Secretly Smitten: Rumor Has It, #1

By Stephie Klaire

Pine Valley spells "small-town charm" with a capital G-O-S-S-I-P.

 

Beating the town busybody at her own game is playing with fire... especially when the new girl in town gets caught sleuthing around town with a sizzling firefighter.

 

Spunky bookshop owner Molly Sexton loves a good story as much as the next person, but this time the story is about her. The local gossip queen has gone too far and Molly has made it her mission to bring the cranky spinster down.

 

When she enlists the help of hometown hero, Seth Spangler, Molly has no idea that he's crushing on her or that spending hours playing detective will sweeten things up between them.

 

Rumor has it, there might be more to this relationship than just friendship... and it's spreading like wildfire.

• Language: English
• Publisher: THE SSK GROUP
• Release date: Dec 21, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386554080

Book preview

1

We came as soon as we saw it. Are you okay? a wide-eyed Libby asked Molly after setting several pastry boxes on the counter at Reading Grounds.

See what? Molly questioned. She gave Libby an odd side-eye glance as she began to sort the fresh pastries into the baked goods case she stood behind.

Molly Anna Sexton was new in town and the proud owner of Pine Valley’s newest establishment, Reading Grounds. Resting on the charming small town’s busy Main Street, nestled at the base of the Pacific Cascade Mountains of Oregon, Reading Grounds served as an upbeat bookstore and coffee shop in one –– and a popular gathering spot for locals and tourists alike.

Libby gave Molly a sympathetic look, picked up the laptop sitting on the counter, and gestured for Molly to meet her at the large semi-private table near the back. The table was already surrounded by a handful of the ladies, young and old, who quickly took their seats as if they were already assigned.

All eyes were on Molly as her jaw dropped –– her expression washed in shock and surprise. She read posts on the town’s rumor rag, Friendspace, a social media platform community group. A post targeting her. Again.

"Oh no! How do I stop this… how do I stop her?" Molly asked, her words laced with concern as she buried her face in her hands.

Dead center, between Portland and the town of McKenzie Ridge, you could find the quaint town of Pine Valley, known for its wine, spirits, and brews. It was small, part of historic Oregon, and full of vintage homestead charm with equally old traditions. Pine Valley was cute, charismatic, and… loaded with small-town gossip.

Kill her… Brady offered as a sound solution with a confident shrug. Brady didn’t mince words, nor did she have a filter of any kind. She was known to take even the toughest of men to task when necessary, so one had to assume she wasn’t entirely kidding, even if it wasn’t a realistic option.

Molly quickly fit in with the locals, establishing a weekly book club, which was nothing more than a multigenerational gossip group where the eldest members trained the next generation. The gathering took place in a book shop, after all, so a book club it was deemed. The community was tight-knit. Everyone knew everyone, and newcomers were few and far between, so they stood out like a sore thumb — compliments of the town busybody who kept everyone in the loop on any and everything via the social media platform, Friendspace. There was no anonymity in Pine Valley — or a hundred-or-so-mile radius.

Can’t kill her, Molly replied with a nervous chuckle. I’d never get away with it. It’d be posted all over Friendspace, and I’d wind up in a book on one of my shelves.

Shayna, the free spirit of the group, added, I can ask Jasper. He’s an officer of the law. Gotta be a loophole.

The ladies nodded lightly with raised brows as if it was a plausible idea worth considering before breaking into laughter over Shayna’s idea. Given the Mayberry feel, three officers were more than plenty in a town the size of Pine Valley. Jasper was the town Barney Fife, and he had Shayna’s attention.

Why not kill her with kindness? Libby asked.

Libby Shannon, owner of Savory Sweets Bistro, provided the tasty, delectables Molly sold in her shop. She also provided the welcoming committee and newfound friends when Molly moved to town six months prior. The ladies were close, family even, and accepted Molly as one of their own right away, and they took care of their own. Especially now that Molly was under attack.

It finally happened. Evelyn the mouth Shirley. The town busybody and know-it-all-all who kept tabs on everyone and everything in this town making it her civic duty to keep everyone informed of the opinions she held on such things. People feared her like the cranky mercenary granny she was. Evelyn, also known as Evil Evelyn, was brutal, unrelenting, and nobody was safe. She had been known to make grown men cry and run people out of town with a single post on her Friendspace page. Evelyn and her blogging brand, Rumor Has It, had more power than Jasper and his posse of lawmen, the mayor, and maybe even the Almighty himself.

She’s Evelyn Shirley… kindness is fuel to her fire, Shayna snorted. "Where does she find this stuff, anyway? It can’t all be real, can it?"

"Oh, this is real, Molly chided between gritted teeth. It’s very real."

The women gasped, surprised by the admission.

It’s not what you think, Molly quickly corrected. "It’s… not… that," she said, pointing at the computer screen.

Pine Valley’s first Vegas showgirl book slinger. You know where to go to warm up — and I don’t mean with a cup of coffee.

The picture was of Molly standing between several scantily-clad women in what appeared to be a bar. Although completely clothed, Molly wore enough sequins to make a disco ball look dull. Not her most flattering picture, but certainly not as scandalous as Evelyn Shirley suggested.

Libby scanned the store, taking in the crowd, and shared her observation. It doesn’t seem to be hurting business. Look at this place!

They’re all men, Libby. I’ve been asked out six times, and it’s only ten o’clock on a Monday. Now I know why! Molly added.

It seemed Evelyn had another target: the town’s new girl. Molly shuddered at the now very public picture and snarky comment. It was clear to anyone who read Rumor Has It who Evelyn was outing… and taunting. It was as if she was daring Molly to do something, but what? Evelyn had an endless arsenal of suggestive slander and plenty of time to use it given how often she posted. Poking a bear was never a good idea.

Wow, don’t they work? Brady asked, breaking the sudden silence. "Oh my gosh, isn’t that Shannon’s husband! I’m surprised Evelyn isn’t all over that! Brady said in disgust, her own jaw dropped. She raised her phone and snapped a picture of sickening-sweet Shannon’s husband, Chad. I’m sending that to Evelyn."

Libby laughed. "I can see the headline now, Pastor’s son-in-law, a two-timing sinner, not a holy rolling saint. Oh Lord!"

The group snickered, each having been the butt of Evelyn’s antics a time or two… or ten.

You can’t send that! Molly scolded, reaching for the phone. Isn’t he the youth group leader or something?

Yep. Brady pulled her phone just out of reach as she finished typing her message to Evelyn. "All the more reason to send it. He’s holding a… gasp… romance book!"

Shayna laughed. I bet he’s just doing research. You know, for date night.

Hey, there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s sweet, actually. It shows he cares, Molly teased. Besides, I know why he’s grabbing it. Shannon is an avid romance reader, and that’s the newest release everyone is talking about.

You suppose that’s why they have so many kids? I’d say those books are working for them, Brady added.

Molly laughed. You send that picture, Brady, and neither Shannon nor Chad will ever show their faces in here again. You’ll also have to face them at church knowing you unleashed Evelyn Shirley on them.

Nah, they’ll just order them online or something instead. There’s some really good stuff in those books… romance never hurt anyone. Maybe that’s what Evelyn needs, Brady offered.

Libby ducked her head in closer to the ladies, and whispered, I’m just dying for him to put the book down so I can go see what it is. He’s been reading it since we walked in.

"Libby! That’s so… personal. Good for him taking an interest in his wife’s reading material." Shayna laughed.

He’s blushing, Brady chimed in. Maybe I should send Evelyn the book instead of the picture.

The group shenanigans fell to a screeching halt when Brady switched gears and addressed the real elephant at the table. No-filter Brady didn’t leave anything to the imagination or for guessing — ever. I didn’t know you were a showgirl, kid. Props to you.

Water shot from Molly’s nose when that which she was drinking took a wrong turn in an awkward attempt to avoid choking over the unexpected bomb Brady dropped. "I was not a showgirl. I was an activities director at a retirement center. I’ve never even been to Las Vegas. Those are singers, Molly defended, pointing at the girls in the picture with her. The last Friday of every month was a party. This particular evening was the Roaring Twenties, hence all the sequins and feathers."

All eyes were on her as Molly scanned the table. Either they weren’t convinced or they wanted more. It’s a high-end establishment for people with means. Everything is over the top there. It helped me make my way to Pine Valley and Reading Grounds.

You’re pretty hot under those glasses and baggy sweaters you like to wear. Dress like that pic, and you’ll need to expand the shop! You’ll owe Evelyn thanks instead of the strongly worded email I know you’re already writing in your head in an attempt to get Evelyn to like you, Brady deadpanned.

"I’m perfectly content with being me. Now, if I can just get Evelyn to see the real me, and get off her radar, I’ll be golden."

Good luck. The woman is relentless, Libby replied.

"I’ll take that luck. They don’t call her Evil Evelyn for nothin’." Molly shrugged.

2

Evelyn Shirley made the Grinch Who Stole Christmas look like a Whoville saving Superman. Ornery didn’t even begin to describe the character of this woman, nor did it define the utter disgust she sported. No, ornery was a compliment of high praise. The way she looked down her nose, harrumphs, and pffts as she wandered by, and those beady, dark, soulless eyes could make the devil himself shiver.

Kindness, Libby mentioned. Kill her with kindness. Molly could do that and found herself at the Savory Sweets Bistro where a little birdy had mentioned the next garden club luncheon would be held. Evelyn ran that garden club like it was her religion, so she’d no doubt be there. Kindness. Could it be Evelyn Shirley’s kryptonite forcing that warm and fuzzy feeling that could melt the ice around her tiny, hardened, cantankerous black heart and get Molly on her good side? If she had a good side. Only one way to find out.

Hello, Evelyn. Lovely arrangement you’ve designed, Molly said with a mega-watt smile. "Are all those flowers from your garden?"

Kindness was met with an eye roll and an annoyed sigh. "Of course, they are from my garden. I am the Garden Society chairperson and have been voted such for the past thirteen years consecutively. I do have award-winning gardens, you know. I suppose they don’t teach such posh and regalities in Vegas, dear."

Voted in thirteen years in a row out of fear, Molly mumbled.

Evelyn gave her a sharp look. Pardon me?

I said I was an activities director at a senior center, which isn’t in Las Vegas. You know, if you looked at the picture a bit closer, you’d see the audience was older, like... Molly paused and shook off the jab she almost took at Evelyn’s age, not willing to be thrown off track so easily. With a deep, calming breath, she continued. Anyway, I was thinking of putting something in the planters in front of the shop. What would you recommend?

Flowers? No strobe lights or flashing neon signs? Maybe you should put in a stage. Evelyn stood straight, hand dramatically grasping her chest as if shocked. I know there’s more than cookbooks and the latest King novel for sale in your shop. I hear the ladies around town talking about the romantic ones, Evelyn shot back.

It was odd.