hanice Tyson, Ashley O'

-after-church diner. Sha

our lit

ah. He had a fever. I

ine this morning, but sle

Samuel home. She wanted

th friends. This lunch

er friends helped her wo

situation with Roman Vel

er, Ashley dealt wit

legal for a law firm an

er work-ob

had graduated from NY

dio job where she was on

d they were no differen

ught they were. Now she

gnment. "The director wan

ace has the right

Ashley dreamed of trav

ooked on old-fashioned

nd stay in a castle, pref

tic bachelor

Shanice snorted. "It's

ser and more interesting

es tax c

no Lake." Ashley emp

into her

k. "Pastor Jack was on

for a full hour. I th

plain." Shanice smirke

mplai

laughed

Grace." Shanice raise

n, what, a month now? Yo

two w

utting in my notic

urprised. "Roman Velas

t isn't enough, he's sing

leaned forward, eager to

enager. Now he works on

ne up to bid

" Grace gave the waitr

rslept this morning and

s well as exhausted. "H

in San

ightened. "What'

migrating across the S

e caffeine would

d in the mural. "Why do

you've been a

laugh. "Gorgeous? Sing

ed. "Okay. I googled him

ook. "Too muc

like Patrick. He works

Velasco acts like a bea

discontented, or so qui

first day. He's frustrat

hat he's doing." She put

ible view I've ever see

e turned the master bedr

he back wall and then c

that looks like a dirt

to peel

ried. "Is he verba

polite when I'm aro

empty. His v

to him." Ashley looke

ouldn

ome does, my granny u

t a cursory glance and p

to be c

ore. "My guard went up

icole st

, Grace looked down w

He's living the American

ce whenever I have a conve

s." She let out her br

can take up to two hour

Samuel. I'll never have

sn't very good. I don't

aking ends meet. I need

n be on my

"Are the Garcias

over completely. I thin

ears. "Samuel is becomin

ard. "You're still

he kno

e he does

il you have another line

ley chimed in. Even wi

r granted. The school di

yo

ve to try. I have two i

's office in order. The

e system if he hires a

satisfied with t

e. "I'm sure he is, an

women lined up at the do

Grace Moore came into t

ished another transfer

ew series of canvases w

n the doorway. She clea

his shoulder

nd of hair behind her e

dnesday and Friday nex

ews sch

hought everything had b

a job. You

y for my services, Mr.

better-paying jo

ome to fix dinner for y

didn't mean she didn't ha

li

caught up in th

Roman faced her, dete

ed f

rba

less than twenty mil

d hours in my car every

e better spent

nted to ask, but figur

truth, it wasn't, but he

ng him a ch

d, and I've written a br

tant. I'm not leaving im

be leaving as soon as I f

he took a step back, clea

onver

l scraped across the fl

another

She shrugged as if she

raightforward. You could

I want to be is

's not exactly what I dr

ave the option of hiring

se under his breath.

o I have to do t

t work t

an do mine. That's the

ll pay the fee and you c

ike the commute. Okay.

olved." The expression o

tter with the offer? I'm

type, and I can guarant

blush was due to anger

said more

ll the neig

e was serious or jokin

bors close enough to see

what

nds, even if

anted out. Because of

his teeth. What was it

friends won't tell you h

busin

p me acco

th

and my friends love

f I'm heading

nto this conversation?

ut. All he knew was he d

, while thinking fast. "

a little charm. "A rent

ink you've died an

they me

't meant to say that w

ve a low, mirthless la

ad, giving her a wry look

" She couldn't hold his st

t I pay the agency." When

dd free housing to that r

, won't you?" He could s

ng on an inner debate wh

ver had that effect on a

vior on the first day?

rsi

e to pay

anet? At least she was

eady know, I don'

dn't be your guest, M

tch herself and added qui

t, which I

weakening. He'd never

ely unsettling. Maybe s

It'd solve all your p

ook another step back. "

d she have? "You said

n't we

cide, I apprec

ess eager to talk about

t over carefully b

wil

about it, the better he

his next-d

s, and they agreed to t

this time, and they all

nto her tote bag for bab

talked about a new pra

evening Bible study.

co's

the new guitarist with a

or, Grace? He's not ask

own place again. Isn'

. "You'd better make s

he rules anytime he wanted.""Whoa, girlfriends.

ouldn't make such a ge

oked at Grace. "What I w

e raised her brows. "

r head. "Nothi

prayed a

raying." Grace looked at

m I just desperate to fi

one problem, but

uld give you a big boos

that time on the r

ed. "What a

er Grace's. "Selah an

find childcare nearby. A

ds. Maybe this is the

een look

classes," Ashley added.

ney to go back to school.

ou'd have three ho

looked at Samuel aslee

don't want to make

ew moist. "You've had

sometimes what looks l

I'm not setting myself u

like you to come up and

our impressions of the

of an

y morning that she'd c

ay morning, if that'

mean they're checking

mb." He waited, leaving

t what? She couldn't pre

her instincts had faile

t of man Patrick was. H

is looks and popularity

hat he said. She'd over

g herself she loved him.

he hadn't tried t

sco's expression grew w

, right? Are you still go

es

ish you good luck." A

ud

ayed all the way to th

. God, if You're the one

essage. I'd be right nex

and neighbor. He's dee

y sw

ace forms to fill out. S

women coated in confiden

gner suits and three-inc

ok her hand and sat fac

k. He'd already perus

. The interview lasted si

in and wish

r car, her phone alerted

was canceled, the position.Oh, wow!" Ashley

ed. A California king-s

Her twin bed and nightst

walk-in closet bigger

ia h

the bathroom!" Ashle

low-and-white marble

th shiny chrome fixtures

r

small hideaway lavator

ight. "It's an integr

door. "There's a rainfa

wa

if you should move in?

is fan

Shanice spoke with less

ommander of t

wear his usual jeans an

in a button-down shirt,

So, he cranked up his us

ront tucked in behind a

his hair. Maybe he shoul

eting was the biggest eve

w

girl's opinion

and having her around

d. Unlike other women,

ck down

ive from an upper wind

rolling the paver walkwa

accepted his offer, sh

uldn't be entirely alone

all that mu

pen, and women's happy

race's wasn't one of

his presence. Grace a

e were just l

kno

man could enter and int

nde Ashley O'Toole star

k his hand firmly. Shani

stood. Experienced, tough

othes. She held a baby

, nod. He caught the win

alpha female he'd

Shanice first and looked

Moore has friends who

women with a glance. Gr

t going to be rushed in

was on his way out for

I'll leave you all to di

the door. "It's far m

e, empty." Would that b

? "It's yours

ed to think

? "Talk it over with yo

your decision." Comfor

s. Moore.Roman walked along the path to

look back. He recognize

oo. He'd give her the sa

d. Fo

urn the lie into truth a

ead. Or put something el

nal assistant, where she

ti

r friends ta

an understand the te

round a man like that

studio. I'm i

al, offered advice.

right. That way, he can

for you by ch

iously, Grace has reser

to see the place and mee

y." She nodded. "He

andsome?" Ashley cam

seen him i

ub for over a year, Ash

ugh. We shouldn't jud

her a steel

ication that he's putti

Moore." Ashley

at Grace. "Any insti

e with him?

int of telling me

her hands. "So, I'll a

the p

t it. "Once I'm in, it'

er Samuel's head and lo

t the house

uel. "I don't want to

e, and temptation gripped

is. She'd be lucky to fin

would that

lace, don't you

would

ath. "Roman Velasco of

fer him the same rent you

rent will keep this a b

You needn't feel ob

warm, rosy cheeks. "

hrough T

iday night through Sun

you find childcare, you

ing. I'm sure there are

cany

" Shanice put in. She t

lah and Ruben? The a

to be t

come very

ckled his chin and got

if I didn't alread

e this." Nicole sighed. "

u'll save commuting. Ti

on you have, the better y

Her cell phone chimed.

the text. "I

phone. "Time to head

's neck. "See you, snook

like a gift from the Lo

e Vel

ave an idea! Instead of

her, why don't we each b

Grace. "What

eks. I have to

backed out, picked up s

. Shaking her head, Grac

and good

diaper before she settl

before she re

lary and a nice place t

fford childcare. She co

e was right. She would h

h in high school to ear

derailed when she r

ain house, she wonder

still at home, but decided it would be better to wait until Monday before saying anything.