I left the salon late that evening and then drove through a set of stone gates and up a short hill to the address of Ruby’s townhome. I parked in front of a brick building with white windows that overlooked a small, snow-filled front yard. After that encounter with Dallas, I needed a friendly face.
I’d no sooner cut off the engine than the townhome’s front door flew open and Ruby Curtis came running out. Her blonde hair was pulled up into a high ponytail and she wore a blue sweater, jeans, and boots. Her pretty face and blue eyes lit up as she hurried to where I was getting out of the driver’s side and then pulled me into a welcoming hug.
Ruby and I had been friends since elementary school. She was just as dear to me as my besties from the choir team with whom I’d exchanged the bff bracelets. Ruby had been two years ahead of us in school and had been in Dallas and my brother Connor’s grade. Her parents, Randall and Betty Curtis, owned the Sugar Plum Inn—a bed and breakfast near the Falls, which had been around forever.
Ruby’s parents’ first real date was to The Nutcracker ballet and her mom loved the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. Since that night, her dad nicknamed his wife his “sugar plum fairy” and insisted on the name for the inn. So sweet.
“You’re finally here!” Ruby squealed into my ear. “I was getting worried, but figured you’d stopped off to see your folks.”
“Actually, I stopped by the salon,” I said, hugging her hard as a feeling of dread fell over me from thinking about the lease mix-up with Dallas. I fought to shake it off.
Ruby released me and we stood there smiling at each other. Finally, she reached for the bag I held. “Let me help you with that . . . wow.” She gestured toward my SUV and the stacks of boxes inside. “You fit all of that in there?”
I gave her a rueful grin. “Yeah, I’m terrified that if I remove one thing then all of my stuff will come flying out.”
She threw her head back and laughed. “Like that time we opened the closet door in the prop room at Christmas Mountain High?”
“I’ve missed you.” I laughed at her story and hugged her again. “And I remember how we almost quit the drama club over the chaos caused by that prop room closet. Nothing like getting buried in an avalanche of wigs and old makeup.”
Ruby squeezed me back. “It’s good to have you home again. I worried we’d never get you out of Florida. Although I did have a fun time visiting you there.” She stepped back, her gaze scanning me. “Those boots are gorgeous and you look amazing. Nobody’s going to recognize you from your high school days.”
“I’m looking forward to catching up with old friends,” I said, wondering what they would think of my new look. When I’d left Christmas Mountain, I’d been doing my best to live up to the perfect good girl image and expectations my mom had for me. It had been all plaid skirts, pressed white blouses, and headbands. I never would’ve worn black boots with a heel, tight jeans, or the now-standard pop of fuchsia on my lips. “How are your parents doing?” I asked.
“Same as always. They eat, sleep, and breathe the inn. Bookings have been slower these days due to the decrease in tourism, but the bed and breakfast is doing well enough.”
“Glad to hear it,” I said, my stomach growling. My cheeks heated and I put a hand over my belly. “Sorry, I forgot to stop for dinner.”
She chewed at her bottom lip. “Maybe we should relax before unpacking then. Want a sandwich?”
“Yes, please,” I said, following Ruby inside her townhome.
The kitchen and living room were an open concept and Ruby’s personality was stamped everywhere. Vases on small tables held fresh flowers. There were antique rugs on the hardwood floors. Paintings of mountains hung on the walls next to those incredible windows. The kitchen countertops were granite, accented by a subway tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances.
Ruby went to the stovetop. “I’d just finished making this grilled cheese when you pulled up. We can split it. You still like tomato basil soup, I hope?”
“I do.” I smiled, loving that my friend knew me so well.
“Would you like some iced tea?”
I lifted an eyebrow. “Is it sweet?”
“Oh, no.” She paused in the act of ladling soup from the stove into oversized bowls that I recognized as her grandmother’s Spode. “I forgot you’re a Southerner.”
I blinked at her. “Come again?”
“You lived in the South, so you probably don’t drink plain iced tea anymore.”
“I love iced tea,” I said, dropping onto a barstool.
She set a steaming bowl and a plate on the counter in front of me. “Not that Florida is totally the South. It’s Florida.”
I groaned inwardly. The argument over whether or not Florida’s part of the South had been raging for decades. “Either way, I still drink plain, unsweetened iced tea.”
“Good,” she said, hurrying to the fridge and pulling out a white pitcher. She filled two glasses with ice, poured our tea, and then took a seat next to me.
I scooped up a spoonful of soup, which smelled delicious. “Mmm.”
“Made it from scratch,” she said, fiddling with her napkin for a minute. “You tell your mom about the salon yet?”
I shifted on the stool. “Um . . .”
She sighed, spooning up some soup. “Morgan, she’s going to be hurt that you didn’t tell her.”
“I’m trying to avoid her getting hurt.” I squirmed. I hadn’t told my parents I was moving in with Ruby, either, but that was the least of what they would be upset about. “You know how controlling my mom can be. I think she’ll take the news better if I get the salon set up first in a way she’d approve of.” I sighed. “She might talk me out of my dream if I’m not careful to present it the right way at the right time.”
My friend gave me a sympathetic smile. “Your secret is always safe with me.”
“Thanks.” I sipped the iced tea, wanting to change the subject. “Unfortunately, I have bigger worries right now than my mom being upset with me.”
“Like what?” she asked.
I swallowed a bite of sandwich. “You won’t believe what happened when I stopped by to check out the business space I rented.”
She dipped her spoon into the bowl. “Don’t tell me the ceiling caved in. That place has been empty for months.”
“Worse,” I said, dabbing my mouth with the napkin.
“What’s worse than a caved-in ceiling?”
“Dallas Parker,” I said, flatly.
She choked on the tea she’d been drinking. “Sorry, not what I’d been expecting you to say. Dallas, huh? What gives? I knew he’d moved back in town, but I haven’t seen him.”
I lifted the spoon for my soup and groaned. “He has a lease for the same business space I rented for my beauty salon.”
She blinked. “I’m confused.”
“Me, too.” I stirred my soup slowly. “It turns out that Coraline, the landlady, somehow made a mistake and rented the business space to both of us.”
Ruby gripped the edge of the island like she was afraid she’d topple off the stool otherwise. “She rented the same space to both of you? No way.”
“Yes way.” I nodded, scooping up more of the delicious soup.
She shook her head. “What on earth could Dallas possibly want with a beauty salon?”
“His plan is to turn Coraline’s Classic Beauty Salon into a furniture store.” I squeezed the spoon in my hand and then tapped it relentlessly against the counter with a tink-tink-tink. “Can you believe he won’t give up the business space? I thought he’d joined the Marines.”
“Don’t take your frustration out on the silverware.” She took the spoon from me, set it down on the countertop, and patted the handle. “See? All better now.”
I threw her a look. “You’re not helping.”
She chewed her fingernail thoughtfully. “Dallas did leave for the Marines after high school, but he’s been back in Christmas Mountain almost a year. Bought a place with some acreage outside of town. Keeps to himself, so I don’t hear much about him. Furniture store, huh?”
“That’s what he said.” I took the last bite of my sandwich, chewing slowly. “I mean, clearly the space won’t work for his needs. It’s set up as a beauty salon. For my purposes, I only need to give the place a facelift. I’ve already paid for advertising and my salon opens in two and a half weeks. I can’t afford the time arguing with him about who deserves the space more, because there’s so much I have to do before opening day. The salon chairs are orange. Need I say more?”
“Like a perky orange or an antacid color?”
“Antacid.” I groaned, tucking my chin to my chest. “I know this leasing situation isn’t Dallas’s fault, but my salon is currently orange. Oh, so orange . . .”
“The orange!” Ruby threw her palms up, and then burst out laughing. “Don’t you remember when our moms took us to Coraline’s that time the upscale salon was booked and we had to have our hair done for the school drama production? I almost went blind in that place.”
Despite everything I burst into laughter. “Yes, I remember having our hair done there. I don’t remember the orange being so overwhelming.”
She leaned in closer. “How is Dallas going to sell furniture in an orange-colored beauty salon?”
“Right?” I nodded, finishing the last of my soup. “It looks like someone froze the nineteen -fifties in there.”
“You need to call your landlady,” she said, stacking our empty plates and bowls before taking them to the sink.
My shoulders slumped. “We tried. She’s out of town and on a safari until Christmas Eve.”
“Really?” Ruby’s eyebrows went up. “That’s amazing. I mean, that’s a once in a lifetime adventure right there. I wonder where she’s on safari?”
“Somewhere in Africa,” I said, remembering how Ruby had always wanted to travel. “Do you know what Dallas suggested? He said we should share the space and open our businesses together.”
She rinsed the dishes and then put them in the dishwasher. “Is the space big enough for both businesses?”
“It’s a big place,” I said, remembering the layout. “But I can’t have him hammering nails while my clients are getting their hair done. Or having a facial. A salon is supposed to be relaxing. I spent extra time and tuition money to become a fully licensed esthetician, hair stylist, and nail technician. A furniture store and a beauty salon don’t mix.”
Ruby nodded. “You’re right. That’s way worse than a caved in ceiling.”
I dropped my head in my hands. “What am I going to do? There is no other appropriate space available for rent. Plus, I already purchased ads from the Christmas Mountain Herald as well as online ads. I paid for my own website and even social media pages are ready to launch for my grand opening. On top of this, I still have to deal with my parents.”
Ruby clapped her hands. “I know what will cheer you up.”
“The news that Dallas Parker has fled town?” I asked, watching her shake her head. It had been a long shot. “What then?”
“Guess who I heard is coming to town for Christmas?” she said, using a singsong voice.
I was so not in the mood for a guessing game. “Just tell me.”
“I’ll give you a clue.” She smiled, wiggling her brows. “Someone handsome who you dated in high school and were totally gaga for . . .”
That narrowed it down to my ex, Thomas Brand IV. I hadn’t been popular with boys in high school. I’d been dubbed Miss Goody Two-Shoes with good reason.
“Tom Brand?” I asked, wondering how the return of my ex who dumped me was supposed to cheer me up. Maybe for extra cheering she’d burn my favorite boots.
“Yes, Tom!” Ruby put an arm around me. “You two were so cute together when you were young love birds. Wouldn’t it be sweet if you reconnected and you married your high school sweetheart? I heard he’s landed some high-salaried job. Why did you two break up again?”
“He dumped me,” I said, my voice deadpan. “Right after Dallas Parker punched him in the face.” Suddenly, I pictured Dallas and his sexy smile. Shiver. I shook my head, trying to chase the vision of Dallas that kept lingering in my head. “Ah, getting dumped. Thanks for the walk down memory lane. I’m totally cheered up now.”
“I’m sorry for bringing up Tom.” Ruby patted my shoulder, clearly not getting that I was upset about the fact that I was mentally drooling over my nemesis, not because Tom dumped me eight years ago. “I didn’t mean to bring up something painful,” she said.
I waved my hand dismissively. “Tom was a long time ago. I’m way over him.”
“Dallas really punched him in the face?” she asked.
I nodded. “When he caught us making out on the Kissing Bench at the Falls.”
Ruby’s eyes went round and wide. “No.”
“Yes.” I twisted my fingers together. “Dallas ruined my relationship and now he’s ruining my life again. Tom never really said why he wanted to break up with me, but I think he was scared Dallas would sock him again.”
“Why would Dallas do that?” Ruby watched me shrug, and then she shook her head. “Dallas has always had a bit of a bad boy reputation. But we had a lot of fun with him in our younger years. And he’s your brother’s best friend.”
“We did have good times,” I said, remembering how Ruby, Dallas, Connor, and I would hang out and go for adventure walks. But that was before my mom blamed him for the accident that cost Grace her life. I shook my head to clear the thought. “I don’t know what to do about the salon, Ruby. Dallas has a signed lease and so I can’t throw him out.”
“Not unless he wanted out,” she said.
An idea hit. “Wait a minute. . . His furniture store will probably be super manly right? Like him?” I rolled my eyes, unable to believe I’d just said that aloud. I plunged onward. “What if I make it hard for him to want to be there? I can decorate the beauty salon super feminine, so he’d want to find a new space. I mean, men don’t usually want to be anywhere near a beauty salon anyway, right?”
She raised a shoulder. “I’m sure that’s true. I can’t picture your brother wanting to hang out at your salon for a mani/pedi.”
“Right?” I laughed, making a mental note to let my brother know I’d arrived in town.
Ruby’s phone beeped from where it sat on the counter, plugged into the USB port. She lifted her phone, checked the screen, and groaned. “Work email coming through. I set up an alert on my phone. It’s late, so it must be important. I’d better check the email.”
I felt a pang of guilt. “I haven’t even asked how you like your new career.”
“I never thought I’d own a doggie spa and training business, but I love it. Keeps me busy practically twenty-four-seven, though,” she said, holding her phone up as evidence to her statement.
“You were always good with animals growing up and always dragging in some stray as I recall,” I said, looking around the kitchen. “I’m surprised you don’t have a house full.”
“I would if I could but this is a rental with a no-pet policy in place.” She muttered as she checked her email on her phone. “I hate to leave you with the SUV to be unpacked, but I have to call my manager at the kennel. He’s having an issue and wants to get my take on it. Apparently some dog needs an obedience and manners class.”
“Maybe I should send Dallas over to you for some lessons in manners,” I joked, thinking of how he’d tucked my hair behind my ear without asking. Not that I’d hated it, exactly.
She giggled. “Or an aggression class, since he punched your boyfriend in the face for no reason. Speaking of. . . I wonder what made him do that. Maybe he had a crush on you and wanted you all to himself.”
“I doubt it,” I said, remembering Dallas never had trouble getting dates.
“Just saying that I wouldn’t be surprised.” She gave me a knowing look. “Anyway, I’ll come help you unpack when I’m done with the call. Glad to have you home.”
“Thanks, Ruby,” I said, wishing my arrival home had gone more smoothly. With the luck I was having, next I’d probably get a concussion from falling boxes in my SUV. Maybe if I had a serious injury then Dallas would feel sorry for me and let me have my salon space back.
As I walked out the front door, I pictured myself with a white bandage around my head, staring up at Dallas pathetically, trying to appeal to his sensitive side. An image of those caramel-brown eyes looking down at me with concern made my belly flutter. I imagined him tucking a lock of my hair behind my ear, his fingers running along my jawline before he pressed his lips to my forehead. My chest warmed and I could see myself lifting my mouth to his. . . .
Suddenly, my foot caught in front of the other one on the icy pathway and I found myself falling face-first onto the front lawn. I landed with a “Harrumph!” The moisture from the dew-covered grass began seeping into the front of my pants in a very cold way, thanks to it being December and all. I inhaled the earthy scent, before lifting my nose from the ground.
This had to be the universe’s way of telling me to stop thinking about Dallas Parker. That would be hard to do if we were sharing the same business space. Maybe he would leave if I took my idea and started “beautifying” the place in a big feminine way. If I didn’t want to fall on my face again, it was certainly worth a try.