From Maverick to Daddy. Teresa Southwick

and played a game with us after dinner,” Lily cut in.

      “Sounds like he got pretty comfortable.” Sally finished putting the clear top coat on the little girl’s toes. She helped her get out of the chair without nicking the still-wet polish and said, “You know the drill, sweetie. Go to the station up front and stick your feet under the light. Let those little piggies dry.”

      “I will. Thanks, Sally.”

      “You’re welcome.” She pulled a clean set of pedicure tools from the little table beside her, then lifted Mallory’s left foot from the swirling water. “Now that little ears are occupied, I’m going to give you some advice.”

      “Is it included in the cost of the pedicure?” Mallory was trying to lighten the mood.

      “Just remember it’s worth what you paid for it. Also that I care about you.”

      “This sounds serious.”

      “It is.” She lifted her gaze. “Caleb Dalton is a notorious charmer who’s too good-looking for any woman’s peace of mind.”

      Mallory decided not to admit that she’d fallen into the typical category where he was concerned. In her humble and objective opinion, he was both charming and way above average in the looks department.

      “The thing is,” Sally went on, “he’s never stuck to one woman for any length of time. It’s always superficial and then he moves on. No one can figure out how, but his exes are all still friends.”

      “I’m not sure whether you’re warning me or singing his praises.”

      “Both,” Sally admitted. “He doesn’t feel the need to be with one woman when he can have them all.”

      “I see.” She watched as the woman shaped her nails, then trimmed the cuticles. She needed to respond to the statement, but waited until she was sure her voice would be normal, nothing to give her away. Because the truth was that when Caleb was around, she smiled more, glowed just a little and felt a flutter in her heart that took the edge off monotony in life.

      “I appreciate the warning, Sally, but I’m not looking for anyone. It’s been pointed out that I got to Rust Creek at the peak of the gal rush, but it wasn’t about finding a man.”

      “Okay.” The other woman buffed her toenails. “What with you being a newcomer, I just thought you should know.”

      Mallory smiled, then held still for the polish. When that step was finished, she swung her legs to the side so as not to smudge her freshly painted toes. After handing over her credit card to pay for the pedicures, she joined Lily at the nail-drying station. There was a clear plastic holder with the flyers Sally had mentioned. In bold letters at the top it said Embracing Your Inner Psychic.

      She took one of the papers that had all the information and put it in her purse. Although she didn’t believe that anyone could see the future, if the whole town was going, she would, too. That was what you did when trying to belong.

      And wouldn’t it be nice to know what was yet to happen? Mallory thought as an uninvited image of Caleb’s roguish grin popped into her mind.

      Maybe sometime in the near future that foolishness would stop. She really hoped so.