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Prologue

“So, have you heard? Max is back” Marie watched with a friendly smile as Eive a little juh it wasn’t the first tie that the hunky Dr Cannon had ossip to all the woh her store

Marie Hoas there to pick up a hand-crafted mirror with beautiful hand-painted tiles Livia was there, even though she hated both Emma and Becky, because she was friends with Marie As far as Livia was concerned, they were directly responsible for her breakup with Max

Livia Patterson was one of the town beauties and knew it Fine boned with alabaster skin, she had just the right dusting of rose at her cheeks to set off her pale blonde perfection Add blue eyes the color of forget-me-nots and a tall, wispy build, and she was the epitoile blonde The woman could brawl like a linebacker when the time came; she could shriek, and bats for round; but , and men fell for it They loved that whole delicate flower of woed to pull off so flawlessly Not that E Not really

Men looked at E, plain brown eyes and nondescript brown hair, at five-foot-two inches Emma would never, literally, be able to stand up to Livia

Add in the fact that ay relationship with Becky and her social calendar rely empty

“Apparently Max is planning on taking over Dr Brewster’s practice; he and Adrian will be partners,”

Livia cooed

“So you’ve already spoken to him?” Marie’s expression of polite curiousness didn’t quite mesh with her tone of voice Eht Marie was almost exasperated with her friend Everyone kne hard Livia had once chased Max Maybe she thought she could get the old fires burning once again?

“Yes, Max just bought his parents’ old house I can’t wait to get in there and redecorate” E her hands in anticipation “Of course, nothing in this shop will do No real craftsenuine antiques, not knock-offs” Livia’s conteaze raked the store, and its owner, with equal derision

When Livia’s back was turned, Emma, in a fit of childishness, mimicked the blonde as closely as possible Marie wound up choking on a sip of tea as E with Livia’s words “Of course, everyone knows Max would never set foot inside Wallflowers Does he even know you exist, Emma?”

Ehtfully as Livia turned back to her “Yes, actually, I believe he does So to do with…punch Cherry punch, if I recall correctly” That had been the incident that broke up Max and Livia; Becky had spilled cherry punch all over Livia’s white pro Emma Max had, apparently, taken Emma and Becky’s side and had broken off his relationship with Livia Livia had hated Emma and Becky ever since

Eay couple rumor alive

The look on the blonde’s face was filled with hatred until she sain the cool, delicate woman most of Halle knew She smiled at Emma with pity “I hear Jimmy left town recently

What’s wrong, E you with Becky? Or perhaps you couldn’t talk her into a e a trois?”

E the hurt over Jimmy with practiced ease They’d known before he left that their relationship wasn’t going anywhere, and it wasn’t Ji party?” Sometimes it helped to have friends in odd places; Max’s best friend had become one of her best artisans and closest friends He’d lass wall art for the store