David studied the sugar packet, turning it over and over on the table. “I’m okay, guys. I’d rather not talk about it. Let’s talk about you guys, not me.”
“We’re here for you if you ever do,” Nico said.
David mumbled, “It’s good to be out. That’s enough.”
“How’s Mrs. Coventry?” Stone asked Nico, hoping to change the subject.
Nico brightened. “She’s doing pretty well. Dr. Waller paid her a house call earlier today, and he said her blood pressure’s down.” He smiled and leaned back in his chair. “Dr. Waller said he thinks it’s my home-cooked meals. She was getting way too much salt from those frozen dinners.”
Nico lived up on the very top peak of the hill above town in a bungalow he rented from an elderly widow, Judi Coventry. Rentals were hard to find in Cliffside Bay. Finding a bungalow had been a stroke of luck. Mrs. Coventry owned one of the oldest houses in town on a large lot that included an amazing view of the ocean. A bungalow sat adjacent to the house, which she rented to Nico at a low rate in exchange for help in the garden and with errands, such as grocery shopping and tending to the flowers.
“I’ll probably stay over at your place tonight,” Nico said. “But I’ll scoot out early. I’ve started making Mrs. Coventry breakfast and coffee. She doesn’t eat anything until late afternoon unless I make her oatmeal with just a touch of maple syrup.”
“Maple syrup? I thought you were against corn syrup,” Stone said.
“You may not realize that real maple syrup comes out of a tree and is sweet enough just as God made it,” Nico said.
The table erupted in good-natured jeers.
“You Californians are just plain weird,” David said. “In the Midwest if it doesn’t have corn syrup in it, then it’s not food.
“Seriously, though. It sounds like you’re taking on a lot with this lady. You don’t even know her,” David said.
“She doesn’t have anyone,” Nico said. “It’s the least I can do. And she’s such a sweet old lady.”
Trey patted Nico’s shoulder. “You have the biggest heart around. Just be careful. You don’t realize when people are taking advantage of you.”
Rafael appeared with two pitchers in his hands. “Sophie’s bringing the wine. She insisted.” He said this with a pointed look in Nico’s direction. “And what’s this I hear about a dog?”
“If you’re referring to my recent adoption, then I’m guilty.” Nico put a hand over his heart and made a face. “I couldn’t help it. When Jen looked at me with those big eyes, I was a goner. We kind of picked each other.”
“What were you doing at the shelter in the first place?” Stone asked, even though he knew the answer. Sophie had asked him to go with her to help pick out a dog.
Nico threw up his hands. “You know I can’t say no to that girl.”
“You’re going to get yourself into trouble with her,” David said. “Trust me. I’m an expert on trouble.”
“I’d love to be in trouble with her,” Nico said quietly. “But I’ve made it clear I’m not interested.”
“You mean, you’re pretending not to be interested,” Stone said.
“Right.” Nico glanced up at the bar. “It’s hard as hell. She’s awesome.”
“How is it that you came away with a dog and not her?” Rafael asked.
“She wants a bar dog, and she said she’ll know it when she finds him or her,” Nico said. “Talk about something else. She’s coming this way.”
Rafael immediately launched into the subject of football, so by the time Sophie arrived with Nico’s wine they were in a heated debate about what San Francisco should do about their quarterback problem. Since Brody Mullen retired, the team had been a disaster.
Sophie set the glass in front of Nico and whispered something in his ear that made him chuckle. When she straightened, she greeted the rest of them and then sauntered off on her long, tanned legs.
Nico’s gaze followed her until Stone punched him on the arm. “That girl’s going to make me lose my mind. Do you know what she whispered in my ear?”
“Do tell,” Trey said.
“She said, ‘There’s a bottle with your name on it on my bedside table.’”
“Goodness,” Rafael said. “She’s not exactly playing it cool.”
Nico groaned. “I’m telling you guys, she’s my kryptonite. Do you know how badly I want to take her up on her offer?”
“Dude, you’ve got to pull yourself together,” Stone said.
“Getting with her would be a disaster on so many levels,” Rafael said.
“I know. I know. But there’s something about her I cannot resist,” Nico said.
“Well, you need to. For all our sakes,” Stone said. “Getting on the wrong side of Zane Shaw is not a good idea.”
As if God was punishing him for his lack of sympathy toward his friend’s plight, Pepper Griffin walked in the door wearing tight jeans and black stiletto pumps. She had a sassy orange scarf in her black curls that looked retro and posh. His stomach fluttered. Actually fluttered, as if there were birds or butterflies flying around inside him.
He didn’t know which of them had it worse. Him or Nico. All he knew was they were both headed for trouble if they didn’t keep it together tonight.
“Hey,” he whispered to Nico. “Keep it cool.”
“Cool?”
“With Sophie. Like, don’t get drunk and follow her upstairs.”
“Should I say the same to you in regard to the black-haired doll who just walked in here?” he whispered back.
“Yeah. You should. You most definitely should.”
Chapter 4
Pepper
* * *
From the sidewalk in front of The Oar, Pepper spotted Stone’s chiseled face. She was embarrassed by their intimate conversation after he’d nearly been killed by a speeding car, and the last person she wanted to see was Stone. She’d run over the conversation a hundred times since, chastising herself for telling him about therapy. Seriously, who just let that pop out of their mouth to a guy they had an enormous but confusing attraction to? Her instinct now was to make haste in the other direction, back to Lisa’s to spend the night watching television. She almost told her friends to go in without her. However, what excuse wouldn’t make her sound like a crazy person?
Autumn and Sara were new friends—relationships she wanted to cultivate. For one thing, they were also single. Since everyone else in this town seemed to be happily married or headed there, a bitter single girl needed a few plus-ones to hang with. In addition, she liked them both tremendously. Sara was guarded and maybe a little shy, but intelligent and interesting. Pepper had met her at a party at Kyle and Violet’s a few weeks back, and they’d spent hours talking about a variety of subjects. They shared a love of theater, art, and fashion. And Autumn? Other than being Stone’s sister, there was nothing to dislike about her. She was kind, generous, and down-to-earth. Just like her brother.
She followed behind Autumn as they entered the bar. Unless you watched carefully, you would never spot the slight hitch in her left leg.
“Hey, I may lean on you by the end of the night,” Autumn said once they were inside the bar. She sometimes used a cane, but tonight she was without it. “After a few drinks I can get a little topsy-turvy. But I hate to bring my cane to a night out. I feel like an old lady.”
“I’m on it,” Pepper said. “And you’re nothing close to an old lady. You look great tonight. I love your hair.”
She gave a shy smile and ducked her head. “Thanks. I’m not used to going out, but I’m trying to be bolder.” Autumn was a beautiful woman, with gorgeous fair skin and a mass of thick auburn hair that fell past her shoulder blades. This evening, she was dressed in black jeans and a light green sweater that matched her eyes.
Pepper had chosen a flowy blouse with blue dots, ankle skinny jeans, and black pumps. Her hair would not behave, so she’d arranged a scarf in that mess, hoping it looked trendy and not silly. Everyone was
so much more casual out here. Back home in New York, she, Maggie, and Lisa always wore cocktail dresses out for a night on the town.
Sara shrugged out of her black leather jacket and reached up to touch the messy knot of reddish hair on top of her head, as if to check it was still there. On some it would look unkempt. Not Sara. She was fierce and tall, with a muscular, athletic body, like a warrior queen. The type who set trends, not followed them. Pepper had to admire her short green wool skirt and knee-high black boots, as well as her sleeveless sweater in winter white. Not everyone would notice this, but Pepper knew just by looking at her that every item of clothing on her body was from a high-end designer. Years working retail made her and Lisa experts. They could spot couture a mile away. That outfit probably cost three thousand dollars. Must be nice to be an heiress.
As they huddled in the entrance, Pepper couldn’t stop her traitorous eyes from looking Stone’s way. He was sitting in the back of the restaurant with his buddies looking like heaven in faded blue jeans and a tight black sweater that clung to his muscular shoulders and chest.
She spoke sternly to herself. Pay attention to your new friends, not Stone Hickman.
When Autumn had called to see if she wanted to go out with them for dinner and drinks, she’d jumped at the chance. Especially since she’d faced a night alone with Maggie and Jackson, who she felt quite certain wanted to put the baby to bed and have wine and sex in front of their fancy fireplace. Lisa was busy babysitting David’s kids and had asked if she wanted to come over and run lines with her. Selfishly, that was the last thing Pepper wanted. The thought of running lines when she wanted so desperately to have work herself made her completely depressed and filled with awful jealousy. She’d been contemplating going out alone when Autumn called and offered to swing by to get her.
“Where should we sit?” Autumn asked. “Oh, great, there’s my brother. He’ll be giving me the stink eye all night.”
“Why’s that?” Pepper asked.
Sara laughed. “He doesn’t like it when the two of us drink. It’s a big-brother, overly protective thing. My brother has it, too.”
“That sounds nice,” Pepper said. She’d always wanted a brother. Sadly, her mom and Dack hadn’t been able to have other children.
Sara pointed to a table by the window. “There? Away from Stone?”
Autumn nodded. “Pretend like you don’t see them.”
“Good luck with that,” Sara said as Stone lifted a hand in greeting.
The three of them traipsed across the restaurant in a row and settled into the hard chairs. A server came over right away with menus and took their drink order for a bottle of white wine. Stone showed up soon thereafter.
“Ladies, care to join us?” he asked.
“No. Definitely no.” Autumn crossed her arms over her chest. “We’re having girl time.”
“Fine. I can take a hint.” He grinned. “But may I say before I go that you all look beautiful this evening.”
Pepper felt the heat rise to her cheeks and made a great study of her menu. Was it her imagination or did his gaze seem to linger longer on her?
“Thank you,” Autumn said. “Now go away.”
“Come over and say hello at least. After you eat,” he said.
“Will do,” Sara said. “By the way, David’s plans blew me away. A few tweaks and we can get started.”
Stone beamed. “We won’t let you down.”
“I’ve never been less worried.” Sara placed a hand on Stone’s arm. “I’m proud of you and delighted to be one of your first clients.”
A shock of jealousy shook her. Stone and Sara had a past, obviously. Was it sexual? She really hoped not, because she liked Sara and would hate to spend the rest of the night imagining stabbing her with a fork.
“Nice scarf,” Stone said to her. “You look like a movie star. Oh, that’s right. You are a movie star.”
Before she could say anything, he hustled away.
She watched his tight rear in those jeans walk to the other end of the restaurant until she realized the other women might notice. If they had, they didn’t let on. Both had their noses in the menu.
“I’m starving,” Sara said. “I met with David about the house plans this afternoon and haven’t had anything since breakfast.”
They talked for a bit about what they were going to eat. Pepper didn’t feel particularly hungry. After her session with the therapist, she’d felt the urge for a cocktail, not food. The waitress brought the bottle of wine. They all decided on the Brody salad. Once that was settled, they toasted to a night out, then started talking about Sara’s house plans.
Pepper only halfway listened. She tried but she couldn’t seem to stop obsessing about the nature of the relationship between Autumn’s best friend from college and her brother. Finally, after the salads arrived and the other two were quiet for a moment, she had to ask.
“You guys go way back?” Pepper asked. “Like Maggie, Lisa, and me?”
“That’s right,” Autumn said. “We were college roommates freshman year. I’ll never forget the first night. We’re lying there in our little twin beds talking about where we’re from and everything and next thing I know Sara’s told me she’s Sara Ness and that her dad started the famous hamburger chain Burgerland, and did we have those in Oregon?” Autumn laughed. “She pronounced Oregon weird, like Oar Ah Gone.”
“I did not,” Sara said.
“You did. And I was so freaked out by how rich you were I was stunned into silence,” Autumn said.
“That didn’t last long,” Sara said. “A few minutes later we started talking and haven’t stopped since.”
Pepper smiled at the two women across from her. “You two almost look like sisters, you know that?” They both had light brown hair with red highlights and were similar heights. Although Autumn was fair with a scattering of freckles and had eyes the color of a mountain green lake. Sara had a darker complexion, wide cheekbones, and light blue eyes.
“People tell us that all the time,” Sara said.
“Especially since you copied my hair,” Autumn said.
“She’s such a liar. I’m the real redhead here.” Sara made a face. “Don’t believe a thing out of her mouth.”
“Fine, I did get some red highlights recently, but only so that I didn’t feel like drab Dora around you,” Autumn said.
“So you’ve known Stone a long time then, too?” Pepper asked, using her best blasé face.
Sara looked up from her salad and glanced at Autumn. “When did he come home for leave that first time? Were we sophomores?”
“Yes, because we were in the apartment across from campus by then,” Autumn said. “I remember because I found some girl draped over Stone on that ugly plaid couch we had.”
Sara laughed. “That was after the party over at Zoe’s. If I recall correctly, Stone was very popular.”
“It was disgusting,” Autumn said.
“So, you and Stone…were you guys ever a thing?” Pepper asked Sara.
Sara made a gagging noise. “That’s gross. He’s like my brother.”
Brother. Okay, now we’re getting somewhere. I won’t have to stab her with a fork.
Autumn set aside her fork and watched Pepper with a suspicious glint in her eyes. “Why do you want to know exactly?”
“No reason. Just making conversation.” Pepper popped a section of avocado into her mouth.
Both the ladies across from her laughed.
“That’s a good one,” Sara said.
“He’s available, you know.” Autumn picked up both her knife and fork and cut into a piece of grilled chicken without looking at Pepper. “But I got the distinct impression you didn’t like him.”
“He’s impossible not to like, and he’s very attractive,” Pepper said. “I’m sure there’s a million girls who think so.”
Autumn sipped her wine. Pepper watched as the women exchanged sideways glances. “Okay, I’m going to come clean. The reason we asked you out tonight w
as to get to the bottom of this thing with you and Stone.”
“Thing? We don’t have a thing,” Pepper said as her face heated to the degree of the perfect latte.
“He’s smitten with you,” Sara said. “As a matter of fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him look at someone like he just looked at you.”
“Agreed,” Autumn said. “So what I need to know is this—are you sassy to him because you like him and don’t know what to do about it?”
Pepper cleared her throat. She should’ve ordered a scotch. “I’m not sure.”
“Which means we hit it right on the head,” Sara said, looking delighted. “I knew it. I could see the way your eyes followed him at that party a few weeks ago.”
“She’s the one who suspected your feelings,” Autumn said. “Sara notices everything.” She said the word everything as if it was in capital letters.
“Did he tell you I saved his life?” Pepper asked.
“He did, in fact,” Autumn said.
“Isn’t it strange that I happened to be there?” Pepper stuck the tines of her fork into a cherry tomato. “Right at the moment?” She held her fork up, using the tomato like a highlighter. “Do you think it means something?”
Both the ladies nodded. “What else could it mean but that you’re meant to be?” Autumn asked.
Chapter 5
Stone
* * *
Monday evening around six, Stone parked his truck in front of Kyle and Violet’s four-car garage. He grabbed a bottle of wine from the passenger seat and hopped from his truck. Before heading inside, he took a moment to admire the house. Kyle had wanted a traditional-style home, with pillars, dormer windows, and bright white paint. Given their childhood, it didn’t take a genius to know why.
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