The Remake (Second Chance Flower Shop #4) - Noelle Adams Page 0,3

he’ll be interested.”

The faith, however unfounded, made Belinda feel better. “That’s nice, but there’s no reason to assume that. If he doesn’t think I’m attractive, then he’s not going to have any reason to get to know me.” She sighed. “Guys just don’t like me that way.”

“Some of them do!” Ria insisted.

“Not any that I’ve ever been aware of.” Belinda fought against feeling droopy again, mostly because she didn’t want Fitz to be proven right. “It’s fine. It’s not a big deal. Maybe if I knew how to flirt and fix myself up, I’d have more success, but I don’t.”

“If you want, we could help you,” Madeline said. She was the quietest of Ria’s friends. An intelligent, serious blonde. “Not that you need to change in any way, but if you want to try it, we’ll be glad to help you.”

Belinda blinked a couple of times, genuinely surprised by the idea. “Really?”

“Are you interested?” Ria asked. “Of course we’ll help you. But only if you want. You’re beautiful and smart and generous and perfect exactly as you are. You don’t need to change to get a guy. You don’t.”

With a little laugh, Belinda shook her head. “That’s nice of you to say, but obviously I could use a few changes since whatever I’ve got going right now isn’t doing it for anyone.”

“So you want us to help you?” Ria confirmed.

“Maybe. It’s an idea.” Belinda had never even considered such a thing before, but she’d sometimes dreamed of being beautiful and stylish. Being able to flirt with men. Being like all the other women she’d watched all her life, who somehow knew how to attract men instinctively, who didn’t need to be taught.

Skye clapped her hands in excitement. “We can give you a makeover!”

“Only if she wants it.” It was obvious that Ria didn’t want Belinda to believe she needed to change in any way.

And Belinda appreciated it. But the truth was she wanted to change. Not entirely. Not inside. Just a little sprucing up. So she could feel better about herself. “I kind of do, if you don’t think it’s too silly. I mean, I don’t want it to be a big deal, but I could use some advice on clothes and makeup. I have no idea what I’m doing with any of that. And maybe some help with getting noticed by men.”

“We can definitely help you.” Ria was smiling broadly. “Not that we’re experts.”

“Well, you’re all better at it than I am.” All three girls were five years younger than she was, and all three were in very happy relationships. Ria and Madeline were married to good, handsome men. Ria was pregnant. Skye was engaged to another good man. Belinda didn’t envy her sister or friends, but she certainly wouldn’t mind having the chance of a relationship herself. “So if we can do it without a big production or everyone in town knowing what’s going on, then I’d appreciate any help you guys can give me.”

Skye cheered, and Madeline nodded, and Ria reached over to squeeze Belinda’s arm. “It’s a deal. Let’s find a night this week when we can all get together, and we’ll make a plan.”

BELINDA LEFT THE SHOP a few minutes later, feeling more positive about the world than when she’d entered. She didn’t mind getting help with something she was clearly not much good at. She trusted her sister, and she’d always liked Skye and Madeline. If they could help her, then she wasn’t going to turn it down.

She still lived in her parents’ old house. It was a few blocks away in a residential neighborhood close to downtown. She was walking in that direction when she saw Fitz again.

He was standing on a street corner, chatting with Ken Harley—the county’s sheriff and Madeline’s husband.

That was the thing about Fitz. Since he didn’t have a real job, he was always just hanging around, and he seemed to show up everywhere.

She waved at Ken but didn’t stop since she didn’t want to have another conversation with Fitz and ruin her newly good mood.

“Did something happen?” Fitz asked as she passed by.

She told herself not to stop. He wasn’t owed a response to the intrusive question. But she ended up halting her stride anyway. “What?” she asked with a frown. “Why do you ask that?”

“Because you look like you’re on a mission.” His blue eyes were searching her face again in the same way they had earlier. “And that always means you’re in a good mood.”

She shook