CHAPTER SIX

      For some reason it seemed as if every woman in Serenity had chosen today to shop at the boutique. Many of the women were contacts Adelia had made through her school committees. They’d come to rely on her fashion sense, more than doubling the boutique’s business since she’d started working there.

      Adelia closed the register after the last sale just past lunchtime and drew in a satisfied breath. She was exhausted, but it had been an excellent morning. Raylene was going to be over the moon when she saw the receipts.

      Of course, today all those sales had come with a surprising number of questions about Gabe Franklin. Apparently word had already spread that Adelia had the inside scoop on the sexy construction guy who’d just returned to town. Since most of the women asking questions were married, she was a little surprised by the level of curiosity.

      She’d managed to skirt the most intrusive questions by diverting attention to a new line of accessories and liberally tossing around compliments about the way the outfits being tried on fit perfectly or suited the customer’s coloring. Because she’d developed a knack for sincere flattery and a reputation for her own personal style, which she’d always achieved on a budget, her tactics mostly worked.

      “Nice job,” Raylene said, startling her by emerging from the office in back.

      “How long have you been here?” Adelia asked.

      Raylene grinned. “Long enough to realize you could qualify for work at the State Department with those diplomatic skills you possess.”

      Adelia laughed. “I was dancing as fast as I knew how. Who knew that even the married women in this town were so interested in the latest gossip?”

      Raylene gave her an incredulous look. “Oh, please, it’s the town hobby,” she said. “Fed by Grace Wharton and, though I’d never say it to her face, by Sarah over at the radio station. She and Travis do their part to stir the pot by announcing some of the juiciest tidbits on the air. Heck, they even invite Grace to drop by just to make sure their listeners always know the latest.”

      “Doesn’t anybody ever consider going to the source?” Adelia asked in frustration. Of course, she’d been relieved at one time that no one had come directly to her when her marriage was crumbling.

      Raylene looked amused. “Are you suggesting that people just ask Gabe whatever they want to know about him?”

      “Well, he is the one with all the answers,” Adelia replied. “I’m an innocent, uninformed bystander.”

      “But it’s so much more fascinating to see how many of those answers you’re already privy to,” Raylene explained. “Were you really bothered by it? You know most of these women adore you. They’re not just being nosy. They’d really like you to be happy after all you’ve been through.”

      “And they think Gabe is the answer?” Adelia asked. “Even though they profess to know nothing about him? One or two even seem to recall something about him being a troublemaker back in the day.”

      Raylene chuckled. “Who doesn’t love a bad boy?” she asked. “Who cares what happened back then, anyway? The man is a serious hunk. He has a smile that makes women weak in the knees. I’d say that makes him a good candidate.”

      “For what? A fling?”

      Her boss winked at her. “No woman I know deserves to have fun more than you do. Why not?”

      Adelia gave her a horrified look. “I have children. I have responsibilities. Flings were Ernesto’s thing, not mine.”

      “Do not tell me the thought of letting a sexy man show you just how desirable you are has never crossed your mind,” Raylene said. “You’ll disappoint me.”

      “Never,” Adelia said staunchly, then thought of the way that smile of Gabe’s made her toes curl. “Well, hardly ever.”

      Raylene laughed. “Thank goodness. I was getting a little worried there.”

      “But it’s a fantasy,” Adelia insisted. “I’d never act on it. My children need one parent with a sense of decorum. And if I did happen to lose my head and my self-control, I’d certainly never spread the news all over Serenity.”

      “Not even to rub it in Ernesto’s sorry face?”

      The thought of retribution did hold a certain appeal, Adelia thought, then immediately dismissed the idea. The momentary satisfaction wouldn’t be worth the potential humiliation of having her children hear about it.

      “Not even then,” she said, though she couldn’t keep a tiny hint of regret out of her voice. Determined to change the subject, she studied Raylene. “You’re actually glowing. Pregnancy obviously agrees with you. How are you feeling?”

      “The morning sickness seems to be over with, knock on wood. I feel pretty darn amazing.” Her expression brightened. “We’re going to find out the sex of the baby next week. At least I am. Carter’s on the fence. He claims he wants to be surprised.”

      “You don’t believe him?”

      “Maybe I would if he hadn’t bought four gallons of paint in various colors for the nursery this past weekend. If ever a man needed to have an idea whether he’s having a son or daughter, it’s my husband,” she said, then confided, “I think he’s secretly hoping for a boy.”

      “What makes you think so?”

      “Three of those four gallons of paint were in different shades of blue,” Raylene said with a smile. “It makes sense, too. He’s been guardian to his two younger sisters for several years now. It would be natural for him to want to raise a son.”

      “How about you? Do you care?”

      Raylene shook her head. “I’m just so thrilled to have a man like Carter in my life after the disaster of my first marriage and to be having a child I’d never expected to have, I honestly don’t care. The girls were already in their early teens when Carter and I met, so it’s not as if I’ve had baby girls in my life. But Carter’s so amazing with all the kids in town. He spends a lot of his spare time helping Cal Maddox and Ronnie Sullivan coach all the sports teams. I’d love to watch him teaching his own son how to do all those little boy things.”

      Adelia smiled at Raylene’s wistful expression. Then her friend sighed.

      “The