Trusting Love by Betsy Horvath

Author:Betsy Horvath [Horvath, Betsy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781943725083
Publisher: Various Minded Books

21

Josie studied the woman who, once upon a time, had been one of her good friends. Louise’s hair was a lot different than she remembered, a brilliant red instead of the soft blond from before. And the other woman looked…sharper somehow. She’d lost some weight, so she was relatively lean, but that wasn’t the reason for the new hardness. It was in her eyes and in the tightness around her mouth.

Mat shifted, withdrawing his arm from where it had been resting on the bench behind her. She immediately missed the warmth of his skin.

“I’ll just go say hello to some people I know,” he said as he slid out of the booth. “Then you two can talk.”

Josie smiled at him. “Thanks.”

Nodding, he turned and walked away. Both women watched him go.

“Is that Mat Guerrero?” Louise asked.

Josie winced because she’d been unintentionally rude. “Sorry. I should have introduced you.”

Louise turned back to her. “As what?”

Josie was confused. “What?”

“As the town slut? The one caught with Hannah’s boyfriend?” Louise looked down and wiped her hands on the chef’s apron she was wearing over her jeans and T-shirt.

“As my friend,” Josie corrected.

“Right.” Louise glanced around the room, and Josie saw that there were a number of people staring at them. It suddenly occurred to her how awkward this must be. It had taken guts for Louise to leave the safety of the kitchen to face the crowd. Hell, it had taken guts for her to come back to Hardy Falls in the first place.

“Why don’t you sit down,” she suggested, gesturing to the bench opposite her.

Louise looked around again, then slid into the booth. But her eyes remained cold.

“I heard you were back in town,” she said to Josie, “helping Hannah in the kitchen.”

Well, she’d known there would be gossip.

“Trying to.” Josie pulled a face. “Not always successfully. I don’t know how you do it.”

She’d hoped that maybe the attempt at camaraderie would melt some of Louise’s reserve, but no such luck. The other woman remained unmoved.

“I do it because I have to. What did you want?”

The abruptness knocked Josie off balance again.

“I just wanted to find out how you’re doing.”

“And maybe try to get some insider information?”

Josie decided to cut the bullshit because it wasn’t working anyway. “Maybe,” she admitted, putting her elbows on the table and leaning forward. “Maybe Hannah’s wondering what’s going on. Maybe I am, too.”

“I think it’s obvious what’s going on.” Louise gestured around the room. “We’re kicking butt. I’m helping Pat, and I’m doing a hell of a good job.”

“It looks like you are.” Josie cocked her head. “Why?”

“Pat’s been good to me, not that it’s any of your business.” Louise smiled, but it wasn’t pretty. “He’s my godfather, you know.”

“I know.” Josie saw the surprise before the other woman hid it. “Remember, Jenny’s my sister,” she said, attempting humor.

“Of course,” Louise murmured, looking down at the table. “I guess she still knows everything that happens around here. Not many secrets in Hardy Falls.”

“No. But even she was surprised to find out you were managing Pat’s restaurant.

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