One

IT HAD BEEN THREE DAYS since 17-year-old Riley had moved into Lavender Cove with her dad, but a part of her still couldn't get over how the whole island smelled of saltwater and lavender. Its fragrance was almost whimsical and heavenly, and so was the sight that greeted her upon cycling all the way to the top of a cliff.

A lavish abundance of tall lavender spikes blossomed in front of white picket fences, and Riley felt like apologizing as she parked her boring-looking bike at one of the slots provided. It looked so terribly out of place in this hidden slice of paradise, and Riley made a mental note to check Google Maps for any bike shop nearby.

Maybe a basket , the teenager mused to herself, and probably some colored handle s. Those should be enough to give her bike a glow-up. Hopefully.

The gingerbread-styled cafe looked like something straight out of Julia's childhood fantasies. A purple-colored roof with snowy white trimmings, huge windows that showcased a cozy-looking interior, and a porch with white brick walls and waist-high shelving in which picturesque clusters of wisteria spilled out of intricately designed metal planter boxes.

Wind chimes tinkled out a melody to welcome her as she entered the cafe. The scent of lavender and saltwater had since faded, and taking its place was the equally delightful aroma of freshly baked pastries, old books, and coffee.

Most of the tables inside the cafe were occupied, and Riley managed an awkward smile as the locals looked her way and smiled in greeting.

People here were so friendly, and for someone who had grown up in downtown Manhattan her whole life, a part of Riley couldn't help but feel self-conscious and out of place.

She wasn't shy in any way, but all her life, she had been surrounded by people who were too stressed and busy to have the time to even say 'sorry' when accidentally (or not-so-accidentally) shoving strangers out of their way. Everyone in NYC was always in such a hurry, but here on the island it was almost as if time had decided to stand still, and people were allowed to just breathe and be in the present.

A girl about her age smiled at Riley from behind the counter. "Hi there. Welcome to BBB. What can I make for you?"

"Just one Americano. Regular."

"And your name?"

"Riley."

"Gotcha." The girl smiled at her again, and Riley couldn't help smiling back. Lavender Cove really had to be the friendliest place in the world, and Riley couldn't even remember the last time she had smiled this many times in under an hour.

"I'm Juno, by the way," the other girl shared. "Are you here on vacation?"

Riley shook her head. "We just moved here three days ago."

"Oh." The other girl's eyes went wide. "Your family's the one that bought Brook Hall?"

"Our new home does have a brook, so...maybe?"

"Cool! It's one of the nicest, most gorgeous homes on the island, you know. And it's, like, listed as some kind of historic site, I think."

Riley wasn't the type to make friends easily, but Juno's cheerful tone had her saying impulsively, "If you're not too busy, my dad and I will be hosting a small housewarming party in the weekend. Maybe you could come?"

Thirty minutes later, and Riley still felt like pinching herself.

Wow.

Ever since her parents' messy divorce two years ago, Riley had found herself withdrawing completely into her shell and avoiding other people's company.

This...was the first time she had felt herself again, and so maybe, maybe her dad was right after all, to insist on giving themselves a fresh new start by moving to Lavender Cove.

Or so she thought...until she saw a new text message pop up on the screen of her iPhone.

Mom again.

Riley hated feeling like this, but she couldn't help it. The only reason her mom called her these days was to rant about her dad. And she had tried, she had really tried to be understanding at first, but it was just too much.

Riley could already feel her stomach cramping in anxiety as she started reading her mom's text.

Why isn't your dad answering his phone? Do you know where he is? Is he with another woman? Call me.

VIXEN NOTICED THE NEWCOMER as soon as she took her place behind the counter, and a smile curved over her lips at the way the teenager perused the personally curated books on the shelves.

"That's Riley," Juno whispered while untying the apron strings behind her back. "She just moved here a couple of days ago."

A rare influx of tourists prevented Vixen from replying, and it was only when much time had already passed, and Vixen was at the back of the cafe and preparing the lovebirds' "dinner" that she belatedly remembered to check in on Juno's new friend.

Vixen waved at the younger girl, and the girl waved back at her with seeming hesitation. Vixen set aside her veggie chop for the moment, and both Salt and Light hopped on one shoulder each as she headed over to introduce herself.

"Welcome to LC—-" Vixen grinned upon seeing the girl's brows furrow. "Short for Lavender Cove."

"Oh." The younger girl looked flustered. "I should've realized..."

"Don't worry," Vixen assured her. "I was exactly the same when I moved here a few years ago."

The girl's expression turned to one of relief. "I was kinda worried."

"About being the only new girl in town?"

The other girl nodded.

"It may not seem like it, but LC does get to welcome new residents every year. I'm Vixen, by the way...and as Juno has been quick to inform me, it's Riley, right?"

Riley nodded.

"These two—-" Vixen gestured to her lovebirds. "—-are Salt and Light." The look of interest on Riley's face made Vixen smile. "They can step up on your hand if you want?"

"Really?"

Vixen taught the younger girl what to do, and minutes later, Riley was laughing in delight as the lovebirds decided they trusted her enough to perch on her shoulders next.

"They're too cute," Riley exclaimed.

"And they know it, too," Vixen said with a shake of her head.

Their conversation soon turned to other topics, and Vixen could only laugh when Riley was unable to resist voicing her opinion over the collection of books displayed in her cafe. "Why are they all Bibles and religious books?"

"Why not?" Vixen countered cheerfully. "You can never read the Bible often enough, and it has all the answers to everyone's problems."

"I don't think so."

Vixen carefully studied the girl's face. Riley wasn't just incredibly pretty, but she also had the height and slimness typically associated with professional models. She didn't look lacking in money or status either, but it was also impossible to ignore the troubles that seemed to weigh heavily on the girl's shoulders.

"Whatever it is you're going through, you shouldn't worry too much about it," Vixen offered gently. "No one ever added a day to their life by worrying, you know."

Riley slowly nodded. "That's a really good point." Her brows furrowed. "Who said that, though?"

"The Bible."

Riley's brows met together in a frown. "Yeah right."

Vixen couldn't help but laugh at Riley's dubious tone. "I'm not lying."

"Oh."

Vixen had a feeling it was Riley's first time to have someone talk to her about God. "May I tell you a story?" she asked impulsively.

Riley appeared startled that Vixen even cared to ask first. "Sure."

"There's this dream I have since I was thirteen years old," Vixen confided. "I wanted to have my own cafe and fill it with books. I also wanted to start my own book club. Grow lavender in my backyard. I worked hard my entire life to make my dream come true, but things just kept happening, and I'd find myself back in square one. I was feeling more and more frustrated and desperate. I couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong...until someone invited me to church. And that's when everything made sense."

"Because of God, you mean."

"Yes," Vixen confirmed even as she bit back a smile. The younger girl was obviously taking pains not to offend her, and she considered that a good sign.

"It took a while for me to understand just how much He loves me," Vixen continued, "and why I didn't need to be in control. I quit my job even though everyone told me I was crazy. I told my mom and closest friends about the things I had been forced to do because of said job...but they still thought I was crazy. They were all so nice about it, actually. They almost had me convinced that I made a mistake. But thankfully, God promised to never let anyone snatch us out of His hand—-"

"He said that?" Riley interrupted her to ask. "Really?"

"Absolutely."

"I see."

The girl's expression was now pensive, and Vixen privately considered this a good sign as well.

"So, anyway, when I remembered all the things that God promised, I prayed that night for a sign, and He gave it. Immediately."

"How do you know the sign is from him?"

"It's something you just feel, I guess? And that night, you know what He made clear to me?"

"What?"

"To finally start cleaning up the attic—-"

Riley burst into laughter.

"And guess what I found?"

"Junk?"

"My mom actually did think it was junk before, when I started collecting them."

"Pokemon cards?"

"Football cards."

"For real?"

Vix grinned. "You know how much I ended up selling one of them for?"

"A few thousand?"

" Enough for me to buy a house here—-"

"No way!"

"And build this ."

Riley let out a gasp as Vixen gestured to her surroundings, and it was Vixen's turn to laugh.

"Seriously?"

"It's all about God's perfect timing."

Riley shook her head. "I feel like you're pranking me."

"You can look my name up on the Internet," Vixen said cheerfully, "and you'll see a news article about me and the auction of a certain rookie card."

"It just sounds too amazing ."

"When you start trusting God, life becomes amazing every day."

Salt and Light started squawking at that moment, and Vixen, in yet another inexplicable moment of impulse, found herself inviting Riley to help her out as she headed back to the counter.

"I never thought of birds eating plants and stuff," the younger girl revealed with a sheepish smile. "But it kinda makes sense when you really think about it."

"Seeds are like junk food for birds," Vixen explained, "so I only give them seeds as a treat."

"Have you always had birds as pets?"

"Salt and Light are my first, and I got them from the local sanctuary."

"So they're like rescues?"

"In a way. They likely escaped from captivity...or were deliberately released when their previous owners no longer felt fit or interested in caring for them."

Riley appeared incensed. "That's mean!"

"It happens a lot, unfortunately. And what most people also don't realize is how love birds can be considered an invasive species since they're not endemic here. In order for me to take Salt and Light in, the sanctuary helped me obtain special permission from the local animal department. I'm also required to submit periodic reports on their health, stuff like that."

"That sounds exhausting."

"It is. But it's also incredibly rewarding. No risk, no biscuit as they say."

Riley wrinkled her nose. "Don't tell me that's also from the Bible?"

Vixen grinned. "A former NFL coach."

Riley burst into laughter, and this pretty much set the tone for the rest of the evening. The younger girl eagerly helped out in getting Salt and Light settled for the night while they bonded and laughed over shared interests.

Vixen was honestly surprised at how much she enjoyed Riley's company, and it was probably why her heart had this funny little ache when Riley suddenly spoke in a wistful tone.

"You're more like a mom to them than mine ever was to me."

Vixen didn't answer right away. 's family was always a touchy subject for anyone, and she needed a moment to pray for wisdom and discernment.

"While I can't speak as a parent, I am someone's daughter, and I've had my fair share of misunderstandings with my own mom. I know they can say and do pretty hurtful things, but they're still our mother at the end of the day. They always have our best interests at heart."

But Riley proved to be a lot more stubborn when it came to her mother.

" That right there is just more proof that you're more like a mom than mine is. She'll never say anything like that. She'd just say I was wrong, and she's right, and that's how it will always be."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"Mom's never going to say that either. She's never apologized to me. Like ever ."

"Maybe...your mom's going through something as well? You could ask her that the next time you guys talk. Maybe just ask how she is."

Riley's expression turned noncommittal. "Maybe. I mean, I probably can . But only if she cares to call me up first....which she never does. All she cares about is getting her monthly check from Dad."

Vixen felt like she was about to start sounding like a broken record, but she also knew there was nothing else for her to do but apologize.

"I'm sorry to hear that, Riley. I really am. Has it been long since their divorce?"

Riley's lips tightened. "They were never married in the first place. My mom had just divorced her first husband when she dated my dad. He never knew she was married—-"

"Are you sure you want to tell me this?" Vixen asked gently.

"I need to. I feel like I'm about to explode if I don't get this off my chest."

Vixen led Riley back to her table and prepared another drink to help the younger girl relax. "This is one of our most popular brews," she explained. "It has lavender and chamomile, some honey, and a healthy amount of calamansi imported from the Philippines."

Riley's expression was one of awe after taking a sip. "This is amazing."

Vixen couldn't help but smile as the girl took a few more sips. "Feeling better?"

"Much."

Vixen's compassion grew as she listened to Riley talk about her parents' past. To know that one's mother had deliberately gotten herself pregnant for money would be difficult for any child to process, but it was even worse for Riley, who later found out her mother's refusal to marry her father stemmed from the other woman's desire to continue receiving a monthly stipend from her ex.

"The only reason I ended up living with Dad is because she offered to sign away all rights of custody...for a price."

"How do you know all of this?"

"My grandma."

"I see."

"Why does that sound so loaded?" Riley asked suspiciously.

"It's not," Vixen denied. "But it's not enough to just hear your grandmother's side of the story, don't you think? Have you tried asking your mom about this?"

Riley shook her head.

"Then maybe that's what you should do. Ask your mom. Or your dad even. But remember to do so with respect and gentleness. And love—- "

Riley made a face. " Ugh. "

A text from her dad had Riley saying her goodbyes with visible reluctance, and Vixen couldn't help feeling the same. "How long are you staying in LC?"

"For good?"

Vixen blinked. "So you're not a tourist?"

"As of today, we're officially LC's newest residents." Riley noticeably brightened up as she said this, and Vixen's mood picked up as well when she realized that she didn't have just today to spend time with the younger girl.

"I'm so thrilled to hear that, Riley." Vixen then stepped back with a beam, saying, "In case no one has said this yet - welcome to your new home, neighbor!"

Thoughts of her earlier conversation with Riley still had Vixen smiling from time to time as she went on with the rest of the day. Juno clocked out at seven, and Vixen was about to close an hour after when she heard the door open while the wind chimes played out a tune.

"Tell me you're not closing yet?"

Vixen already knew it was Rule even before turning around, and her heart was once again a battlefield between excitement and trepidation. Would she ever get used to feeling this way around him?

"I am about to close, actually, but—-"

"Great."

Vixen could only laugh at the way Rule immediately made himself comfortable as he took his usual spot by the windows. "What will you have?"

Rule seemed he was about to say something before changing his mind, and Vixen had a feeling he had been about to say 'you' before thinking twice about it. This worried her just a bit, but she caught herself in time.

You promised, Vix. No assumptions, remember?

It was true that Rule struck her to be the rich-Don-Juan-from-the-city type, but since honesty was always the best policy...

"You know how some people would say they'd drop by this place or that because it was on their way?"

"And?"

A mischievous smile curved over Vixen's lips at Rule's puzzled tone. "And this cafe, which isn't accessible by any means, is definitely not one of them."

Rule was visibly disconcerted this time, but his expression soon turned wry when their gazes collided.

"You got me."

"So you're not coming here for the coffee. Right?"

"Guilty as charged."

Vixen sighed. "I've always had a feeling you had a soft spot for our pastries instead."

A second of silence ensued, and then her heart was singing as her words earned a rare laugh from Rule.

"You're always catching me off guard."

His brooding tone should have worried her, but the sound warmed her heart instead. Rule didn't seem the type to acknowledge his weakness just to anyone, but he was doing exactly that.

With her.

"What about you?"

The sudden question startled her into looking back at him. "What about me?"

"I like you."

Vixen's breath caught. He liked her. He could've said he wanted her. But he didn't. He said he liked her.

"And I want to know if you feel the same. Do you like me?"