I looked up and saw Ryle striding toward me. He caught up to me and then handed me the white chocolate mocha. "You forgot your coffee."
"That's not…" I smelled the sweet caffeinated heaven, and man, I wanted that yumminess. "Thank you." I accepted the cup with my free hand. "You didn't have to do that."
"The barista made it for you, though, didn't she?"
"I think so. We used to be best friends. But… her dad doesn't like me much." I jostled my purse around, which was difficult to do holding two coffees and keeping Dorianna's dress draped over my arm, not to mention keeping hold of the Narrow's General Store bag hanging from my wrist. "How much do I owe you?"
"Nothing. Coffee's on me." He looked at me, his gaze curious. "Why are people so rude to you?"
"I told you, I'm the town pariah. I'd love to share my tale of woe," I said, "but if you plan to stick around Garden Grove, you'll hear all about it. Many times. From lots of people."
"I'd rather hear it from you."
It was not a story I wanted to share with him. It was nice for someone to like me, but the moment he learned the truth about my mother, he'd want to stay away.
Mom had been known as eccentric, flighty, and free-spirited, but those were tame words compared to the one most people used: crazy. And that reputation had tainted her daughters, especially after what she'd done to herself and Doug.
There'd been plenty of speculation about the mental stability of the Willowstone girls. Who wanted to date someone whose mother was a murderer? Yeah. That would be no one.
"I appreciate the coffee, Ryle," I finally said. "But I don't know you well enough to confess my family's sins."
"Why don't we change that? Let me take you to dinner."
I gaped at him. "What?"
"Dinner," he repeated. "It's a nightly ritual where people sit down at a table and eat food. And drink wine."
"You're asking me on a date?"
"Yes. And I don't expect you to tell me your family's sins." He winked. "At least not on the first date."
First date? As in, he legitimately thought there might be a second one? My brain almost melted. "I… uh." I blinked at him, unable to articulate actual words.
"Think about it, okay?" He showed me his cell phone. "If you'll give me your phone number, I'll call you later."
I doubted it. But I rattled off my phone number, anyway.
"I'll call you later," he said again. "Have a good day, Cassie."
"Yeah," I said, still befuddled by our interaction. A date? I hadn't been asked out on a date in… well, ever. "You, too."
He nodded at me, smiling. Then he turned and strode in the opposite direction. I realized I'd given a complete stranger my phone number and I didn't know anything about him. Was I so desperate for interaction that I was willing to accept any crumb of consideration or kindness?
Apparently so.
I knew time was ticking away. I looked at my phone's display and sighed. So much for arriving at the pickle factory on time. After I'd dropped off everything to Dorianna and endured her snide remarks, I'd be late for work. But only by a few minutes. I hoped. The last thing I wanted was the undivided attention of Pete the Pincher.
I waited for a car to pass then I hurried across the street, down the sidewalk that paralleled the town park, and then crossed the next street. I stepped onto the sidewalk in front of Miller & Miller Realty.
Through the glass windows, I could see Dorianna and her mother, Tilda, sitting at their respective desks. From a distance, they looked like twins. Both had the same pixie haircuts and wore the same designer dresses and heels. However, Tilda was obviously older. No matter how much face-enhancement magic she used or plastic surgery she got, she couldn't quite pass for youthful.
Both glanced up as I approached the door. Tilda's face filled with disgust—or attempted to do so. Her forehead didn't move—probably from the Botox injections she got regularly. Her mouth turned down and her eyes narrowed. But I understood the sentiment she was trying to convey even without her ability to furrow her eyebrows.
I took a deep breath, plastered on a smile, and walked inside Garden Grove's only realty office.
Chapter Five
"Dorianna," I said cheerfully. "How are you this morning?"
"Patient," she said, looking up from the paperwork on her desk. Irritation flickered across her perfect face. "You took forever, Cassandra. I almost gave up hope you'd get here." She glanced at her Mom. "Didn't I say I almost gave up hope, Mother?"
"You certainly did," said Tilda. "My daughter's time is important, Cassandra. It wouldn't do for her to be late for lunch with her new client."
"I'm sorry," I said, my jaw hurting as I tried to maintain my smile. "But I have everything you asked for." I moved further into the room, my sneakers sinking into the plush carpet.
I saw Dorianna's lips pull into a mean smile as she aimed her forefinger at my feet. A spark of magic issued from her fingertip, and the next thing I knew I was falling forward. The moment seemed to stretch painfully slow as the coffees flew out of my hands, bursting open as they hit the carpet. My purse came off my arm and tumbled away. The dress slipped, the plastic ripping, and I stepped on the material as I went down. The final indignity arrived as the contents from Narrow's General Store spilled out. I landed on my side, next to the tampons, Vaseline, and box of condoms littering the floor.
Tilda and Dorianna burst out laughing.
"You are such a klutz," said Tilda.
She and her daughter tittered some more. I felt my entire body go hot with shame. Steady, Cassie, I told myself. Get through this. You're almost at the finish line.
I sat up on my knees, shaking as I stared at the mess. I wanted so badly to cry, but I wouldn't give those two cows the satisfaction. I looked at Dorianna. I meant to say, "I'm sorry," but what came out was, "You tripped me."
The merriment in her gaze shuttered. "What are you saying, Cassie? That I did this to you?" She stood up, smoothing her dress, and rounded the desk. Her mother looked on in delight as her daughter took out her ire on me. "You really should learn to take responsibility for your own messes. But you Willowstones aren't very good at that, are you?"