Page 23 of Second Time Around
“Lead the way.”
It was a warm summer evening, and the park was bustling with activity. Its sprawling size made it easy for everyone to spread out, though, so it afforded them some degree of privacy. They could have been out for a romantic evening stroll, but since they weren’t, she got right down to business.
“You have to stop sending me referrals.”
He laughed. “That’s what this is about?”
“Yes. I don’t need any more clients. I have plenty as it is.”
“I’ve never heard of anyone turning away business,” he said conversationally.
“You forget I’m not new to this. I’ve been cutting hair for years, and I’ve built up a solid clientele.”
“I believe it.”
“So, why do you insist on doing this?”
He sighed. “I’d have done the same thing for anyone in business. Most people I know would welcome it and return the gesture.”
She paused in the middle of the path. “Is that the only reason?”
“What else would there be?”
“You tell me.”
A young couple approached them, laughing and holding hands, and she and Beck moved aside to let them pass.
“Beautiful night,” the man said and smiled at them.
“It sure is,” Beck said, returning the smile.
After the couple went by, Jenna and Beck continued walking, but some of the fight had drained out of her. It really was a beautiful night, and she wished she were here under different circumstances. Arguing with her ex-boyfriend seemed like a waste of a perfect summer evening.
“I didn’t mean to offend you,” he said. “I might have bragged about you to some people I know, but I didn’t demand they make an appointment with you.”
“Does that include your mom?”
“That was her idea. She mentioned it the other night when I went over for dinner.”
Jenna used to enjoy family dinners at the Montgomery house. Barb was an excellent cook, and she loved to bake cookies. In fact, Jenna might have gained an extra pound or two while she’d been dating Beck.
“Were there cookies?” she asked.
He chuckled. “Of course. Homemade sugar cookies fresh out of the oven.”
“Frosted?”
“Yep, and some with sprinkles.”
“Ohmigod. I used to love those. The store-bought ones don’t even compare.”
“I agree.”
The path wound through a copse of trees, and she got the sense that they were strolling down memory lane.
“You could come over for dinner sometime,” he ventured.
She kept her gaze pointed straight ahead. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
