Before We Kiss (Fool's Gold #14)

She turned on Fourth and saw the sign for Brew-haha up ahead. Taryn and Larissa had arranged for a coffee date the second she’d told them about her scheduled meeting with Sam. No doubt they wanted details. Dellina was prepared to say everything had gone well. She wasn’t going to confess to any tingles. That would be embarrassing for all of them.

As she approached the coffee shop, she saw a tall curvy redhead pacing along the sidewalk. Bailey Voss wore a navy dress and jacket, along with sensible navy heels. A little on the business side for her. Realizing what the professional dress meant, Dellina hurried toward her.

“Is it today?” she asked by way of greeting.

Bailey turned toward her and nodded as she pressed a hand to her stomach. “In about half an hour. I got ready too early and then... I was afraid to stay home, but once I left, I didn’t know what to do with myself.”

Dellina turned the other woman toward Brew-haha. “Come inside. We’ll distract you until it’s time.”

“Thanks,” Bailey said, then bit her lower lip. “Just don’t be so entertaining that I forget where I’m supposed to be.”

“We’ll set an alarm,” Dellina promised, and guided the other woman into the store.

Brew-haha was a bright, cheerful place with small tables by the big windows. There were the usual coffee and tea drinks, along with pastries. Dellina spotted Taryn and Larissa right away. They’d already collected their lattes and were seated.

Taryn, one of the partners at Score, was in her mid-thirties. Tall with long dark hair and violet-blue eyes, she dressed as if she was a high-fashion model. Today Taryn had on a fitted jacket over a tight skirt. Her heels were at least four inches high; her bag was a leather-and-snakeskin Hobo. Dellina would guess that the combined cost of the outfit would be about the same as a decent used car.

In contrast Larissa wore a brightly colored T-shirt and yoga pants. Her long blond hair was pulled back, she wasn’t wearing makeup and she had daisies painted on her toes. Taryn spent her days ruling Score with an iron fist while Larissa gave massages and acted as Jack’s assistant. It was an interesting dynamic.

Both women looked up and saw her. They waved.

“Look who I found,” Dellina said as they approached the table.

Bailey twisted her fingers around the strap of her handbag. “I have my interview with Mayor Marsha in a few minutes.”

Taryn pulled out a chair. “Sit here. You can tell me everything that has you nervous and we’ll work through it.”

Bailey sank down and sighed. “I’m just scared I don’t have enough experience.”

Dellina walked up to the counter and ordered a latte. “Bailey, you want anything?”

Bailey shook her head. “I’m afraid I’ll spill.”

Something Dellina could understand. No one wanted to go to an interview wearing a stain. As she waited for her latte, she studied Bailey’s subtle makeup and the frown between her eyebrows. Being a single parent wasn’t easy. Dellina had lost her folks and become responsible for her sisters at an early age. While that had been devastating, she’d been able to return to Fool’s Gold where she knew everyone and there were plenty of people to look out for them.

Bailey and her husband had moved to town a couple of years ago. Neither of them had any family to speak of. There’d been an uncle or great-uncle around but he’d passed only a few months after their arrival. Then Bailey’s husband, a soldier, had been killed in Afghanistan. Dellina hoped Bailey got the job with Mayor Marsha so that she could feel financially secure. That would go a long way to healing a broken heart.

She returned to the table with her drink. Bailey turned to her. “You grew up here. Any Mayor Marsha advice?”

“Be yourself,” Dellina told her. “If Mayor Marsha didn’t already like you, you wouldn’t have the interview.”

“I hope my skills are good enough,” Bailey said. “I took that refresher course at the community college, but I haven’t been in the job market for a while.”

Taryn smiled at her. “Relax. As much as it pains me to admit it, the wily old woman knows what she’s doing.”

“You’ll do fine,” Larissa told her. “And when you get the job, you’ll have the inside scoop on the town gossip.” She leaned forward and grinned. “I remember when I interviewed for my job at Score. Wow, was I nervous.”

Bailey glanced at Taryn. “Yes, I can see why.”

Taryn’s eyes widened. “Hey, if that was about me, I’m a very gentle interviewer.”

Larissa grinned. “She wasn’t the problem. I had to talk to Jack. I was so scared because he was this famous, hunky guy. At least you won’t have to worry about being tongue-tied because Mayor Marsha is good-looking.”

They all laughed.

Dellina smiled at Bailey. “Larissa’s right. Once you get the job, you will have the inside track on all the town gossip.”

“Delicious,” Larissa said.

Taryn looked at her friend. “You don’t have time for gossip. You’re too busy trying to kill people with poisonous snakes.”

Larissa hung her head. “I’ve apologized about a thousand times for that.”