His Southern Sweetheart

“Nice try.” He shook his head.

Amelia rolled her eyes. “Damn.”

“Maybe she’ll be in town for the Crystal Coquí Ball,” he said, smiling over the rim of his coffee. “By the way, my mother is looking forwa

rd to meeting you. She already worships the ground you walk on.”

Heart speeding up, Amelia shook her head back and forth. “What?”

“My ma believes everyone needs to be introduced to the Puerto Rican life, and you’re a pioneer in her eyes, thanks to your show, Azúcar. So, Labor Day weekend you’re coming with me.”

The way he stated she’d come with him somehow excited Amelia. A flash of desire quivered in the pit of her belly. The last thing she wanted was to allow him to think his machismo turned her on, so she rolled her eyes and took another sip of her coffee. She was surprised how naturally the rest of their conversation grew. She learned more about his family and the girls. Kimber was a handful and Philly had him wrapped around his finger. Nate didn’t elaborate on why he had not attended college after his high school graduation and she for once didn’t press the issue. Amelia wondered if she would have wanted to go off to another school right after enduring a campus shooting. The story editor in her wanted to create a reunion of everyone affected by the school shooting. Had any of the survivors sought the arms of a fellow survivor, and had the relationship lasted? Did anyone stay in town after the shooting? Judging from the twitch in Nate’s jaw whenever she alluded to the event, she figured it best to leave her ideas alone.

After they shared a few stories and two cups of coffee, Amelia headed upstairs to shower, offering Nate the bathroom downstairs. Ready to spend more time with Nate, Amelia dressed in a pair of ivory lace shorts and a matching short-sleeve top, and since she was heading to a glam shop, she put on some heels. Nate greeted her with a whistle and met her at the bottom of the steps with a kiss. He’d changed out of his jeans into a pair of khaki cargo shorts and a button-down preppy green Oxford opened at the throat. For a man, his feet, encased in a pair of tan canvas flip-flops, looked pretty damn good.

In the span of forty-eight hours since Nate had arrived on the property after following her, they’d gone from awkward silence to a passionate episode in his car to now holding hands as he drove down the back streets toward town. Dread no longer flashed in the pit of her stomach as the folks walking down the street waved. She didn’t think about what anyone had to say to her about her past. The only thing that concerned her was what Nate’s beloved family would think of her.

Any indication they might hold some form of resentment against her was washed away the moment the bells over the door of Lexi’s shop chimed and everyone cooed all over her. For starters, Lexi was a dream. Amelia slightly remembered seeing photos of her in the gossip headlines about a scandalous beauty queen. Whatever Lexi’s past, Amelia had no room to judge, especially when the tall blonde towered over her and wrapped her arms around her shoulders.

“I am so happy to finally meet you,” Lexi Pendergrass said dramatically. “It’s about time someone else starts a ruckus around here besides me.”

At the beauty queen’s emphasis on finally, Amelia glanced nervously over Lexi’s shoulder toward Nate. As Lexi pulled back and straightened, she shook her head. “Didn’t Nate tell you about all the trouble I’ve stirred up around here?”

“I don’t get into the gossip.” Nate rolled his eyes toward Amelia.

“I’ve had my own brush with Southwood scandals,” Amelia said.

A tall, beefy man literally waltzed over to them. “Southwood Scandals,” he said. “I like it. Andrew Mason, at your service.”

“Nice to meet you, Andrew.” Amelia took the man’s meaty hand. “I’m Amelia Marlow.”

“Oh, girl, I know all about you,” Andrew gushed. “I’ve followed your career since your show, The Real Divas of College Park.”

A warmth of embarrassment rose from Amelia’s chest to her cheeks. “Not one of my finest.”

“What’s this?” Nate leaned back to get a better look at her.

“One of the first shows I produced.”

“With the cattiest women in the world,” Andrew interjected. “But the best times were when you had to step on camera and yank those women apart. Talk about a weave war.”

Lexi cocked her head to the side and grinned. “You’re embarrassing her, Andrew. Go away.” She took Amelia by the arm and led her through the rows and racks of dresses—not ones Amelia thought were appropriate for a wedding. “Don’t fear. I’m in the middle of remodeling.”

A good storefront makeover was what Lexi apparently needed. For starters, she had too many dresses in one area, separated by colors. Amelia practically walked through a rainbow before Lexi brought her to the back of the store to a set of steps.

“I’ve got some dresses up here.”

Amelia followed Lexi up a set of wrought-iron stairs winding their way up to an open-floored loft. All types and sizes of mannequins filled the room with different styles of dresses. Short dresses made for children, long, prom-style dresses and wedding gowns hung in clear plastic wrap from satin hangers.

“Did you sew all of these?” Amelia asked in awe.

“I did.” Lexi nodded and surprised Amelia by blushing. “I wish my niece didn’t leave for school early. We call her the Dress Whisperer. Oh, I have a great idea. Stand over there.” Lexi spoke a mile a minute and pointed toward the red couch shaped like a pair of lips.

Reluctantly Amelia stood by the couch. A gold-laminated oval mirror hung over the brick wall behind the couch. Lexi stood in front of her and used her phone to take a photo of Amelia. The flash blinded her momentarily.

“Sorry, but I’m going to send this to Jolene.”

“Your niece?”