Wishes at Willow Lake by Mary Manners Page A

more with Mason—had dreamed of it on starlit nights while she lounged in bed, watching light from the moon cascade across the sky through her bedroom window. But she was gawky—a nerdy bookworm, all elbows and knees in glasses and braces—and Mason was strong and agile and so…completely masculine that she was convinced he’d never given her a second look for anything other than her brain. So much for dreaming. “Besides, that was more than a decade ago. We were kids.”
    “I saw the way he cast sideward glances at you during English class. There’s no mistaking those kinds of looks.”
    “Well, he never acted on it.” She shrugged nonchalantly. “If he felt anything at all, it was nothing more than some school-boy crush—and a desire to make a passing grade in English—that’s surely long-forgotten.”
    “I thought the same thing about Ryder, and look where that got us.” Ali dipped her head to kiss Rory’s dark crown, his hair a mirror image of his daddy’s. “This precious little guy.”
    “He’s beautiful.” Josie smoothed a hand over Rory’s soft cheek, her heart quickening. Ali had everything Josie longed for—a husband who adored her, a sweet baby, and a business that boomed despite the economic dive. She tamped down a bite of envy, sighing as she mentally scolded herself. Ali had certainly seen her share of hard times before finding her way to happiness with Ryder. “You’ve sure been blessed.”
    “I have.” Ali nodded. “And blessings are waiting in the wings for you, as well. You just have to be willing to accept them.”
    “But it’s winter, and this recent cold snap is more frigid than the inside of a deep freeze.” Josie motioned to the boulevard beyond the front display window. Willow branches danced in a stiff breeze beneath clouds ripe with snow. They’d most likely have at least a dusting of the white stuff by dinnertime. “Nobody starts a building project in the dead of winter.”
    “Then Mason ought to be smack dab in the middle of his slow season. All the better to get him here to help you plan.” Ali smiled. “In a few months, Willow Lake will be crawling with tourists, and you’ll want to be ready for the boon. Besides, the almanac is predicting an early spring once February blows in—perfect weather for construction.”
    “Well, February is only a week away.” Josie toed a small pallet of magazines with her boot, easing it against the wall. “I guess I could give Mason a call and ask for his help. Or, at the least, request some suggestions on how to rein in the chaos around here. Business is really starting to suffer when customers can’t even squeeze between the shelves.”
    “I agree. Posts and Pages has morphed from a cozy little bookstore/coffee shop into a full-blown battleground. If you don’t captain this ship, it’s going to be swept into a tidal wave. You really have to strategize and come up with a plan for expansion—and soon, Jo. From the looks of that article, Mason has plenty of experience to help with that.”
    “You’re right. I’ll give it a shot. I guess the worst Mason can say is no.” Josie smoothed a hand through Rory’s downy hair as he cooed, his lips pursing into a tiny grin. Her heart melted. “But, I haven’t talked to him in forever. He probably doesn’t even remember me.”
    “Oh, he’ll remember you.” Ali handed her the cordless phone from the counter. “Trust me on this. Call him. I dare you.”
    “Dare me? Good grief! What are we…in high school again?” Josie tucked a lock of hair behind one ear and then swept her fingers whimsically over the phone’s buttons. “You really think I should do this? Really ?”
    “I do…unless you want to line John Larder’s—and his cousin’s—pockets with wads of your hard-earned cash.” Ali took the magazine from Josie and handed her Rory in exchange. She sidestepped cartons to refill her coffee cup with fresh brew from a polished silver urn on the counter. One sip