Page 71 of Already Home

Violet laughed. “Excellent advice that no woman takes. At leastnot at the beginning of a relationship.”

“True.” Beth wondered if the man in question had asked Violetto do this or if it was her idea.

“You know what you’re doing,” Violet said. “I don’t have aclue. I’ve been coloring my own hair since I was seventeen. I rarely go to asalon and I usually cut my hair myself.”

Beth eyed her spiky style. “You do great work.”

“Thanks, but I want to be classy. Myself but better.”

Beth tried to remember the last time she and Jenna had goneshopping. It had been a while. Once she’d met Aaron, Jenna had hardly ever comehome. There had been very regular phone calls and Beth had flown out to see hera couple of times a year, but it wasn’t the same. She’d missed doing things withher daughter.

“I’m happy to help you pull together a few outfits. When’s yournext day off?”

“Tuesday.”

“Why don’t we go then?” Beth pulled a piece of paper out of herbag and wrote down her cell number. “Give me a call and we’ll set up atime.”

“Thank you so much,” Violet said earnestly. “I reallyappreciate it.”

“I’m happy to help,” Beth told her. “We’ll have fun.”

* * *

Ellington arrived right on time. Customer traffic hadslowed enough that Jenna had been able to change and retouch her makeup. AsViolet had returned the sleeveless black dress and sworn it had great datekarma, Jenna had decided to wear it. Hopefully she would have as much fun withEllington as Violet had claimed to have had with Cliff.

She unlocked the store’s glass door and let him in, then foundherself unexpectedly overwhelmed by his long, lean body in jeans and along-sleeved white shirt. Had his eyes always been that blue? she wondered asshe got lost in the pleasure of looking at him.

“You look great,” he said, leaning in to kiss her cheek. “Howwas your day?”

“Busy, but fun. I’m getting a lot of foot traffic, which isgreat. People are telling their friends about the store. Business isexcellent.”

“I’m glad. Starting new in retail is tough.”

“Especially for someone coming from a completely differentindustry. If it wasn’t for Violet, I would have failed. She’s saved my butt andmy bank account. Thanks to her good ideas, we’ve hired two part-timepeople.”

She pressed her lips together. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to go onlike that.”

“Don’t apologize. It’s nice to hear someone excited about whatthey do. Are you hungry? We’re having dinner around the corner. Fish City Grill.Have you been there?”

“Not in years, but I remember liking it.”

“I doubt they’ll have anything as good as your enchiladas,” hewarned.

She laughed. “I’m okay with that. Last night I tried to make akale pesto. Can you spell yuck? I don’t know where Imessed up, but it was awful.”

“Do you try different things with food a lot?”

Good question, she thought. “Not for a while, but it’s comingback. Slowly.” She smiled. “I’m starting to remember that it’s okay when thingsdon’t turn out right the first time. I can always try again and get itright.”

“Good philosophy.” He motioned to the door. “Shall we?”

She collected her purse and followed him outside.

They walked to the restaurant. Ellington gave his name, andthey were shown to a corner table by the window. Once they were seated, heleaned toward her.

“Thanks for coming out with me tonight,” he said. “I haven’tbeen on a real date in a long time.”

“Why not?” Someone who looked like him and who was also niceand successful should have women taking numbers.

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