Dare to Love (Dare to Love 1)

“Yay!” Macy’s smile dimmed. “But it’s expensive since it’s a fund-raiser.”

“How much?”

“Seventy-five dollars.”

Nicole nodded. She had a plan for her life that included opening her own bake shop, but not right away. She needed to research the area, see if it could sustain what she had in mind. Which meant she needed a job while she plotted her future. In the meantime, she had the trust fund her grandparents had left her, something that irked her parents to no end, since it meant they couldn’t control what she or Victoria did.

Nicole didn’t plan to blow through the money frivolously, and she’d need it for her business venture, but it did enable her to rent the apartment and cover the cost of living until she got on her feet. As far as she was concerned, getting to know people in her new town and supporting a worthwhile cause certainly fell under that heading.

“No problem.” She met Macy’s gaze, and the other woman smiled wide.

“Great! Oh. Another thing.”

Nicole leaned forward on her arms and waited. Clearly she’d met someone in the know.

“Cocktail attire.”

“Also not a problem.” Though she’d packed up everything she owned, thanks to Tyler and his mother’s world that included formal and cocktail dresses, and she’d kept a few favorites.

“That was easy,” Macy said.

Nicole grinned. “I try.”

“So are you interested in a primer on your new hometown?”

“I’m all ears.”

Macy propped a hip on the counter, relaxed and happy to chat. “Wednesday night is Ladies’ Night at Joe’s. You should join us—the us depends on who is free because there’s been way too many marriages and babies lately, so the ladies and the men are dwindling. But not fo

r you because you’re new to all the men and they’ll all be new to you. So you’ll come to that too?”

Nicole nodded, pleased to have plans. “Absolutely.”

“Great.” Macy looked toward the front door and the family who’d entered. “I have to go seat people. If I don’t have time to talk more today, I’ll see you Wednesday? Seven p.m.”

Nicole smiled as the other woman headed off to do her job.

She liked Macy Donovan, and it seemed like Macy had already accepted Nicole. She hoped everyone else in Serendipity felt the same way.

* * *

As on a typical Wednesday night, Sam met up with some guys from the station at Joe’s Bar. Josh Mercer had bought the current round and the jokes were flowing freely. Mike and Cara walked in, followed by his sister, Erin, and her husband, Cole.

“Looks like it’s family night,” Sam said, calling them over. “How did you two get away?”

Erin had had a baby six months ago and rarely left her daughter’s side.

His sister greeted him with a kiss on the cheek. “Mom showed up and practically shoved us out the door. She said we needed a break and she needed time with Angel.” The hazel eyes she shared with Sam lit up when she mentioned her baby daughter.

Cole slipped an arm around Erin’s waist, greeting Sam with a nod. “She’s already called home twice to remind your mother about the time of her next bottle and what to do if she cries.”

“Like she didn’t raise three of us?” Sam teased his sister.

“Funny,” Erin said to her brother. “And he”—she poked her husband with her elbow—“already called Mom to make sure she had our cell phones on speed dial.”

Sam still couldn’t believe they’d gone from his sister getting pregnant after a one-night stand with Cole Sanders, undercover cop with no intention of remaining in town, to being a happily married couple and overly concerned parents.

“All my favorite people are here!” Sam turned at the sound of Macy’s voice.