Susan Mallery - When We Met

In theory the restaurant was only about a quarter mile from the Score offices, but in her shoes, it might as well be fifty. Four-inch heels looked amazing but they were a bitch to walk in.

Today she was wearing black-lacquered Gucci pumps with three skinny straps across the top of her foot. Technically they had a five-inch heel, but there was a one-inch platform. They were elegant and simple, not to mention the perfect complement to her Roberto Cavalli reptile-print silk blazer. Underneath she had on a plain sheath dress.

Taryn loved clothes—probably because, until she was thirty, she’d never been able to afford anything that wasn’t secondhand. Now she was making up for lost time. And she didn’t care if everyone dressed casually in town. She didn’t and people would have to get used to that.

Larissa continued to sit in the car. “I’m scared,” she admitted. “What if no one likes me?”

Taryn angled toward her friend. “You know you’re being silly,” she said gently. “Everyone is going to love you. You’re sweet and funny and a loyal friend. What’s not to like?”

Instead of relaxing, Larissa glared at her. “You’re being nice. What’s wrong? Am I dying and don’t know it?”

Taryn sighed. “You’re not dying. I’m being supportive. I can be supportive.”

“I know. It’s not you. I really like this place and I want to fit in.”

“You fit in way more than me, and I’ve made friends.”

Larissa brightened at the thought. “You’re right. I’m much nicer than you, too. Okay, let’s go.”

Taryn collected her Prada bag. “Just give me a second to bask in the warmth of your friendship,” she muttered, then climbed out of her car.

When they were both on the sidewalk, Larissa glanced down at her jeans. She’d put a navy blazer over her pink T-shirt. Her blond hair was pulled back in its usual ponytail. “Am I dressed okay? You always look really nice.”

“No one dresses up in this town except for me,” Taryn assured her. “And the mayor, who is in her sixties. Besides, we’re having lunch in a bar.”

“I see. What’s up with that? You don’t like bars.”

“That’s because it took me two years to break the boys of the habit of having staff meetings in bars.” Taryn gave Larissa a little push toward the door. “You’ll see. This is different.”

Taryn had resisted the first time she was invited to lunch at Jo’s Bar. She hadn’t understood why the women in town wouldn’t want to go to a nice café or tea shop. But once she’d gone into the place, she understood the appeal.

She and Larissa walked into the open space and came to a stop while Larissa looked around. Taryn was already familiar with the mauve walls, flattering light and muted TVs turned to the Style network and HGTV.

There were tables along with booths, a list of specials on a chalkboard and quiet music playing in the background.

Larissa grinned. “Nice. Where do the guys hang out?”

“They have a room in the back. I’ve heard that at night this is more of a couples place, but during the day, the ladies rule.”

She spotted Dellina, Isabel and Noelle sitting at a round table. “Over there,” Taryn said, leading the way.

“Are they smiling?”

Taryn rolled her eyes. “You’re a freak, you know that.”

“Yeah, that’s hardly news.”

“Hi, all,” Taryn said as she approached the table. “This is my friend Larissa. She works for Score. She’s Jack’s personal assistant and the boys’ masseuse. While she’s a wonderful person, don’t agree to help her with any projects. Larissa was born to rescue the world. Seriously, if you let her, she’ll talk you into helping her save some endangered leaf or raid an elementary school to help with a hamster rescue.”

“I would never rescue hamsters from schoolkids,” Larissa told her. “I trust them to care for their pets.”

“So you say now.” Taryn pointed to the table. “Dellina is an event planner. Noelle owns The Christmas Attic, an adorable store on Fourth Street. Everything Christmas, of course, but also seasonal gifty things. Shop there for your mother. Trust me, she’ll love whatever you buy from Noelle. Isabel owns Paper Moon. It used to be a bridal gown shop. Now she also sells yummy clothes and I’m spending way too much money there.”

All three women greeted Taryn and Larissa. Isabel pulled out the seat next to her.

“Taryn, your new suit is back from the tailor,” Isabel told her. “Whenever you want to pick it up.”

“Thanks.” She settled in, then watched as Larissa sat across from her between Noelle and Dellina.

Last fall, when she’d first visited Fool’s Gold, she was convinced she would hate living there. Nothing about a small town appealed to her. But now she had to admit, the place had grown on her. She’d made friends and settled into the comfortable rhythm of a life defined by which festival was next.

She’d always thought she preferred Los Angeles, where she could go about her business unnoticed. In Fool’s Gold, there were no secrets. Which meant if something bad happened, someone would be there to get her through. While the realization was a little strange, it was also comforting.

“You need a redhead,” Jo said, coming up to the table with menus.

Dellina leaned close to Taryn. “She’s right. It’s you and me against those three blondes.”

“We can take them,” Taryn told her confidently, then introduced Larissa to the owner of Jo’s Bar.

After Jo explained about the specials, she took their drink orders and left.

Noelle put down her menu. “Okay,” she said, smiling at Larissa. “We want to know your life story. We’ll share ours, too. I’ll go first. I moved here last year. I was a lawyer, which turned out to not be my thing. Now I run The Christmas Attic, like Taryn said. I’m married to Gabriel, who is a doctor here in town.” She pointed at Dellina.

Dellina drew in a breath. “Me, huh? I’m the oldest in my family. I have younger twin sisters. One of my sisters is a chef. The other has a small business in town. A temp agency. As Taryn said, I plan events. There’s no guy and while I wouldn’t say no to a long weekend of hot sex, I have no interest in a relationship. I’ve already raised my two kids.” At Taryn’s questioning look, she continued. “We lost our folks when I was in high school.”

“I’m sorry about your parents,” Taryn said. “I hadn’t heard that.”

“It was a while ago.”

“But still.” Taryn knew what it was like to be on her own. “I work at Score, where I plan advertising campaigns and try to control my business partners, who are annoying.”

“But you love them,” Larissa said.

“I do.” She held up both hands. “As brothers, I swear. Although I was married to Jack, briefly. Years ago.”

Dellina, Isabel and Noelle all stared at her.

“What?” she asked. “It was a couple of months and it didn’t work out. We stayed friends and now we work together.”

“Did you know this?” Isabel asked Larissa.

“Sure. They’re good friends. It’s nice that they still like each other.”

“You get more interesting by the day,” Isabel murmured. “Okay, me. I was born and raised in town. When I was fourteen, I had a mad crush on my sister’s boyfriend. When they broke up, I was thrilled, only he left town to join the navy and I knew I was going to die. When that didn’t happen, I started writing him. Flash-forward fourteen years, I came back, he came back and the rest is history.” She sighed happily. “Now we’re married and I can’t believe how lucky I am.”

Larissa glanced at them. “I guess that leaves me. I’m one of three girls, also the oldest. I like my job a lot because it gives me the time and resources to focus on helping others. Through Jack, I’ve gotten involved in organ donor programs and I also work with different animal rescue organizations.”