Diamonds and Dirt Roads

by Erin Nicholas

  “I can help,” Cori interjected, wanting to say anything that would keep Evan from making any kind of comment about sugar and Ava. “I can name all of the ingredients that go into a cherry and an apple pie.”

  That succeeded in getting Ava’s eyes off of Evan. “I was hoping you’d say that,” she told Cori.

  “But the baking is supposed to be your thing,” Evan said. “The trust is very specific. Don’t forget that.”

  “Of course,” Ava said. “But it also doesn’t say anything about me not getting help.”

  “It doesn’t?” Cori asked.

  “No. As long as I’m in charge of the pie, that doesn’t mean that someone else can’t help,” Ava said. “Isn’t that right, Mr. Stone?”

  Cori had no doubt Ava had scoured the trust for every detail…and loophole. And she was back to calling him Mr. Stone. The kind-of flirting was over. Thank God.

  “That is correct,” Evan said carefully. “You can get help. As long as you’re still the primary baker. But we, you, need to be careful not to interpret things too loosely. It does say that Cori isn’t supposed to be baking. Your father had a very specific intent behind his provisions. In your case, it was for you to be hands-on with your product.”

  “Of course,” Ava said, soothingly. “I’m perfectly fine staying inside the legal boundaries of the trust.”

  Evan frowned and Cori had to admit that it didn’t sound like Ava was overly concerned with their father’s intentions. But as long as she abided by the trust, everything would be fine. Supposedly.

  “You’re not going to be here with us every day, are you, Mr. Stone?” Ava asked. “I assume that you have other clients and obligations?”

  Evan’s eyes narrowed but he nodded. “I do have other obligations. And no, I didn’t intend to be here every day. Though,” he added, as an afterthought, “since we are dating, you should probably plan to see a lot of me.”

  Ava gave him a smile that seemed less than sincere. “Wonderful.”

  “And if you’re thinking about having Cori baking the pies because no one is going to know anyway, you need to be careful,” he said. “I am dedicated to fulfilling all the terms of the trust as your father intended them to be fulfilled. And I’m not the only one aware of the provisions.”

  Cori really did like when he got firm like that. She had the impression that Evan was easygoing and fun-loving a lot of the time. But when it came to her father, his friend, and this stupid trust, he was resolute.

  “I can promise you that I will touch every single pie that this pie shop makes,” Ava said.

  Evan shook his head. “I understand that your reputation as a tough negotiator is well-earned, Miss Carmichael.”

  Yeah, Cori liked when he called Ava Miss Carmichael way more than when he talked about her being his girlfriend.

  “But,” Evan went on, “this isn’t something to negotiate. This is your father’s trust. And your future. Your sisters’ future.”

  “I’m aware,” Ava said coolly. “And I also assure you that if anyone but me bakes these pies…” She lifted a brow. “…you will never know it.”

  “But I will.”

  They all swung to look at the owner of the new male voice.

  There was a tall guy with dark hair and a deep scowl standing by the back door of the shop. In spite of the scowl and the way he had his arms folded, which made his biceps look big and firm, he was definitely good-looking.

  “And that’s not happening,” he said.

  “And who are you?” Ava asked, her chin going up and her chilly CEO voice firmly in place.

  “Parker Blake.”

  Ava just lifted a brow. “I’m sorry, Mr. Blake, but I’m not sure how this is any of your concern.”

  “Oh, it’s my concern all right, sweetheart. You are not fucking this up. Read a cookbook, look at a few online videos, take a cooking class. But you’re making those pies and if I have to come over here every day to babysit you while you do it, I will.”

  Whoa. Cori turned wide eyes to Brynn. Nobody talked to Ava like that. Or if they did, they had their balls in her pocket when they left her office.

  “Wha—you must be—there is no way—” Ava spluttered.

  “Okay, Parker,” Evan said, holding a hand up. “Take it easy.”

  “I’m just saying,” Parker told Evan.

  “I know.”

  “Who the hell do you think you are?” Ava demanded.

  “I’m the guy who’s taking this place over after you go back to New York,” he said. “I’m also the guy who owns the diner right next door, so I can pop over and check on you any time I want. And I am the guy who does not want to have anything to do with Carmichael Enterprises. So, you will figure this pie thing out, sweetheart, and you’re going to have me watching every move you make while you do it.”

  Ava seemed to have finally regained her composure, at least slightly, because she said, “What the hell would you have to do with Carmichael Enterprises?”

  Huh, that was a good question. Whereas Cori was thinking that there were worse things in the world than having Parker Blake watching every move she made.

  Parker glanced at Evan. Evan shook his head. Parker rolled his eyes. And suddenly Cori really wanted to know what that was all about.

  “If you girls don’t fulfill the provisions of the trust, or if you fuck it up,” Parker said, “we take over Carmichael Enterprises.”

  Ava’s eyebrows were nearly to her hairline. “Excuse me? Who is ‘we’?”

  “Me, Evan, and Noah.”

  “Hey.” Another guy stepped into the room from behind Parker. “Am I late?”

  “Noah Bradley,” Evan said, “Meet Ava, Brynn, and Cori Carmichael. Ladies, Noah Bradley. And you now know the jackass, Parker Blake.”

  Noah lifted a hand in greeting, though he looked chagrined. His gaze lingered on Brynn, and Cori caught her sister’s shy smile before she averted her eyes. Okay, Noah was going on the list of guys Brynn needed to date.

  “You all take over the business if we don’t fulfill the trust?” Ava asked.

  “That’s right. I’m going to be on your ass the whole time you’re here,” Parker said.

  Ava gave him a very unimpressed look and Cori was impressed by that. How did she not have a few stray dirty thoughts going through her head when a guy that looked like Parker and had that firm, dominant air about him, said something about being on her ass?

  “You are going to get your hands dirty,” Parker told Ava. “So, you might want to cut your nails and take off the polish.”

  “I will handle my nails, my hands, and my pie business all on my own, thank you very much, Mr. Blake,” Ava said.

  Parker shook his head. “No. You won’t. Because your sisters are supposed to help.”

  Ava blew out a frustrated breath. “Yes, of course. I meant without you. And if you ever set foot in my kitchen again, I’ll have you…arrested for trespassing.”

  Cori choked on a laugh. That was so over-the-top that it was clear that Parker was rattling Ava.

  Parker got a sly smile on his face and unfolded his arms, tucking his hands into his front pockets. “You want to tell her or should I?” he asked, his eyes on Ava.

  Who was he talking to?

  But then Evan sighed. “Actually,” Evan said, looking almost like he already regretted what he was about to say. “Parker is the official manager for Blissfully Baked. It’s allowed him to continue paying the bills and for the business to go to him when the year is over. He actually has the right to be here. Whenever he wants to, really.”

  It didn’t take long for Ava to process that. And what it meant. “You’re my employee then,” Ava said to Parker.

  His smug smile faded slightly. “I wouldn’t really call it that.”

  Ava glanced at Evan. “Would you call it that?”

  “He works for you and Cori and Brynn,” Evan confirmed, looking amused suddenly as he glanced at his friend.

  “So I can fire him,” Ava said.<
br />
  “Actually, no,” Evan answered. “It’s also in the trust that Parker stay in his position. He can’t be fired. The only way for him to be removed would be if he was in prison. Or died.”

  “I see.” Ava’s eyes narrowed. “I’ll keep those options in mind.”

  And to Cori’s shock, Parker gave Ava a slow grin. “How about you just use all the brilliant brain power and determination that your dad never shut up about and learn the pretty basic skill of making a pie?”

  And it seemed that Parker Blake had already figured Ava out. He’d just issued a challenge to her intelligence and drive. There was no way she was backing down from that.

  “How about you get out of my kitchen and I won’t make you do all the dishes that I’m going to be getting dirty.”

  Parker gave a small smile at that. “Sure thing, Boss.”

  The word boss had never sounded more sarcastic.

  Parker turned for the door. “But if you need any help figuring out how to actually do dishes, I’ll be right next door.” Then he was gone.

  “I, uh, just wanted to say hi,” Noah said. “Guess I’ll be going too.” He grabbed the knob, but then turned back. “Oh, and Elvira’s right out front.” He tossed a set of keys in Cori’s direction and she caught them without thought.

  “Elvira?” she asked.

  “Your dad’s Caddy.” Noah’s smile was full of affection. “She’s clean and filled up and should run for at least a couple of months, but if you have any trouble, just bring her down.”

  Her dad’s Caddy. That was named Elvira. That Noah had kept for them. “Just a couple of months?” Cori asked.

  “She’s an old lady,” Noah said. “But she’s tough. Just needs a little loving nudge once in a while to keep going.”

  Cori nodded and smiled at him. “Well, thanks.”

  Then he disappeared through the door too.

  “We have a Cadillac,” she said to her sisters.

  “And an employee,” Brynn added.

  Ava ignored the subject of Parker entirely. “Guess we can send the limo home then.” She seemed disappointed.

  Cori laughed. “I’m guessing our commute from the house to here isn’t long enough for a conference call anyway.”

  “Conference calls you’re not supposed to be having,” Brynn added.

  “I can still have calls,” Ava said. She frowned at Evan. “I’m not CEO and I have to make pies, but the trust didn’t say anything about not working for Carmichael Enterprises at all.”

  He nodded. “But don’t get too many things scheduled on your calendar,” he said.

  “Why not?”

  “Because your boyfriend is going to be taking you out and making sure you have some fun, remember?”

  Ugh. Cori remembered. And hated it more every time she heard it.

  “Right.” Ava, on the other hand, seemed exasperated. “Fine. But we need to put together a schedule for things so that I know when I can work and when I can’t.”

  Evan shook his head. “That’s part of the deal. A little less planning, a little more spontaneity in your life.”

  “Argh!” Ava ran a hand through her hair and looked around the kitchen again. “Let’s get out of here for now. I can’t start making anything without supplies.”

  “There should be enough here to get started,” Evan said. “After all, Rudy was baking up until a couple of days before he…” Evan trailed off, cleared his throat, and finished, “…up until just a couple of weeks ago.”

  For a moment Evan looked overcome. But Cori made herself stay put. It would not be a good idea to grab her sister’s boyfriend and hug him tightly. But damn, it was difficult. She wasn’t very good at squelching her urges.

  “I’m just going to pretend that there’s a really good reason for me not to dive right in to baking today,” Ava said. “You know, other than the fact that I have no idea what I’m doing and will likely suck at it.”

  And then Evan, being the nice, sweet guy that he was, stepped toward his girlfriend, put an arm around her shoulders, and said, “I’m guessing you’re not used to not knowing what you’re doing and sucking at things.”

  Ugh. Yuck.

  Ava smiled up at him. “No, not really.”

  Gross.

  Evan squeezed her and started for the door with his arm around her. “You’re going to be fine. It’s just pies. You can do this. And we’re all here for you.”

  Ick.

  Cori hung back, took a couple of deep breaths, gave herself a pep talk about only wanting Evan because Ava had him, and then started after them.

  But when Evan kissed Ava goodbye on the lips, beside the limo, in full view of the diner, Cori actually said the ugh out loud. And then had to tell Brynn that it was nothing.

  The limo had to go to the house since all of their bags were in it, but Cori volunteered to drive Elvira home. Evan gave the limo driver the address and directions—which were, “go a couple of blocks, take a left, it’s the fourth house on the right”, and then stepped back as they pulled away.

  Cori was scrambling to get into Elvira before he came over and said something sweet and flirtatious to her. She wasn’t even sure he was aware of the fact that he was flirting with two sisters. Because ugh. Even if one was pretend. Though it didn’t seem entirely pretend with Ava. It seemed like Evan Stone just couldn’t shut it off.

  “Need help?” he asked as she failed, again, to get the key to unlock the door.

  She fumbled with the keys. “Nope, I’m good.” Then they dropped to the ground. Well, who the hell had old-fashioned car keys anymore? What happened to keyless entry and fobs and stuff?

  She bent to retrieve them, but Evan got there first. He rose with the keys in hand. “You sure?”

  “Absolutely sure,” she said, focusing on the car door instead of him as he inserted the key, turned it, and opened the lock.

  He pulled the door open and stepped back to let her in. But before she slid into the seat, he moved in close. “Cori.”

  Don’t look up. Seriously.

  But she did. “You shouldn’t stand like that,” she told him.

  “Why?”

  “Because it looks like you’re going to kiss me. And you can’t.”

  His gaze flickered to her mouth. Then he sighed. And didn’t deny that’s what he’d been thinking about. And stepped back.

  Cori managed to shake her head and shut down the say to hell with it and kiss me anyway thought. “I’d better go or Brynn will claim the best bedroom without drawing a single straw.”

  “You girls draw straws to make decisions?”

  “Yeah, but we always make sure she wins anyway,” Cori said, sliding into the seat.

  “You let Brynn win?” Evan asked. “Why?”

  “Because she never asks for anything or makes any demands,” Cori said. “And she’s going to be stuck living with me and Ava in the same house for the next three hundred and sixty-five days. She deserves the best bedroom.” She started the car as Evan laughed.

  “Well, look at it this way, today’s more than half over. It’s more like three hundred and sixty-four days.”

  Right. But who was counting? Oh, just the girl who had to resist this guy for at least one hundred eighty-two days.

  5

  It wasn’t right for a guy to think “oh, shit” when he saw his mother. But that was exactly what went through Evan’s mind when he saw his mother approaching the pie shop from the opposite direction three days later.

  In part, because she was with Jill’s mother, Holly, and Jill’s best friend, Liz.

  And in part, because he was lying to her about his relationship with the woman who she was no doubt heading to the shop to meet.

  Evan lengthened his strides and managed to reach the women on the sidewalk before they got to the pie shop door. “Hi, Mom,” he said with a huge smile. “Ladies.” He gave them all a quick smile as he leaned in and kissed his mother’s cheek. “What are you doing here?”

  Diane Stone looked a
little sheepish having been caught trying to meet her son’s girlfriend without him present. “We decided we were in the mood for pie,” she said, glancing at her longtime friend, Holly.

  Holly nodded. “We were so happy to hear that the pie shop was open again.”

  “They’re not open again just yet,” he said focusing on his mother and trying to sound regretful that he was going to thwart this particular attempt to ambush Ava. “Soon. The girls are working hard to get it cleaned up and ready for business again.”

  “Are you sure they’re not open?” Holly asked, looking past Evan’s shoulder to the front of the shop. “There sure are a lot of people in there.”

  Evan glanced toward the huge window as well. Then paused. There definitely were a lot of people in there. And one of them was Cori Carmichael. And she was, finally, in blue jeans. Kind of. She wore what looked like they’d once been jeans but had been cut off for shorts. The white fringes hung from the bottoms, brushing long, smooth, tanned thighs. Thighs that were streaked with green and pink paint that matched the façade of the pie shop. She was also wearing a fitted baby-blue tank top with a long sleeved white button-down shirt—also streaked with green and pink—open over it. Her hair was piled on top of her head in a messy bun, but a long strand escaped as she tipped her head back and laughed.

  Holy. Shit. For a second Evan couldn’t think of anything other than that. But the next second it hit him that he’d been coming to see her. That shouldn’t have been a revelation, of course. He should know why he was going somewhere. He’d left his office and turned in this direction with the purpose of coming to the pie shop. But he’d ignored the fact that he’d wanted to see Cori. Not Ava. The woman he was supposed to be dating. The woman he was now going to have to act boyfriend-ish with in front of his mother and two women who would really like for him to not be serious about Ava. Dammit.

  “Weren’t you on your way in?” Holly asked.

  He had been. Because Parker had called to tell him that the back door of the pie shop and the back door of the diner were both open and he’d heard glass breaking and swearing coming from the pie shop’s kitchen. When Evan had asked why Parker didn’t go check on things, he’d laughed and said that was above his pay grade. Since Evan didn’t know, without looking it up, what Parker was getting paid as the manager of Blissfully Baked, he couldn’t argue.