by Debbie Mason
“So was I, but they were good shoes.”
“If you say so, but those are adorable.” Sophie nodded at Ava’s new shoes. “They look comfortable too. Where did you get them?”
Comfortable didn’t begin to describe how wonderful the black leather lace-up booties felt on Ava’s feet. They were feather light, the cushioned insoles making it feel like she was walking on air. They were also the prettiest shoes she’d worn in a long time. “Head Over Heels,” she responded to Sophie’s question while leaving out the most important part.
No way was she telling Sophie that Griffin had bought her the shoes. The last thing she needed was for her cousin to misinterpret the gesture. Something Ava herself was trying not to do. Thinking of Griffin’s grumpy manner when he’d given her the shoes made that easier.
Ava stood up. Sophie had waylaid her as soon as she’d walked into the manor, and they’d gotten sidetracked by the shoes, but Ava had to get to Griffin’s room and check on the book. “You said you needed to talk to me about something?”
“I did, didn’t I?” Sophie clicked away on the keyboard, studiously avoiding Ava’s gaze. “Um, we need your help in the ballroom today. I’ve asked Trudy to take over your rooms.”
Ava crossed her arms and waited her cousin out.
Sophie looked up from the computer screen. “It wasn’t my idea. It was Kitty’s.”
At that bit of unwelcome news, Ava slowly lowered herself onto the chair across from Sophie’s desk. “Please tell me Kitty is acting alone and Auntie Rosa and the Widows Club aren’t involved.”
Sophie grimaced. “I wish I could. And they aren’t the only ones. Liam and his dad are the reason Griffin’s here. They want him to vote to keep Greystone in the family and move back to Harmony Harbor. They’ve decided that you’re the one who can make that happen.”
Ava stared at her cousin. “That makes no sense. For years they blamed me for breaking Griffin’s heart.”
Sophie lifted a shoulder. “Maybe they think you’re the only one who can put it back together again.”
“Please, Griffin got over me a long time ago. The man has no interest in me whatsoever.” She didn’t bother adding that she had no interest in Griffin either, because Ava hadn’t done a good job hiding her unrequited love from her cousin. “They should be talking to his ex-wife.” Thinking back to her conversation with Sophie the day before, Ava narrowed her eyes at her cousin. “You put Liam and his father up to this, didn’t you?”
“Me? Of course not, I’ve been too busy coming up with ways to get you to take over the…”
Ava held her gaze.
“Okay, so I might have encouraged them after the fact,” Sophie admitted.
“Pazze, everyone has gone crazy.” Even her, Ava decided, because for a brief moment when she’d discovered Griffin had bought her a gift, something small and hopeful had stirred to life inside her.
“Well, I doubt you have to worry about them now. In Griffin’s opinion, we’re wasting time and money fighting a losing battle, and we should cut our losses and accept the developer’s offer before he withdraws it.”
Of course, that’s something Griffin would say. The man was a battle-hardened warrior who attacked every problem as though he were on a mission. He didn’t romanticize things. It wouldn’t matter to him that Greystone had been in his family for generations. He knew how to shut off his emotions. He’d done the same with her. After trying to get her to talk and change her mind about the divorce, he’d given up and cut his losses.
But she had no intention of allowing him to give up on the manor—even if it did put her in the crosshairs of the Widows Club. Someone had to make the man see reason. Too many people depended on Greystone, including herself. “So, what’s the plan?”
Sophie blinked. “But I thought…You’re really okay with everyone playing matchmaker?”
“No, of course not. They’d be disappointed anyway. Not to mention embarrassing and annoying. What I meant is how are you planning to get Griffin on the Save Greystone Team?”
“Oh, I…I’m not really sure. You know him better than anyone. Can you think of something?”
“It’s been twelve years, Sophie. I don’t really know him anymore.”
“People don’t change that…” She glanced at Ava as though she were proof the old adage didn’t always hold true, then cleared her throat. “Okay, for argument’s sake, let’s say he hasn’t.”
“His family is his Achilles’ heel. He’ll do anything for them.” Sophie opened her mouth, and Ava raised a hand. “I know what you’re going to say. But right now he thinks he’s protecting them. Kitty, Liam, and Colin need to show him how important the manor is to them. So do you, and don’t be afraid to use your secret weapon.”
Sophie wrinkled her nose. “I don’t know how Liam would feel if I start flirting with his brother.”
Ava snorted. “You’re a beautiful woman, but I was thinking about Mia. Griffin loves children, and he adored Riley. Mary used to complain about how much he spoiled her.” Riley had been a late-in-life baby. Mary’d had her when she was nearly fifty, and her four sons were in their late teens and twenties, which pretty much guaranteed Riley was doted on.
Sophie frowned. “I didn’t think you had anything to do with Griffin’s family after the divorce. Other than Colleen and Kitty, I mean.”
More than seven years had passed since the night Ava had learned about the horrific accident that had claimed Mary’s and Riley’s lives. To this day, she couldn’t think of them without getting emotional. Her reaction was no different now, and she glanced out the window to hide the tears welling in her eyes. “Mary never gave up hope that Griffin and I would get back together. After my father’s accident, she’d stop by every few weeks to check on us. When Riley was born, she’d bring her too,” Ava said, surreptitiously running a finger under her bottom lashes.
“Does Griffin know?”
“No, no one does. Mary didn’t want it to look like she was taking sides. And like I told you, I was persona non grata as far as Griffin’s father and brothers were concerned. Colleen probably suspected, but she never said anything to me.” Ava stood up. “I’ll try to think of a way for you to bring Griffin around while I’m cleaning the rooms.” She had to check on the status of the book before she could think of anything else. “You might want to remind Auntie Rosa and the Widows Club that their priority should be saving the manor, not me.”
“Easier said than done,” Sophie said, leaning back in her chair to grab two bakery boxes off the wooden filing cabinet. “Speaking of Nonna, she dropped these off earlier and asked that you give them to Griffin.” Sophie handed the boxes across the desk to Ava.
If she hadn’t already sniffed out her aunt’s matchmaking scheme, the scent of icing sugar and vanilla coming from the bakery boxes would have given Rosa’s intentions away. Worried that Griffin might get the wrong idea if Ava showed up with his favorite cookies, she considered handing the boxes back to Sophie.
As though her cousin read her mind, she waggled her eyebrows and grinned. “It’s for a good cause. Take one for the team.”
Ava wasn’t sure she liked the gleam in her cousin’s eyes, but she’d do whatever it took to get Griffin on board—within reason. Plus, she owed him a more genuine thank-you than the one she’d muttered at him earlier.
The study door opened. “Good morning, my dears,” Griffin’s grandmother greeted them with a soft lilt in her voice. Kitty was still beautiful for a woman in her seventies. She looked elegant no matter what she wore, and today was no exception. She had on jeans and a blue sweater that matched her eyes. “Rosa said she dropped off…” Kitty’s gaze landed on the boxes in Ava’s hands. “Wonderful. Just the pick-me-up Griffin needs. He’s been working since the crack of dawn. Perhaps you should bring him some coffee with his cookies, Ava.”
Ava caught the matchmaking twinkle in Kitty’s eyes and had to remind herself how important it was to get Griffin on their side. But right now protecting her secret
outweighed protecting her job. “I really need to get the rooms—”
Kitty interrupted her. “I’m sure you remember how he likes his coffee.”
Of course she did. Ava remembered everything about him, every moment of every day they’d been together. She’d clung to those memories like a lifeline during the worst of times. Ava nodded, forcing an agreeable smile on her face. And really, it was difficult to be anything but agreeable to Kitty. She’d only ever been kind to Ava.
“Leave your bag and coat here. I’ll drop them in the staff’s break room later,” Sophie offered.
“Grazie.” Ava had just turned to rest the boxes on the chair while she snuck a cigarette and lighter from her coat pocket when Kitty said, “Ava, your new shoes are darling. I’m so glad Teddy didn’t mind opening early for Griffin this morning.”
“Wow, Griffin bought you the shoes, Ava? Funny you forgot to mention that. He has great taste, doesn’t he? And to think he remembered your size after all this time. Guess some things never change, do they?”
Ava gritted her teeth to hold back a curse at the smug tone in her cousin’s voice. Slipping the lighter and cigarette into the breast pocket of her uniform, Ava picked up the boxes and straightened. Without meeting Sophie’s gaze, she said, “He does.” And that’s all she would admit to. “I’ll see you both later.”
She closed the door of the study as the two women resumed their discussion of Griffin and his taste in footwear. As she walked down the hall and through the lobby, Ava couldn’t bring herself to resent her new shoes or Griffin for putting her in the crosshairs of Kitty…and most likely Sophie too.
No longer weighed down by her clunky footwear, Ava didn’t trudge across the lobby’s gray slate floor like she normally did. Her steps seemed to match her sexy, youthful shoes. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d walked with a slight sway to her hips. Odd what something as simple as…
The whirring of drills and banging of hammers interrupted the thought. She’d almost forgotten she had a job to do. Somehow she had to deliver the cookies without Griffin attaching the meaning to them that Rosa no doubt intended him to.
He wouldn’t be able to if Ava offered them to the other workers first. She headed for the dining room instead of the ballroom. “Hi, Erin,” she greeted the attractive young waitress clearing a table in the empty dining room.
Erin straightened, glancing toward the kitchen, then back at Ava. “Word of advice—you don’t want to go in the kitchen. Helga’s on a tear.”
Ava weighed facing an on-the-tear Helga to handing Griffin two boxes of the same type of cookies she’d made him on their third date. He used to tell anyone who’d listen that he fell in love with her that day. “I’ll risk it. I just need a platter for the cookies.”
Erin tucked a strand of shoulder-length blond hair behind her ear. “Where are the cookies from?”
“My Aunt Rosa made them for…the men working on the ballroom. Why?”
“Okay, no way are you going in there.”
At Ava’s raised eyebrow, Erin explained. “Sophie asked her brother to make pizzas for the men’s lunch. So if Helga sees you bringing cookies from Rosa…Yeah, I’ll get the platter for you. As much for my sake as yours. I’ll have to put up with her for the rest of the day.”
Ava set the boxes on the waitstaff station and filled two carafes with coffee while she waited for Erin.
Helga’s voice followed the waitress out the kitchen door. Erin rolled her eyes. “She threatened to castrate Marco if he steps foot in her kitchen.”
The older woman wasn’t a fan of the DiRossis, especially Ava, but it sounded like her cousin was at the top of Helga’s hit list now. “I’ll be sure to warn him. Thanks,” she said, accepting the platter from Erin. “Do you mind if I use the dessert cart? I’ll bring them coffee too.” When Erin bit her lip and shot another worried glance at the kitchen door, Ava added, “I promise, Helga won’t even know it’s gone. I’ll be back in ten minutes.” She hoped.
Erin nodded and then smiled. “Lucky you. There’s some serious eye candy in the ballroom today. I think I’ll hang out there during my break.”
Ava imagined Erin wouldn’t be the only member of the staff to do so. A large contingent of local firefighters had volunteered their time thanks to Griffin’s father, who was Harmony Harbor’s fire chief. Liam was a firefighter as well.
Once the cart was ready to go, Ava handed Erin a cookie. “Thanks for your help. I’ll see you in a few minutes.”
“Anytime.” Erin’s brow furrowed as she looked more closely at Ava. “There’s something different about you today. You seem…taller somehow.” Her eyes dropped to Ava’s feet. “Oh. My. God, they’re adorbs. I seriously need a pair. Please don’t tell me they came from Head Over Heels.”
Ava made a face and lifted an apologetic shoulder.
Erin groaned. “I should have known. I’ll have to save for six months before I can afford a pair.” She eyed Ava again and gave her an arch look. “So, does the arrival of one of the most delectable pieces of eye candy to hit Harmony Harbor have anything to do with your new look?”
If the shoes weren’t so comfortable, Ava would have been tempted to throw them in the trash. “I don’t have a new look, and even if I did, it would have nothing to do with Griffin.”
“I never said it was Griffin,” Erin said with a cheeky grin, adding, “But you’re right, the man is off-the-charts hot. You know, if you were interested in getting him back, I could totally help with that. I’m really good with makeup and…” She held up her hands when Ava shot her a look. “Okay, okay, I’ll zip it. Just, you know, FYI, you might not want to be shooting around that look too often. It’s kinda scary.”
“I’ll take that under advisement,” Ava said as she pushed the cart up the ramp with a small smile. She liked Erin. She reminded Ava a little of herself at twenty-one.
Ava’s footsteps slowed as she crossed the lobby. She picked out Griffin’s voice among all the others. His deep laughter wrapped around her like a bittersweet caress. It had been a long time since she’d heard him laugh.
The wheels of the cart rattled over the gray slate floors as she made her way to the open French doors. Jasper, wearing his standard black suit, stood with his hands clasped behind his back surveying the progress. The work on the ornate ceiling and hardwood floors had been completed last week. Today they’d begun the massive undertaking of replacing each and every individual twelve-by-twelve wooden tile on the walls.
Without Dana, none of the work would have been possible. Greystone operated on a lean budget, and the restoration of the ballroom had been far beyond their means. So Dana had started a GoFundMe campaign. After all, as she argued, the town would be benefiting as much as Greystone. In less than a week, they had enough money to go ahead with the renovations. Ava had a feeling the campaign was a ruse. She was almost positive Greystone’s benefactor was none other than Dana herself.
At that moment, the attractive redhead was at the far end of the ballroom speaking to Chase Halloran, who’d been overseeing the work. His family owned a historic preservation and restoration company. Much to his grandmother’s delight, Chase had recently moved back home to take over the business. The single women of Harmony Harbor were as delighted as Mrs. Halloran. Ava imagined the members of the Widows Club were, too, since their mandate was to bring the children of Harmony Harbor back home. If that included a little matchmaking while they were at it, so much the better. She wondered if Griffin had any idea what he was up against.
Jasper turned at Ava’s noisy approach and raised an eyebrow. “Am I to presume you have completed your rooms for the day, Miss DiRossi?” he asked in a familiar, condescending tone of voice.
He’d never liked her. If he’d had his way, Colleen wouldn’t have hired her.
“Kitty asked me to serve the men cookies and coffee,” she responded quietly, like a meek little mouse. She startled at the thought, at the seething resentment bubbling up inside her. She’d never let Jasper
get under her skin before. She’d just gone about her job, doing her best to stay out of his way. But now…
He waved a dismissive hand. “Get back to work. I’ll see to the refreshments.”
“You can stop your meowing, Simon. I’m coming,” Kitty said to the cat who appeared to be herding her toward the ballroom. She smiled at Jasper and Ava when she reached them. “I don’t know what’s gotten into him. He wouldn’t leave me alone until I followed him here. Ava, dear, I thought you would have given Griffin his cookies by now.”
Ava’s face heated. She didn’t know if it was because Kitty was being so obvious or because Griffin had stopped midconversation with his brother to glance their way. The two men stood a few yards across the room on scaffolding. Griffin wore faded jeans that molded to his muscular thighs, his black T-shirt accentuating his impressive biceps. As his eyes moved over her, the warmth spread from her cheeks to her stomach. So obviously Griffin was responsible for the heat and not Kitty.
“Miss DiRossi has rooms to see to, Miss Kitty. I’ll take care of—”
“I need a word with you, Jasper. Off you go, my dear. Ava?”
She blinked, pulling her gaze from Griffin’s. “Sorry, yes, I’ll get back to work.” She turned to walk away.
Kitty stopped her with a hand on her bruised arm. “No, dear, I meant serve the cookies. Griffin looks ravenous, don’t you think?”
With the way his brow furrowed and his eyes narrowed, Ava thought he looked more angry than hungry. But whatever emotion he was feeling appeared to be directed at her. More specifically, her arm. She must have winced when Kitty touched her. Leave it to Griffin to catch it. Those all-seeing eyes of his never missed much.
She wondered if that was the reason for the butterflies in her stomach. She was nervous he was going to make a big deal of her injured arm in front of everyone. Other than Griffin and Dorothy, no else knew she’d been hurt. She wanted to keep it that way. But as she offered the cookies to the three men working a few feet from Griffin, the butterflies no longer felt like they were freaked out, they felt like they were turned on. It didn’t seem to matter that hers and Griffin’s interactions in the past twenty-four hours hadn’t gone particularly well; she was anxious to be near him, to gaze at his handsome face, look into his beautiful eyes, and remember how it felt to be loved by Griffin Gallagher.