Page 28 of The Wish List
“Of you,” he said softly.
“Of a haircut,” she corrected.
One side of his mouth curved. “My daughter is going to want in on the action. Helena does hers, too.”
“Haircuts for you both.” She glanced up at her mother’s house. “I could take care of you in my mom’s kitchen some night when I don’t have dinner duty with her.”
“I’ll pay you.”
Trinity laughed. “No, you won’t. I miss my job. It’s not something important like what you or my sister do, but I love it.”
“I could pay you with dinner,” he amended. A blush rose to his cheeks. Adorable and out of place on such a strong and capable man.
The reminder of his physical strength had a flash of terror shooting through her. Ash was nothing like her ex-boyfriend, but he was a man. He could overpower her in a second.
She had no reason to believe he would, yet fear wasn’t rational when it took hold.
Ash stepped away as if he sensed the change in her. “I get it. I don’t want you to think I can’t take no for an answer. I just...” He scrubbed a hand over his face. “It’s been a long time since... I haven’t gone on a first date since before Stacy. I’m out of practice with women. I’m sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable. You have every right to say no, and I respect that. No matter how much I like you or at least think I could like you.”
His words softened the sharp edge of anxiety inside Trinity. They helped her remember that some men were considerate with women and honored their boundaries. There were men who used their hands in kindness and healing instead of to hurt and humiliate.
“Are you and Michaela going to the parade Friday night?”
She’d read about the holiday light parade downtown this coming weekend. When Trinity had been younger, Magnolia hadn’t been much to speak of, even around the holidays. Sagging storefronts with businesses doing their best to eke out a living and little else downtown. A few of the local shop owners, like the lady who ran the bakery, had tried to drum up community spirit, but it had never really taken.
The town was different now, vibrant and alive with crowds of people and a sense of vitality and hope. She’d seen a help wanted sign in one of the local salons, and for a second, she’d considered the possibility she might stay. Beth could help her with the baby, and in turn, Trinity would pitch in with their mother.
Even with her stomach growing bigger every day and the baby’s regular movements as a reminder that life would soon change dramatically, Trinity had trouble envisioning her future with any sort of clarity. One day at a time had been her motto for so long she wasn’t sure how to change.
“It’s one of our traditions,” Ash said with a nod. “Well, this is our second Christmas in town. If you can count two years as a tradition, then it’s one of ours. Are you going? Do you want to go together?”
“I have plans to go with Freya and Beth, but I read on a sign for it that there’ll be a funnel cake booth in the park after. Maybe you could buy me a funnel cake?”
A slow grin spread across his face. “I could definitely buy you a funnel cake.”
“Great.” She wasn’t sure what to do about the fizzy feeling that whooshed through her. It wasn’t like the indigestion she’d gotten so used to in the last trimester of pregnancy. The sensation was light and airy, as if she’d swallowed champagne bubbles. She liked it, maybe too much. “I think we’ve gotten all the lights up. Thanks for your help.”
“I can carry the ladder back to the garage for you?”
“I’ve got it, but thanks. I’ll see you on Friday night.”
“It’s a da—” Ash stopped himself. “It’s a plan.”
Trinity nodded, then picked up the ladder and started toward the garage before he could see the smile she couldn’t quite hide. A new plan might be exactly what she needed.
CHAPTER TEN
ASBETHSTOODbetween her sisters watching the cars and makeshift floats roll by on Friday night, she poked around her heart for lingering sadness or resentment. To her surprise, she found nothing.
The first person she, Freya and Trinity had seen when they’d arrived downtown to find a spot along the parade route had been her ex-husband and his brand-spanking-new fiancée, based on the sparkling diamond the younger woman wore on her left hand. Lucy’s doe eyes had widened, and she’d moved closer to Greg like she expected Beth to start a catfight in the middle of one of the Christmas on the Coast town events.
Public displays of any sort of emotion had never been Beth’s thing.
In fact, she’d been about to offer the couple her best wishes when Freya had yanked on her hand and pulled her away.
“Not today, Satan,” Freya muttered as they walked away, eliciting a giggle from Trinity and a shocked gasp from Beth.
“Did you learn how to make an exit on the reality show circuit?” Trinity had asked with a laugh.
