Read Needs A Little TLC (Spinning Hills Romance 2) for Free Online

willing to listen. It’s asking us to believe it can come back, stronger and more vital than before.

    He stared at the screen awhile, wishing he could talk to the Cassie who’d written those words.

Chapter 3
    C assie walked to the corner, stopped abruptly, and took a moment to breathe, to let the world beyond come into sharper focus. The sounds of small children playing in the park across the street, and the smell of bacon and coffee from restaurant patios down the street reached her, and she began to breathe more evenly. She hated losing her temper.
    “Are you okay?” Jessica asked. “That got pretty intense.”
    “I’m fine. We need to make a decision, that’s all.” She waited for a car to pass before crossing the street. “How would you feel about moving our headquarters?” she asked, trying hard to sound as if it didn’t matter much. The last thing Jessica needed was to feel as though this decision depended on her.
    Jessica ticked off pros and cons with her fingers. “The commute would be about the same for me, but yours would be considerably longer. We don’t have to break our lease agreement because you’d still need that office, but you’d have to hire someone new if you’ll be down here. Opening an office here, whether it’s a satellite or our headquarters, would set us back a few thousand. Ordering new marketing materials if we decide to make this office our headquarters would set us back even more, but off the top of my head, I believe the long-term payoff here is worth it. I want to run the numbers, though, to be sure. I think it’ll come down to the numbers and how you really feel about working with Sam.”
    “It’ll come down to the numbers. I can handle Sam.”
    They paused outside the Gypsy Fortune Café and Bakery, and Jessica looked around. “Well, I really love it here, Cass. I see us here. I’ll run the numbers when we get back.”
    Cassie grinned. “Wait till you meet a few more people before you declare your love.” She opened the door and whispered, “If you thought it was intense back there—”
    “Finally, you come to us !” Rosa exclaimed a moment later, engulfing Cassie in a comforting, flowery perfume–scented embrace.
    Cassie smiled. “I always meet you halfway.”
    Rosa stepped back and held her hands, saying, “Let me take a good look at you,” in her familiar, melodious accent. “Gorgeous as always, the turquoise is spot-on, but you must not wear white, it washes you out.”
    She was then tugged, whirled around, and bear-hugged by Ruby. “Nonsense. Fashion doesn’t matter. The fire inside you can never be washed out.”
    “If fashion doesn’t matter, why are you always wearing things that make you look like a witch?” Rosa pointed a long, red, rhinestone-studded nail at Ruby’s outfit. Muffled laughter came from a group of patrons at a nearby table.
    Cassie sucked in her lips to keep her own laughter in. With her long silvery hair, black, wide sleeved gown and bright blue eyes, Ruby certainly looked like the gypsy-witch she’d always wanted to be.
    “It’s a good look on me and it’s great for business.” Ruby lifted a shoulder, shooting Rosa a haughty glance.
    Cassie glanced back at Jessica, who was looking around, trying to hide her own smile. Her eyes twinkled when she caught Cassie’s glance, and she could tell her friend liked both the older ladies and the café.
    Comfortable bubblegum pink and mint green chairs, sofas, and soda-shop stools; a huge, crystal-laden chandelier; exposed brick walls; and a few rustic touches gave the place its unique vibe. The three women had never been able to agree on décor so they’d settled for a mix-and-match of their personalities and tastes.
    Her eye caught sight of her grandmother’s favorite stool at the far end of the counter and Cassie pictured the two of them there, sharing tea and dessert and chatting. It was here that Cassie first noticed her grandmother’s mind was beginning to fade.
    Sherry’s