advertisers. In fact, sheâd been hearing rumors of layoffs.
Eve sighed, remembering that conversation. What was she going to do with herself this weekend? She was already bored and it was only six oâclock Saturday evening. There was nothing good on television, Olivia and Thea were in Dallas for the weekend and no one else that Eve knew was free. Her own mother was probably busy with a bridge tournament or something. Ironically, Anna seemed to have more of a social life than Eve ever hadâor would have.
After another half hour of yawning and attempting to knitâshe had learned this past yearâEve shoved the knitting back into the tote that housed her supplies and got up. âIâm going to the shelter,â she announced aloud. Sheâd begun volunteering at Crandall Lakeâs homeless shelter six months earlier, and sheâd found it very satisfying work. Sheâd even made friends of some of the women there. âGoing to the shelter is better than sitting around feeling sorry for myself,â she muttered as she prepared to leave, âor thinking about Adam Crenshaw.â
She hadnât heard otherwise, so she figured he was still in town. Given the level of interest in their townâs biggest celebrity, who had surpassed former pro quarterback Dillon Burkeâs position as its most famous alumnus, she knew she would have heard if Adam had returned to Nashville.
Thirty minutes later, as she approached the shelter, her spirits had already improved. It always did her good to come here, made her count her blessings and remind her that despite her problems she was extremely fortunate. She shouldnât ever complain, even to herself. Life could always be so much worseâand was for many. She and her childrenâin fact, her entire family, everyone she lovedâwas healthy and had a roof over their heads. What more could she ask for?
Vowing to do better, she walked into the building and saw that she had arrived too late to help serve dinner, but not too late to help clean up. Donning an apron, she joined the other volunteers and in short order theyâd cleared all the dirty plates and cutlery.
âI guess you heard whoâs coming tonight,â said Julianne, one of the teen volunteers.
Eve frowned. âUm, no. What do you mean?â
Julianne grinned. âAdam Crenshaw! Oh, câmon. You knew!â
Eve shook her head. Her stupid heart had already started to gallop, just at the sound of his name. âNo, IâI didnât. When will he be here?â
âAny minute,â Julianne said. âHeâs going to sing !â Her eyes shone with excitement.
Eve looked around wildly. Any minute! Up to now, sheâd managed to avoid going anywhere she thought he might be. Oh, God, she had to get out of here. She knew it would look crazy to leave just ten or fifteen minutes after arriving, but she couldnât stay. So what if the other volunteers gossiped about her? Theyâd forget about her as soon as Adam started singing. She began to remove her apron, but it was already too late, for the entire room started to buzz with anticipation as Adam walked through the dining room doorway.
Eve could feel herself trembling. Olivia had been right. He did look better in person. In fact, he looked gorgeous. She took in the black T-shirt with his bandâs logo on the front, the tight jeans, the worn biker boots, his shining hair, the dimple that appeared as he smiled at the crowd.
An interviewer had once asked why he never wore cowboy boots or cowboy hats. His answer had been that heâd never been a cowboy and refused to pretend he was. âIâm just a musician,â heâd said, âwho, a lot of the time, likes to write and sing country music.â
Adam. His name felt like a prayer.
She couldnât take her eyes off him. But he hadnât seen her. Thank God, he hadnât seen her. Eve knew she couldnât leave without