The barista handed her a bright yellow mug and matching plate with a blueberry muffin perched on a paper doily. Olivia migrated toward the back of the coffeehouse, snatching a rumpled copy of the Fredericksburg Standard from an abandoned table along the way.
She settled into a comfy armchair and took a sip of her mocha, eyes closing in relief as the combination of sugar and caffeine rolled across her tongue. Olivia propped open the paper and ate her muffin, reading about the local pool being fixed, the proposal to plan an alternate truck route around Fredericksburg and the race for city council. Advertisements for the quaint bed-and-breakfasts that permeated Texas Hill Country filled the pages, along with an announcement for an upcoming German festival.
She stopped to text Janie that she’d meet them at church and then moved on to the sports section.
It already held talk about the approaching football season. Olivia perused the opinions, wondering how Jack handled all the pressure as the high school football coach. Made her thankful that Texas football would be at the forefront of everyone’s minds, leaving her to manage her team with much less scrutiny.
“Excuse me.”
Olivia looked up into the face of a man she didn’t recognize. “Yes?”
“I’m sorry to bother you, but are you the new French teacher and volleyball coach?”
Back in Denver, no stranger would ever walk up to her like this, let alone actually know her. Olivia took a deep breath. She was still reeling from the dream. No need to take her frustrations out on the poor guy in front of her.
She said yes and introduced herself, shaking his outstretched hand.
“Gil Schmidt. I’m the counselor over at the high school.”
Dressed in khaki shorts and a short-sleeved, button-down shirt, he was just the preppy type her younger—and much shorter—sister would consider attractive. But guys who towered over Lucy only came to Olivia’s chin. Not that it bothered her anymore. She’d long ago accepted that she would never own a closet full of fashionable heels.
Unless she met a man like Cash—as tall as Cash, she corrected, stopping that train of thought before it got way off track.
Olivia glanced around the shop, surprised to find it had filled. “Would you like to join me?” She regretted the words the instant they came out of her mouth.
Gil checked his watch. “Thanks, but I’ve been here for a bit and now I’m headed over to church. Just thought I’d stop and introduce myself. I’m sure I’ll be seeing more of you once school starts.”
She said goodbye and waved as he walked away, kicking herself for being so judgmental. Gil seemed like a nice guy. She’d have to get used to living in a small town.
Shocked at the time, Olivia grabbed her purse, depositing her mug and plate in the bin for dirty dishes on the way up front.
Gil stood looking out the glass door at the front of the shop, watching the rain that now covered the sidewalks and street. When had it started raining? Guess she’d been lost in her own world, tucked in the back of the shop.
Cars whooshed by, splashing through puddles with a sizzling noise that made Olivia think about bacon. She probably should have had more than a muffin with her coffee.
She glanced at Gil. “Everything okay?”
He motioned outside with a wry grin. “I hadn’t been expecting this. I rode my bike this morning.”
“Do you need a ride? I’m going to Cedar Hills Church.” They stepped to the side as a couple entered, shaking the water from their clothes.
“That’s where I go, too.”
“Can you put your bike in my trunk?”
When she pointed out her car, Gil laughed. “I don’t think it will fit. It’s not a problem, though. I’ll wait it out.”
“Why don’t I give you a ride back after? Surely it will be done raining by then. Can you leave your bike here?”
He nodded slowly. “I don’t think they’d mind. Are you sure?”
Olivia studied Gil’s brown eyes, smiling in relief when she didn’t see a spark of interest. “Absolutely. Let’s go.”
They chatted about school on the short ride to church and Olivia relaxed. She could use more friends in this town. But during the service, Gil turned attentive—holding open the Bible for them to read together, sitting just a little closer than she’d like.
Had she led him on by offering him a ride? Her no-dating rule applied to everyone in this town, not just the entirely too-attractive man sitting one row behind her with his sister.
Maybe Gil didn’t mean anything by his actions. Olivia’s instincts could be way off. They had been in the past.
Olivia stood for the closing song, Gil’s arm pressing against hers, and the pastor closed with her favorite benediction: “The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.”
Amen.
Olivia followed Gil into the aisle, then waited for Janie. She and Jack had sat farther down in the same row.
“I’ll meet you in the narthex. I need to find someone.” Gil squeezed Olivia’s arm, then made his way down the aisle.
She resisted the urge to rub away his touch as Janie came out of the row and latched onto her. “Gil Schmidt?”
The church emptied as Olivia explained her morning—minus the dream.
“Hmm.” Janie’s brow furrowed. “Guess Cash better get his behind in gear.” Her face brightened. “Might light a fire under him, knowing he’s not the only admirer you have in town.”
“I thought we agreed yesterday to leave things alone in that department.”
“You agreed to that. Not me.” Grinning like a puppy who’d demolished a shoe, Janie linked arms with Olivia and directed them to Jack and Cash, standing together in the narthex.
“Jack, we need to get Tucker.” Janie slid away from Olivia and tugged on her husband’s arm.
Matchmaking woman. Olivia resisted the urge to roll her eyes like she’d seen the girls on her team do more times than she could count.
Jack didn’t budge. “Can you run and get him? I need to talk to Cash.”
Janie’s copper eyes flashed as she braced a hand on her slender hip. “Fine. I’ll go myself.”
“I’ll go with you.”
Janie greeted Olivia’s offer with a wave of her hand, turning sweet as cherry pie. “No, Liv, don’t worry about it. I’ll be right back.”
Jack watched his wife walk away until she disappeared. When a gorgeous redhead approached Cash, Jack pulled Olivia to the side. “I need to ask a favor. Our anniversary is coming up and I want to surprise Janie and take her to San Antonio for dinner. It’s a drive, so it would be a late evening. Usually my parents or Janie’s would be available, but they’re all attending a church function that night. It’s the first Saturday in September.”
“And you want me to chauffeur?” Olivia laughed at the scowl on Jack’s face. “I’d love to hang out with my favorite little man.” Even if it breaks my heart a little every time.
“Thanks, I appreciate it. We owe you a dinner.”
She waved off Jack’s thanks. “You don’t owe me a thing.”
“Guess I’d better go find my wife.” Jack grinned. “She’s going to kill me for not leaving you here alone with Cash.”
Olivia’s