Page 3 of Secret Southern Promises

Her mouth moved, but it took a second for any sound to come out. Her hands gripped the edge of the counter like it was the only thing holding her up, and for a moment, I thought she might just fall over.

“Boone,” she whispered, her voice barely there, like she couldn’t quite believe I was standing in front of her. Her eyes scanned my face, searching for something—maybe for proof that I wasn’t just some figment of her imagination.

I gave her a nod, forcing a tight smile. “In the flesh,” I said.

The silence that followed was thick and almost suffocating. Neither of us moved. It was like we were both trying to figure out what came next after all these years.

“I didn’t think…” she started but trailed off, her eyes darting down to the case of beer and loaf of bread in my hands. “You’re back?”

“Yeah,” I replied, my voice coming out rougher than I intended. “Figured it was about time.”

Her lips pressed into a thin line, and she nodded slowly. I could see the emotions warring on her face—surprise, confusion, maybe even a little guilt.

“You look… good,” she said finally, her voice soft, but there was something behind her words that made me feel like there was more she wasn’t saying.

“You too,” I said, and I meant it. “You always did.”

Dolly blinked as if the compliment had caught her off guard, but then she recovered. She squared her shoulders and gave me a nod.

“Magnolia Mart hasn’t changed much,” I commented.

Dolly looked around the store as if she hadn’t spent her whole life here. “Yeah, I guess it hasn’t.” She stared at me for another long moment, and I could see the questions brewing in her mind. Before she could ask them, the bell above thedoor chimed again. Another customer walked in, breaking the moment.

Dolly’s eyes flickered to the newcomer, then back to me, and I could tell she was about to shift into professional mode.

I nodded at the beer and bread and reached for my wallet. “Guess I’ll let you get back to work,” I said.

“Yeah,” she replied, though I could tell her mind was still spinning. She rang up my stuff quickly, her hands moving a little more shakily than usual, and handed me the bag.

“See you around?” I asked, knowing full well that in a town this small, it wasn’t really a question.

She hesitated, then gave me a tight smile. “Yeah. I guess you will.”

I nodded, then turned and headed for the door. I stepped outside, then let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding.

Seeing Dolly again wasn’t going to be as easy as I’d hoped.

I had hoped I wouldn’t feel anything when I saw her.

Fifteen years was a long time, and life moved on.

Right?

Chapter Three

Dolly

“I’m done.”

I looked up absently from the pot of macaroni and cheese I was stirring, the sound of Nash’s voice barely registering at first. “With what?” I asked, glancing his way.

“My reading,” he said, furrowing his brow. “Are you feeling okay?”

I hadn’t realized my distraction had been so obvious. I plastered on a smile, the kind that moms are supposed to give when they don’t want their kids to worry. “Yeah, of course. I think I’m just a little tired.” The words felt hollow, even to me, but it was the best I could manage. I moved the pot off the stove, grabbing a ladle to dish up the macaroni and cheese, complete with sliced hot dogs—Nash’s favorite. “Ready to eat?”

Nash nodded, his expression still a little uncertain, but he let it go. He was good like that—could always read me better than I gave him credit for, but he knew when not to push. He grabbed two spoons from the drawer, handing me one before sitting down at the small kitchen table.

I joined him as I set down the steaming bowls of macaroni and cheese between us. My mind was miles away, back at Magnolia Mart, and stuck on a pair of blue eyes that I hadn’t seen in fifteen years.

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