Page 15 of Secret Love

“It was fun,” she says in her high, squeaky voice.

Tru smiles down at her and Jacklyn comes over and says hello to me. Jacklyn Toussant is a stunning older woman whom every man over fifty in Silver Hills crushes on, and not just the older men. Penn once said he’d had a sex dream about her and couldn’t look her in the eyes when he ran into her at the grocery store.

“Hello, Mr. Ward,” Jacklyn says, her husky voice warm as she smiles at me. “I don’t suppose I can talk you into joining our class today, can I? We have a lovely new teacher here, Miss Seymour. She could keep you in shape during the offseason.”

“I’m sure she could.” I laugh. “I think I’ll leave it to the girls for now.”

“Suit yourself,” Jacklyn says.

Tru comes over to the counter and doesn’t return my smile.

“Hello, Miss Seymour.”

“Mr. Ward,” she volleys back.

“You’re everywhere I turn. I didn’t know you were the new dance teacher as well.”

There’s a painful silence as she studies me.

“Miss Toussant generously offered me a job here,” she says coolly. “So I guess there’s yet another place you’ll be running into me.”

“Looks like it,” I say, smiling again.

Disappointment floods through me when she nods and walks away.

“The two of you know each other,” Jacklyn says, looking between the two of us with interest.

“We met briefly at Cassidy’s school,” I tell her. “Didn’t get off to the best start,” I mutter under my breath.

“We’re really lucky to have her,” she says.

“Cassidy will be happy to see her. She loves having her as an English teacher.”

“Excellent,” Jacklyn says, clapping her hands twice.

“I’ll head out for a little bit and be back shortly.” I look back, but Tru is already busy with the girls.

I’m at a loss about what to do when I leave the studio…and then I see Serendipity Cafe and stop in my tracks. Serendipity has not only some of the best sandwiches I’ve ever tasted, but their pastries are out of this world. I nearly talk myself out of itmultiple times but finally go in. I get coffee and sit at the table near the window as I check my email and text the guys about random stuff, making sure not to breathe Tru’s name. Right before class is over, I go to the counter and smile at Wyndham, the owner of the cafe.

“Do you need another coffee?” she asks.

“No, thank you. What I need are those.” I point to the batch of cinnamon rolls Greer is pulling out of the oven. “I’ll take two boxes.”

“Perfect.” Wyndham smiles. “Greer, did you hear that?” she calls.

Greer sets the rolls down and turns toward me. “Hey, Henley. How are you? Long time, no see.”

Greer’s hair is purple and Wyndham‘s hair is pink. The two look like they stepped out of a magical forest together.

“I know. Unfortunately I can’t come in here too often. I wouldn’t be able to do my job if I did.”

Greer winks at me as she starts putting cinnamon rolls in the box and fills it up before grabbing another and doing the same.

“We know.” Wyndam sighs. “We’ll sacrifice seeing you often if you just keep winning those games.”

“What she said,” Greer adds.

“How are the wedding plans coming?” I ask.

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