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Ava saw it was Larissa. The sweet young girl who worked at the library. Larissa always had a smile on her face. Today, she was wrapped up in a thick winter coat, a hat, a scarf, and her cheeks were bright red.

“Larissa, are you okay?”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. I’m always so cold around this time of year.

Ava didn’t need to see that the young woman was probably in a dress and wearing tights and boots.She couldn’t ever recall seeing Larissa in anything different.

“I washoping to have some cinnamon rolls to take home to Dad,” Larissa said.

This was a surprise to Ava as Larissa often cooked for her father.

“Sure, sure. How many would you like?”

“Would it be possible to have four?” Larissa asked. “Ihaven’t had a chance to make them.”

There was a quiverin Larissa’s throat, and Ava frowned. “Is everything okay?” She looked at Larissa and then saw the tears in the woman’s eyes.

Ava couldn’t stand to see such a sweet woman crying. She rushed around the counter and pulled Larissa in for an embrace. “It’s okay, sweetheart. I’ve got you.”

“I’m so sorry. I don’t usually cry so easily. It’s fine. It is so fine.”

It clearly wasn’t fine.

Larissa wrapped her arms around her, and Ava hugged her tightly, not wanting to let her go, to help her feel safe and warm.

“Come on, come around the back,” Ava said.

She guided the other woman toward a seat.

Abriana and Harlow still hadn’t returned. How odd.

Pushing her concerns out of her mind, she focused on Larissa, who pulled her hat offher head.

“I’m sorry. It is so silly, but I absolutely love my job. I love working at the library, and they have to make cuts.” Larissa sniffled. “They let me go. My dad already knows and he says it’s fine, but I don’t know what I’m going to do. I have to work.”

Ava wanted to offer her a job, but between her and Harlow, everything was working out fine, and she didn’t have a place for her.

“You know what, I’m pretty sure we can come up with something,” Ava said. “I promise you, you won’t have to worry for long.”

“No one is hiring, and I don’t want to go to the city.” Larissa’s lip wobbled. “This is home, you know.” She sniffled. “I’m so sorry. You don’t need to hear about my troubles.”

“They’re not troubles. Would you like some coffeeor hot chocolate, or tea?”

“Atea would be nice,” Larissa said.

“Right.” Ava moved toward the kettle, and as she did, she looked into the office where Abriana stood with Harlow. They were close to Harlow’s phone, nodding into it.

They looked up, and Ava looked away, focusing on the cup of tea she was making for Larissa.

What were Abriana andHarlow up to?

Chapter Four

“And the library has let her go because of budget cuts, and I don’t know what to do. I suppose I could give her a job at the shop. Is there anything you can do, Smokey?”

Ava looked so damn sad, and the truth was, Larissa was such a sweetheart that he didn’t want to see her struggling. He didn’t understand why Jonah hadn’t come to him already.

Taking hold of Ava’s hands, he pulled them up against his lips andpressed a kiss to each one. “Please, don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of everything. I swear.”


Tags: Sam Crescent Romance