I FOLLOWED behind Shelby as she walked into the bookstore. Her eyes were wild, and she looked as if, given the chance, she would sprint right down Main Street, never to be seen again. If I could help her calm down, I would.

Once we were inside, I gave her a small smile as I guided her to the back counter. The air in the bookstore smelled like lemon and sugar, and I caught Shelby’s eyes widen as her gaze landed on the muffins I’d set on the cooling rack.

“They are amazing,” I said as I grabbed a small saucer from the cupboard and set a muffin on top of it. I slid it across the white quartz counter as Shelby sat on the barstool.

She didn’t say anything as she pulled the wrapper off and took a large bite of the top. Her eyes closed, and a soft moan escaped her lips. I laughed as I moved to the coffee pot. “Can I get you a drink to wash that down?”

Her eyes opened, and she nodded. “Do you have apple juice?”

I nodded and set the pot back down before I opened the fridge and grabbed a bottle of freshly processed apple juice. Mrs. Trumador supplied all the shops in town with freshly processed juices. Whatever she did made everything taste amazing.

I filled a glass and set it down in front of Shelby. Not wanting to stare at her while she ate, I leaned against the counter and slipped my phone from my back pocket. My heart raced as I glanced down at the screen to see if Anders had texted me.

Nothing.

Feeling like an idiot, I set my phone, screen down, on the counter and folded my arms. Of course, he didn’t text me. Just because Fanny had seen him take my business card didn’t mean that he was going to use it—even if I wanted him to.

He was just a construction worker here in Harmony. This place was a job, and I was just a pretty face for him to flirt with. Just because he’d picked my bookstore over anywhere else to get his coffee, didn’t mean that he was my destiny.

I squeezed my eyes shut as I tried to force those thoughts to the back of my mind. I was being childish, and I needed to get my head on straight. Diving into someone else’s problems seemed like the perfect distraction.

I opened my eyes and turned to focus on Shelby, who was almost done with the muffin. I quirked an eyebrow. “Did you skip breakfast?” I asked as I pulled open a drawer next to me and set a napkin down in front of her.

She picked it up and covered her lips. “I was a nervous wreck, so I didn’t eat anything. Now I’m regretting that.”

I tapped the counter with my fingertips. “Because of the will?” She stopped and then glanced up at me. “You know about that?”

“It’s a small town,” I said with a shrug, hoping to cover the embarrassment I felt now that Shelby knew I was part of the gossip circle.

She sighed. “Yes. I know.”

I studied her, wanting to ask her questions, but not wanting to be rude.

She fiddled with the last bit of her muffin as if she’d suddenly lost her appetite. “You can ask me,” she said softly.

I swallowed, feeling like an idiot that this was our first meeting and I was standing here, gaping at her. “I’m sorry,” I said as I straightened and grabbed a can of soda from the fridge. The sound of the tab breaking filled the air, and I took a sip. “I’m just distracted. Having you here is helping me keep my mind off my own thoughts.”

Shelby studied me for a moment before she turned to survey the bookstore. “This is such a cute shop,” she said.

I nodded. “I love it. I inherited it after my grandmother passed. It doesn’t sell a lot of books, but stories are my life, so I knew I wanted a place for readers and coffee drinkers to feel comfortable.” I set my soda down on the counter and then leaned forward on my elbows as I ran my gaze around the store with Shelby.

A sort of pride rose up in my chest as I took in the lines of bookshelves I dutifully stocked. I hated that the books didn’t make much income; the food did. But if selling the food kept the lights on, I couldn’t complain. I was truly living the dream.

“What’s the problem?”

Shelby’s question drew my attention over to her. “What?” I asked.

She waved toward me. “You said you needed a distraction. What’s the problem?”

I drummed my fingers on the countertop as I studied her. Then I sighed and straightened. “Guy problems.”

A smile played on her lips. “I should have guessed.” She narrowed her eyes. “Want to share specifics? I could use a distraction myself.” She sighed as she tucked her hair behind her ear.

I leaned back on the counter, folding my arms across my chest and dropping my gaze to my feet. “It’s just hard, finding a guy in a small town.” Shelby’s cheeks flushed as she studied the crumbs on her plate. “I get that. Especially here in Harmony.” She raised her gaze back up to me and gave me a weak smile. “If people are talking about me coming back, I can only guess that you know my complicated history here.” She shrugged and

then reached for her glass of apple juice. “I know a little,” I said.

She laughed. “Only a little? If Missy had her way, she’d share every sordid detail with anyone who would listen. She’d warn the whole world about how I’m no good and ruined her son.” Shelby was staring at the countertop now. She let out a sigh, her shoulders rounding as she exhaled.

I wasn’t sure what to say in response, so I just stayed quiet.

“Sorry,” she whispered as she finished the apple juice and set the now empty glass down in front of her. “I have issues with this town, if you can’t tell.”

I gave her a soft smile. “I get it. I’ve run away, too.”

She glanced up at me before picking up her napkin and wiping her fingers. “You have? What were you running from?”

Heat rushed across my skin. I didn’t talk about Mom that much. Or think about her. And ever since Dad showed up in Harmony last year with Penny, I’d written my past off like a bad dream. We were attempting to make it work as a family, and even though we weren’t perfect, we were trying.

At least, I was trying.

Sabrina was…surviving. But she was dealing with the disappearance of Trevor. As much as I wanted her to move on for Samuel’s sake, I knew I couldn’t push her further than she wanted to go.

“Parents,” I said with a soft smile.

Shelby blew out her breath. “I hear that.” She set her elbows down on the countertop and rested her chin in her hands. Her gaze softened as she stared off into the distance. “Does it get any easier?”

I shrugged. “Maybe? Time helps because we start to forget. But when we remember, that’s when the pain shocks us back into consciousness. It’s really not fair.”

Shelby closed her eyes. “It’s really not,” she whispered.

Silence fell between us once more, but this time, it felt less awkward. We both knew what pain was like, and in a way, that pain was bonding us together. It was as if our souls were speaking to each other. There were no obligatory apologies for the pain we experienced in the past like we would get if we were speaking to someone who didn’t know deep loss.

We were both aching from a past we could never go back and fix. It was a pain experienced only by a person who lost a part of their soul.

“Wow,” she whispered as she glanced back over to me. “I did not mean to bring you down with me.” She brushed some of the crumbs off the counter and into her hand.

I shrugged. “It’s okay. I asked for a distraction, and you delivered,” I said with a smile.

She snorted. “That I did.” She brushed her hand off over her plate and smiled up at me. “You’re like my bartender.”

I grabbed the glass on the counter in front of her and set it in the sink. “I guess I kind of am.”

Before she could say anything, the front door bell chimed, and we both looked over. Missy was talking on her phone as she stepped into the store, her gaze downturned. Shelby whipped back around, a panicked look crossing her face. I didn’t have to read her thoughts to know that she was begging me to help.

I nodded and waved for her to come around the counter. Shelby raced to my side, and I pressed her toward my office. She was safely inside with the door shut before Missy stepped up to the counter. She had finished her conversation and was looking around.

“I—er…” She bent backwards to peer down one of the book aisles. “Wasn’t there…” She paused. “Was it just you here?” she asked as she pressed her finger down on the counter for emphasis.

I nodded and smiled—probably a bit too big. “Yep. Just me.”

She furrowed her brow as she glanced around. Her gaze landed on Shelby’s plate. “Whose is this?”

I leaned across the counter and pulled it toward me. “Mine. I was eating it when you walked in.” I pulled open the drawer where the garbage was hidden and dumped the crumbs. “I just hadn’t cleaned up yet,” I said with a smile as I set the plate in the sink.

“How’s your morning going?” I asked as I grabbed the washcloth and began to clean the remaining crumbs from the counter.

Missy sighed, which I took as a good sign. She was going to drop the whole, “I thought someone was here with you,” thing.

“Awful. I’ve been waiting to hear about the results of Charlotte’s will reading, and I haven’t heard anything.” She set her purse down on the counter and tapped her chin as she stared at the menu board on the wall. “I need some chocolate and coffee,” she said.

I nodded and got started making her non-fat, no whip, iced macchiato. We didn’t speak while I worked, and after I set the coffee down on the counter, I grabbed her a triple chocolate chip cookie. I thought she was going to take her things and leave, but she slipped onto the barstool and unwrapped the cookie instead.

“I mean, how hard is it to just tell me if I can buy the place?” she asked, her mouth full of cookie.

I shrugged, wishing I had something more to do than just stand there and engage in this conversation. “I don’t know,” I murmured.

“It’s not like Shelby wants to run the place.” Missy took a sip of her coffee and looked at me over the rim. “Did I tell you what she did to my Clint?”

I winced, wondering if Shelby could hear from the office. There was no way I wanted to have this conversation, but I didn’t know how to get rid of Missy when she was determined to stick around.

“I don’t—”

“She spread her legs for my son, got pregnant, and ruined his chances for a football scholarship, that’s what she did.” Missy’s cheeks were red

now as fire burned in her gaze. She was violently chewing on the bite of cookie she’d just slipped into her mouth.

“I’m sure—”

“And then for her to come back here like nothing happened and run that inn?” Missy shook her head as she took a long sip of her coffee. “This is my town. I’m the one who stuck around to pick up the pieces she left behind.”

“Missy, I—”

“Just be grateful that you didn’t know that girl.” Her phone rang, cutting off her rant. She shoved the rest of her cookie into her mouth as she swiped her phone on and brought it to her cheek. “Hello?” she practically yelled through the food in her mouth. She wedged her phone against her shoulder as she grabbed her purse and coffee.

I didn’t get so much as a cursory nod as she hurried out of the shop, and I collapsed against the counter once she disappeared around the corner of the building.

This was stressful for a Monday morning. I scrubbed my face with my hands and took in a deep breath. If I wanted a distraction from Anders, it was working. I glanced over my shoulder toward my office and winced. I really hoped that Shelby hadn’t heard Missy, but I knew better than to believe that.

I was starting to understand a little bit more about this town and its ghosts, and I felt bad that Shelby was taking the brunt of it. I squared my shoulders and headed toward my office. I knocked softly before I turned the handle.

“Shelby?” I asked as I peered around the door.

She was sitting in my chair, staring at the wall in front of her. Her arms were wrapped around her chest, and she was completely still.

“Missy’s gone,” I said as I stepped inside.

She startled as she turned to face me. Her skin was pale, and she looked visibly shaken. “She is?”

I nodded. “It’s safe.”

Shelby nodded and stood. “Thanks for not telling her that I was hiding out back here.”

I shrugged. “Of course. We’ve got to look out for each other.”

Shelby’s frown softly turned into a small smile. “Thanks. And I agree.” “Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?”

She shook her head. “I just need some fresh air and a walk.” She took in a deep breath. “That’ll help.”

“Definitely.” I wanted to offer to go with her. It probably wasn’t best for her to be alone when she just went through that. But I had the shop, and Fanny didn’t get here until four.

Shelby gave me one last smile before she pushed past me out into the store. I watched her as she gathered up her purse.

“Hey, here’s my number,” I said as I rounded the register and jotted it down. “Give me a call, and we can do something.” I held out the paper and waited for her to take it.

She glanced at the paper before slipping it into her purse. “I’d like that.” “Great.” In a small town like Harmony, it was hard to form new friendships. Most were formed when they were in diapers. By the time

adulthood came, they were all well established.

Call me crazy, but the only person I had to talk to was Sabrina—and now Anders, hopefully—and that wasn’t enough. I needed a friend in a bad way. If Shelby needed that too, then our relationship would be a win-win.

“Thanks for the food and the rescue,” she said as she nodded back toward the food counter.

“Of course. Anytime you need me, I’ll be here to listen.”

She glanced outside through the glass door and sighed. “Thanks. I’m going to need that.”

“So, you’re sticking around Harmony, then?” I leaned forward on my elbow, wanting to make sure that I caught every word she said.

Shelby glanced down at her purse and then back over at me. “I’m going to try.” With that, she pressed on the door and headed out into the bright morning light.

With the shop now empty, I made my way back to the counter and started to clean up Missy’s mess. My hands were plunged deep into the hot, soapy water when the front door opened once more.

“I’m back here,” I called out.

Miles rounded the bookshelves and headed straight in my direction. “Have you seen a woman? She’s about this high” —he held his hand up to his chest— “probably looked ticked off as all get out?”

“Shelby?”

His eyes widened. “She was here?”

I nodded. “She was here. She ate and left.” I lifted my hand out of the hot water, so I could study my watch. “Probably about five minutes ago.”

He cursed under his breath as he stared at the ground. I could see that his mind was whirling with thoughts. He glanced back up at me. “Did she say where she was going?”

I shook my head. “Nope. Just that she needed fresh air and sunshine.” He started to back away. “Thanks,” he said.

Before I could even say, “You’re welcome,” he was gone. I turned my focus back on the dishes and sighed.

If I were looking for a distraction, my wish had been granted.

Having Shelby back in town was definitely shaking things up. Only time would tell if it was a good thing, or if I was going to regret ever getting involved with this decade-long situation.