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“Like what?”

“Like knowing a person’s skin tone, whether they’re warm, neutral, cool, or olive, and a lot more.Understanding color palettes, learning styles and techniques, and what’s in fashion right now.There is so much to learn and keep on top of.The products as well—which foundation works well with a particular skin care.It’s more than just slapping it on and hoping for the best.”

Charlotte sighed.“I find it a lot of fun.”

Maeve reached out and took her hand.“And that is fine too.If you love it, you could enroll in college here, take a couple of night classes, and you don’t have to commit to anything big.I could create you a small kit.I have so many brands sending me stuff, and a lot of freebies I don’t even open.It will be no cost to you, other than the course, and getting your parents to agree.”

Before Charlotte could say anything, there was a knock at her door.

“Wow, that was fast.”

“Dad said he was in the neighborhood.”Charlotte looked even more depressed.

“I bet he was worried about you.”

“I doubt it.”

Maeve didn’t know what else to say.Doc had always seemed like a very competent and strong father.He only ever wanted the very best for his little girl, and Maeve admired that.

She opened the door, and he was on her doorstep, looking every bit as intimidating as ever.Doc was tall, muscular, and he had a slew of tattoos down his arms.Of course, she couldn’t see them as he wore his leather jacket.They were, however, peeking out from his neck, and she imagined to a lot of men and women, he was terrifying.

“Hi, Doc,” she said.

“Charlotte’s here.”

She nodded and stepped aside.“I don’t know what the trouble is, but Charlotte was just coming to keep me company.”She was not trying to help the girl out, because clearly there was some issue between Charlotte and her parents.“I’m not used to being so lonely.Eden’s usually home and I guess I’ve gotten used to Razor’s presence as well.”

“That still doesn’t allow her to go missing for hours at a time.Not when she screams at her mom and runs out of the house.”

Maeve tried not to wince, but that wasn’t good.She knew Nancy hated having any kind of conflict with her daughter.Especially as Nancy had conflict with her own parents when it came to dating Doc.For some reason, people had a tendency to open up to her.Oftentimes, it happened while she did their makeup, they seemed raw and vulnerable and just poured their hearts out.Other times, like with Nancy, it was done over a mug of coffee.It had been a really good coffee.

“Dammit, Dad, Mom’s exaggerating.She just wouldn’t let me try and figure stuff out.She’s organized a field trip for the two of us, so we can go and check out colleges out of town.I don’t want to do that.”

“It’s important for your mother that you consider all the options,” Doc said.

Charlotte growled.“What if I don’t want options?What if I just want to stay here and figure things out?”

Maeve kind of understood Charlotte, but at the same time, she also understood Nancy.There was more to life than Rivermont Ridge.It was a good town, and sure, it came with a few troubles, namely the biker club not too far from the town.

She was no idiot and had kind of figured the club had some kind of deal with Sheriff Hayes.Whenever there was trouble, a Chaos Monsters MC member was never far behind.They were more like the acting sheriff than the sheriff, who was often seen sitting on his ass, doing nothing.It wasn’t her business, so she wasn’t going to say anything.

Even if she understood Nancy, she also understood Charlotte.Rivermont Ridge was a pretty great place, if you could get past the biker gang.

****

There was never a timeDoc had seen Maeve and she hadn’t looked beautiful.He figured it had been so long since he’d been around a good woman, that he’d started to see her as more beautiful than she actually was.

She had long hair, that often was pulled back into a bun, or clipped.His daughter had told him it was for hygiene purposes when she was doing makeup.There had been a few times she’d let her hair down, and she was breathtaking.

That wasn’t the only thing that was amazing about her.Her smile was always genuine.She rarely smiled just for the hell of it.There always seemed to be a good reason for her to smile.

She looked absolutely stunning when she did, and it took his breath away.One of the few times he’d seen her was at the Easter Fair, but that wasn’t the only time.That was the longest he could stand and admire her.He’d seen her a few times around town, never quite knowing her story, until Razor started to date Eden.

That was when he finally got the full story and her history.He knew all he needed.Maeve was single, and she was a good woman.The kind of woman that stepped up and took care of her sister when her parents died.Razor had told him there was a bond stronger than anything he’d seen between Maeve and Eden.

Charlotte gravitated to her.

“Thanks for having her,” he said.