rack in the back, nothing here was Anna’s style.

Maybe Colt had asked her to wear something sexy.

“Can I help you find anything?” Olive asked as Anna looked through a rack of silky blouses that were not her style and were also not sexy.

“I’m doing a little Christmas shopping. My mother loves this boutique, so it’s a great place to start.”

Olive smiled. That made sense. She couldn’t see Anna wearing any of those frou-frou blouses.

Why did so many people wait until December to do their shopping? She’d bought and wrapped gifts for her parents, Dawn and Mike, and the girls in September.

Should she get something for Tuck? That thought came and went. No. He was a friendly neighbor and a good kisser, nothing more. Just because he managed to take her mind off her worries, old and new, that didn’t mean she had to buy him a Christmas present. They didn’t have that kind of relationship. Shoot, they didn’t have a relationship at all!

Anna chose a colorful blouse, then went back for another. As she placed them on the counter, she sighed. “Mom doesn’t need another thing, but believe it or not she’s dating one of my aunt’s neighbors, and she sure thinks she needs new clothes. She’ll be here for Christmas, just for a few days. Her boyfriend is driving her.” Anna cut her eyes up. “They’re staying at a B and B up the road. I’m sure she’d come by and spend a small fortune, but I think y’all will be closed while she’s here.”

Olive smiled. “I’ll open up for her, if I’m still around while she’s in town. Sounds like she’s a good customer.”

“She used to be, that’s for sure.”

Anna took a deep breath and looked Olive in the eye. There was an uncertainty in that expression, a reluctance, before she said, “I hear you’re dating Tuck.”

A warm flush heated Olive’s cheeks. Small towns! They had their charm, and their disadvantages. “I wouldn’t say dating, exactly.” Not yet, anyway. “We’re just friendly neighbors.” For now.

“Oh. I thought maybe…” Anna shrugged her shoulders.

“Wait a minute,” Olive said. “Did you come here to warn me about something to do with Tuck? Is there anything I need to know?”

Anna smiled. “No. He’s a great guy who could, frankly, use a good woman in his life. Colt’s been trying to get up with him, and he isn’t returning calls or answering texts.”

That didn’t sound like Tuck, not to her. “I think he’s been busy with his business. I haven’t seen him around for a couple of days.”