Page 5 of My Small Town Silver Fox Billionaire

“It’s not worth it to date people.”

“Sure, it is! The right person’s out there for you. And I’m sure in the future, you’ll meet someone amazing.”

That, I doubt. There isn’t anyone else out there who tugs at my heartstrings or that has ever made me feel the adoration that I had for Maria. I half-smile, standing up.

“I get it, Dad, and I know you mean well, but I doubt that’ll happen.”

“You never know. Life works in mysterious ways.”

“Keep telling yourself that, Mom,” I mutter. I reach for my keys and grab them, dropping them in my pocket.

“Anyway, I love seeing you both, but I’ve got to go. I have a meeting for a closing tomorrow morning and—”

“Want to come see my fishing collection, Robert? I expanded it since you were last here.”

Great. Just what I need. I hesitate. Even though I don’t want to, I feel like I need to.

“Sure, let’s do that.”

My father gets up, groaning slightly as he stands. He is getting older. Both of them are showing their age, and it concerns me that they are still living in this big house. I get where they’re coming from and why they worry about me, but I don’t want to settle for anyone. When they’re gone, that person would be the only one I’d have left. My aunts and uncles have drifted away; they only talk to me now on the rare occasion when they need money.

It’s not easy. I can’t just dedicate my life to any person. It’s why I’ve settled for loneliness rather than trying to search for my soulmate. It’s easier, and there is less chance of getting burned.

We walk down toward the hall, where my father gestures to a wall filled with stuffed fish. “I told you I would do it.”

I stare at each of them, amazed by my father’s collections. There are catfish, trout, and even a large sturgeon against the wall.

“This is impressive!”

“Sure is. You’ve got to come out with me sometime.”

“I’ll think about it, Dad, and figure out a time we can spend the day out on the water.”

I spend another hour with my parents before heading out. The last thing that I need is for them to pressure me to go out with this Jenna or anyone else. I’ve met her at some event a while ago and she’s nice, but I feel nothing for her.

As I sit in the car gripping the wheel, I think about the other day and that girl at the coffee shop.

She was cute. A little too nice for her own good, but sweet. She caught me at a bad time. I was already late for an investor’s meeting, and she took the brunt of my frustrations. And I’m intrigued to realize that I’m carrying some guilt at the way I behaved.

I sigh, shaking my head. She’s pretty, with curves that would have any man staring. And she also has a sweet face, with big green eyes and a dimpled smile that could warm any heart. I doubt I’ll see her again, though. She’s young and probably only took it as a temp job. Besides, that coffee shop’s out of the way.

As I start the car, drive down the street, and out of here, my thoughts continue to sit on the barista girl. Sure, she’s nice, but she’s too young, and I don’t even know her.

I can’t deny, however, the racing of my heart when I think about her and the possibilities that fill my mind. Maybe my decision to remain unattached isn’t what I really want.

Chapter three

Sara

“All right, that’s one peppermint latte, large. Bianca, can you get that?”

Bianca salutes, heading to the back to create froth for the latte. We have a couple of specials still on the menu. Despite it not being winter, our manager Lukas adores peppermint and just puts it on just because. Why not?

I don’t get it, but I’m not going to fight him on it.

The woman inserts her credit card and pulls it back out immediately. The machine beeps twice, and the receipt prints. A “Decline” sits on top.

Yeah, she pulled it out almost immediately. I gesture to the machine.

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