Page 15 of Seaside Cowboy's Second Chance

Something about the familiarity of it all soothed her soul. Her world had gone upside down several times, and she’d craved stability. Then she’d created it for herself the only way she could.

The next stop was the pastry store, and she parked, grateful to find a vacant space. Soon, it would be at a premium. And in Charleston, parking space was nearlyalwaysat a premium.

As she walked to the store, she bumped into a young couple exiting the door. They seemed to have eyes only for each other.

“Sorry!” said the redheaded girl with freckles all over her face, shoulders, and arms. Even as she spoke, she didn’t pause from looking at the young man whose long blond, sun-streaked and salt-dried hair and tanned skin made him resemble the stereotypical surfer.

They both wore white shorts and tangerine-colored flip-flops, but their T-shirts were different from each other. Hers bore a university logo while his—a skeleton.

“No problem.” Skylar smiled as she went inside.

There had been a time when Dallas and Skylar only had eyes for each other, as well.... Wonderful times. She shook her head to shake off the nostalgia and focused on something more practical.

Like checking her pockets and purse. While the couple appeared lovey-dovey, one never knew when a bump could be intentional in a tourist town.

Satisfied everything was where it should be, she approached the enticing row of pastries that smelled just as enticing. She did her best to switch her thoughts to where they should be going as she studied the desserts, then took photos of the cakes. Most likely, this would be where they’d get the wedding cake. Even without much choice in a small town, Grandma didn’t want to order anywhere else. And while she used to make fantastic cakes, it wouldn’t be right for the bride to bake for her wedding day.

Once Skylar bought eclairs and croissants that made her mouth water, she checked the shop window, this time deliberately. She flinched at the sight of the SUV on the opposite street, parking near a pharmacy.

Was she imagining things?

She stepped outside, bracing for another change from the coolness of air-conditioning to the warmth of a beautiful day. Then she shielded her eyes from the sun and considered her options.

An ice-cream parlor was within walking distance. Not a great idea to eat ice cream before lunch—or more likely, before pastry. But she felt like buying time.

Would the SUV leave if she lingered?

Once she was inside the well-air-conditioned place, her eyes widened. They kept her watercolors. The place was renovated with a new menu display and more modern metal chairs with white leather cushions, and the walls were now of pistachio ice cream instead of vanilla. But they kept the fun watercolors she’d done for them with cute animals eating ice-cream cones. Her favorite was a penguin in a red knit hat and scarf.

Just like in other stores, the young uniformed girl at the counter was unfamiliar under her visor that matched cherry-flavored ice cream. Everyone knew each other in their small town, but Skylar didn’t. Not anymore.

It tugged at her heart.

“What flavor would you like?” the girl asked, her voice as perky as her ponytail.

“Butter pecan,” Skylar said without thinking. “Two scoops.”

“Coming right up.”

Huh. Butter pecan wasn’t Skylar’s favorite. Why had she ordered it? She didn’t change her order even when she realized it wasDallas’s favorite. They used to come here often. And Skylar would often tap his cheek with her ice cream, teasing him—

Enough.

She was like a girl who cried over everything, complaining it reminded her of her boyfriend who’d broken up with her. Even when someone breathed, that girl sobbed that he breathed, too.

Chin up, Skylar settled at one of the few tables facing the street and gave the ice cream its due. She welcomed the sweet, cold, creamy taste. When the SUV was gone, so was she.

It must be a coincidence. Totally.

She glanced at the time on the dashboard as she drove off. She still had some time until meeting with her aunt.

Why not take a drive outside of town, first along the ocean embankment and then along the fields? She could use it to clear her head, and the view was spectacular.

Her fingers tightened around the steering wheel as she glanced in the rearview mirror, watching for a tail. So far so good. There was no reason for someone to follow her. Unless...

She shook her head in response to her thoughts. The fifteen-year-old threat, though still hanging over her head, had never materialized, and she had a legitimate reason to be in her hometown. She was the maid of honor in her grandmother’s wedding. She couldn’t do her duties over the phone.

That could be understood, right?

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