Page 15 of Perfect Together
Cole wrapped his arms around her waist and nodded at Nicole. “Welcome to town,” he said, sounding as if he just might mean it.
“Thank you.”
“Hi, all!” Macy brought her bubbly personality, taking the pressure off Nicole of dealing with Cole and talk of Victoria’s illness.
“Hi,” Erin and Nicole said at once.
“Everyone looks beautiful!” Macy hugged each of them. “Well, not Mr. Sullen, but you are looking handsome.” She pulled the gruff man into a hug.
“I’ll take that as my cue to mingle,” Cole muttered, extricating himself from Macy’s grip.
Erin rolled her eyes. He patted her cheek and walked away. “You scare him,” she said to Macy.
The other woman laughed. “How’s that sweet angel of yours?” Macy asked. “Get it? Her daughter’s name is Angel,” she explained to Nicole.
The new mother beamed and launched into a description of things only a new mother would appreciate. Any time Tyler had brought up babies, Nicole would lapse into panic mode. Now she understood why. She had only to look at Erin’s beaming face when she looked at her husband to know—Tyler hadn’t been the right man for Nicole to start a family with.
“What table are you sitting at?” Nicole asked when they’d finished their conversation.
“We’re at three. With my brothers and parents,” Erin said.
“Five,” Macy said, winking at Nicole. “Don’t you worry, I took charge of the whole situation. I wouldn’t leave you alone. We single women have to stick together.”
Nicole smiled, finally understanding why Macy had been so quick to embrace a friendship with her. It wasn’t just that Macy was warm and generous—she was—but there was more to the dynamic going on. The changes in Erin’s life meant she and Macy didn’t do as many things together anymore. Which meant Macy needed Nicole’s friendship as much as Nicole needed Macy’s. The knowledge eased a painful knot she’d had in her chest since walking in here feeling out of place.
“So, Nicole, what will you be doing here in town?” Erin asked.
“I’m looking into opening a specialty bakery, but not right away. I want to start small and see how things catch on,” Nicole explained.
“Tell her the rest.” Macy nudged her with her arm.
She’d had time to fill Macy in about her talk with Trisha the other morning.
“Well, I’ve spoken to Trisha at the coffee shop, and she said she would be interested in taking in my items and selling them, and Macy said she’d approach her father about doing the same at the restaurant.”
“What kind of specialty items?” Erin asked.
“Cupcakes, cookies, pastries...”
“Aunt Lulu bakes pies and cakes, not pastries, so I think it would be fine,” Macy immediately chimed in.
Erin narrowed her gaze. “Are you sure about that?”
Nicole blinked. “Is there a problem?”
Macy shook her head. “Nope. I think Aunt Lulu and Nicole will complement each other perfectly.”
“Well, I love the idea! Where would you work? I hear you’re living over Joe’s, and that kitchen is tiny.”
That was the issue Nicole had run up against, at least in her head, and maybe subconsciously that was the reason she hadn’t filled up the place with food and baking necessities.
“I’m not sure... yet. I’m working on it.” She tapped the side of her head. She was thinking it through, but so far she hadn’t come up with any ideas.
“You’ll figure something out.” Macy’s gaze drifted to a point beyond them, and her eyes widened. “Listen, I need to go check in with my aunt. She’s looking a little lost, and when Aunt Lulu is at loose ends, trouble happens. I’ll see you at the table,” she said to Nicole, then waved at Erin and walked away.
Erin shook her head and laughed. “They’re both characters, Macy and her aunt.” She glanced over Nicole’s shoulder, her eyes opening wide. “Sam!” She waved at her brother, indicating he should join them.
Nicole’s stomach immediately spun like she was on a roller coaster. Not in a panicked,get me off this ridekind of way, but in athis is awesome, I could stay on here for another loopkind of way. She couldn’t recall a time when she’d felt so excited about a man. Affected by hearing his name, psyched to see him, flushed, silly and girly.Thiswas why she’d broken off her engagement, because if she and Tyler didn’t share this in the beginning, what would be left when the newness wore off?