16. CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
B rody
We get to the diner thirty minutes before the lunch crowd arrives. The space is empty except for Nancy who is behind the counter, vigorously wiping imaginary spots from her precious water tumblers.
Sensing our presence, her eyes lift from her task and lock on mine. An instant smile lights her face up. She tosses the dishrag as though it’s a piece of trash and rushes—well, trundles—over. She bats away my greeting and draws me into a firm, long hug, swaying us left and right.
I usually don’t mind her enthusiasm but the ladies are with me today. I can’t imagine what must be going through their heads as they watch the affectionate older woman compress me in her chubby arms.
“It’s been too long since I’ve seen you.” She lets go only to pat my cheek. “How are you at the resort and still so absent?”
“I’ve been working.” I nod over my shoulder.
“I know. The boys told me. But still.” She moves me aside. Bodily. “You should have brought our guests to visit.”
“They’re not guests,” I’m muttering but Nancy is already halfway to the ladies with outstretched arms. “Brody sure does have questionable manners since he has failed to bring you two to meet me.”
Ivy looks right past Nancy at me, confusion in her dark green gaze. When the woman hugs her, her expression changes, instantly warming up. She leans her chin on Nancy’s shoulder for a second before letting go. Iris gets the same treatment and suddenly they’re smiling at her. Instant best friends.
This doesn’t bode well for me.
I catch the end of Nancy’s accusations. “...hospitality is the least of his qualities so I’m not surprised.”
“I told you before, Nancy.” I rub the spot between my brows. “They are not guests.”
Nancy gives me a look. “Are they at the resort?”
Ivy answers. “We are.”
“Are they staying at the cabin for guests?”
Ivy’s eyes twinkle. This must be making her day. “We are.”
Fuck, the way she smiles. It riles me up and unlocks my protective instincts at the same time. I want to kiss it off her face and keep it there forever.
“Didn’t you take them skiing the other day?”
I frown at Nancy. “Wait, how did you know that?”
“Oh, he did,” Iris says. “It was loads of fun.”
“That’s what guests do if I’m not mistaken.” Nancy eyes me. “I forgive you anyway. I’m too soft-hearted not to.”
I scoff.
She eyeballs me. “Have something to say?”
“No, ma’am,” I respond and stand straighter.
Humor dances in Ivy’s gaze. “I really should stop by the diner sometime. I need some of what you’ve got that keeps him in line.”
I growl at Ivy and she giggles. Giggles. Fuck me.
“Don’t tell her,” Iris says to Nancy. “It’d only give those two more to fight about. You should’ve seen them this morning.”
“We don’t fight.” Ivy meets my eyes and quirks her lip. A look that’s just for me. Like we share a secret no one else knows. “We just have friendly squabbles.”
I doubt anybody else would call what happened earlier a friendly squabble but it fits. My anger toward Ivy never sits deep or lingers. She has the power to turn me off and on as she likes.
Just that look from her, and this morning’s screaming match fades to nothing.
I tear my eyes away from hers with much difficulty. “Nick said he left his keys with you.”
“They’re on the hanger behind the counter.” Nancy thumbs in the general direction behind her.
I retrieve the keys and return. “The first person to the car is riding shotgun.”
Iris is the first to arrive but she slips in the back.
“Why? You could sit next to me.”
The door opens and Ivy plops into the front seat. “You didn’t count on Iris loving the backseat, did you?”
I scoff and focus on driving out of the resort’s grounds. We cover the terrain slowly, allowing my attention to be divided between the road and the woman beside me.
I like her there. We’re both quiet and meditative. Without Iris in full view, I can pretend that it’s just us and we didn’t blow up on each other thirty minutes ago.
“I could’ve sworn it took us a longer time to arrive at the resort when we first came,” Ivy says as the first few houses in Pine Peaks appear.
“Your first time. Makes sense that you wouldn’t have your bearings.”
“What was your first time like?” Her eyes are on me. Not vexed or suspicious. Just observing.
“First time what?”
“Coming into Pine Peaks?”
“I don’t remember. I was probably crying all the way.”
Her brows furrow.
“I was born here,” I explain.
“You were?” She still looks at me like I’m making things up.
“What? I don’t look like a small-town kinda guy?”
“I really thought you were hatched from a 900-year-old egg.”
I roll my eyes, knowing she’s trying to rile me up.
“Honestly. I thought you grew up in a cave or something.”
“Ha-ha.” A smile grows on my face. “You seem to think about me a lot.”
Her cheeks redden. “Don’t flatter yourself. I’m just looking for your weakness.”
You are my weakness.
I stare at her side profile for a drawn-out moment until she meets my eyes. Something sneaks into her gaze that is neither playful nor jesting. Her eyelids drop and I know she’s looking at my lips. My breath stalls as I watch hers too.
It’d take nothing to slam the brakes and close the space between us. The car has slowed to a crawl as it is. She licks her lips as if daring me to make good on my intentions.
“What’s that?” Iris leans in, inserting her hand between our faces to point at a dilapidated building.
Her intrusion is enough to whip my head back into place.
Ivy clears her throat and looks out the window too. “Yeah, what’s that?”
“An old church.” I slow down so they can really take it in. The place is overgrown with shrubs, and the stone walls are covered with moss. The sign is broken, faded, and hidden by growers. “It’s been that way for as long as I can remember.”
“Why?” Ivy asks.
“Someone started a rumor that it was haunted. The rumor spread around town until no one agreed to go there any longer. They had a new one built and this one was forgotten.”
“Wow. I wonder what’s in there now.”
I glance at Iris. “Just broken-down pews and our initials on the walls.”
“Whose initials?”
“Me and the guys’. Except someone has drawn over it now. That was many years ago.”
“You weren’t scared?” she asks.
“Very little scares me.”
Ivy scoffs.
I shake my head and don’t give her the reward of an argument. The church is behind us and a row of identical houses appear.
“The town, with the help of Cliff, built this subsidized neighborhood years ago for residents that didn’t have homes.” I spot a couple of folks I know. They wave and I wave back.
“No one does that for anyone in Denver,” Ivy muses.
“Beauty of a small town. We help each other.” I zoom past the homes because there’s not much else to see.
My destination is the town’s square. It’s the liveliest spot in all of Pine Peaks as most businesses are located there. I’m well aware of the threat this poses to Iris so when we’re close, I tell her to pull up her hoodie and slip on her sunglasses.
I find a nice spot and park. The ladies get out and their unabashed wonder makes me pleased I brought them out.
“It looks like it was torn and pasted from a page of a storybook,” Iris says.
They marvel at everything from the fountain shaped like a mountain to the well-manicured flowers that circle it and most of the stores with their colorful fronts.
“What’s that?” Ivy points to a squat store.
“A pawn shop. Only the better of the two this town has.” I head toward it. “Come on.”
The bell above the door jingles as I walk through with the ladies following behind me.
The man behind the counter starts to shake his head. “No. Not a chance, Hawke. I’m not buying anything you’re selling.”
“Not today, Milton.” I give him my hand and he shakes it reluctantly. “I’m just showing my friends around town.”
The sisters wave from where they’re viewing the shelves.
Milton eyes me. “You sure?”
“What’s the problem?” Ivy, of course, is more interested in this conversation than the millions of knickknacks Milton has for sale.
“This boy was a menace.” Milton slaps a hand on my back. “He and his friends gave me a real tough time. You see the store over there?” He points out the window at the other pawn shop across the street. “They’d buy from Jenkins and then sell to me, and then buy from me and sell to Jenkins. Making a pretty penny off of us.”
“It was just business.” I shrug.
“Business I don’t want to be involved in again.”
“If only you settled your feud with him you wouldn’t have to worry about people cross-selling because you would have your inventory synced.”
“You and your friends cross-selling.” He gives me a look. “Haven’t had that problem since you boys left for the military.”
“Oh. I guess we were the menace.”
“You were,” he says. “Don’t think of starting anything now.”
I chuckle. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
“Better not,” he grumbles.
I turn to the ladies. “Let’s move on, shall we?” As I lead them out of the store, I wave goodbye to Milton. He looks at me with a heavy dose of skepticism. It would take a while for the old man to trust me again.
“What’s that?” Iris points at a little bakery.
“Come on.” I head toward it. “You’ll see.”
I haven’t explored the town since I moved back. Things have changed but in that slow way where they look the same but with little new quirks. It’s refreshing to see the places I wandered around in as a child.
I hold the door open and the ladies walk through. The sweet—nearly sickly—aroma of many confectioneries fills the air. I feel like gagging, but Iris grins and drags Ivy with her, pointing at the treats. I stand behind, watching as they peruse the offerings. We could get some and even take a table if it keeps them happy.
“Brody.”
“Mom?” I spin around to find my mother standing at the door’s threshold. “Mom.” My legs eat up the space between us and draw her into my arms.
“What are you doing here?” she says after I let her go.
“I brought...” I point behind me, drawing her into the bakery. “My clients to do some sightseeing.”
“Oh, clients,” she whispers back and zips her fingers across her lips. “Can I meet them?”
“Sure. Come on.” I bring her close to where they are looking at the displays. “Ivy. Iris.”
They turn around.
“Meet my mom, Caroline. Mom, this is Ivy and Iris.”
“It’s lovely to meet you, ladies.” Mom steps forward and holds a hand out for Ivy and then Iris. “How are you finding Pine Peaks?”
“It’s such a beautiful town,” Ivy says. “This is the first day we got to really see it.”
“Yes, and this store has the best treats.” Iris skips on the spot, bringing a smile to Mom’s face.
“You want to try something? I suggest the cinnamon rolls. They’re very good.”
“Can I?” Iris asks. “Eileen never allowed me to have anything sugary.”
“Who’s Eileen?” Mom frowns.
“My nutritionist.”
“She’s not here now.” Ivy takes her hand and pulls her along. “You can have all the cinnamon rolls and sweet treats you want.”
“The girl has a nutritionist?” Mom mutters, watching them go.
“It’s a long story.” I pat her arms. “Tell me, how are you?”
“Doing excellently. Apart from the fact that my lovely son who I have barely seen in years doesn’t stop by.”
“Mom, you know I’m working.”
“I know. And I still miss you.” She looks behind me. “If you bring over one of them for dinner I would be placated.”
I start to shake my head. “They are clients.”
“Really beautiful clients. Come on. I sensed a connection. When last were you on a date?”
I can’t remember. “Mom, no. Ivy won’t go for that.”
“I don’t remember saying a name.” She tilts her head to the side. “So there’s something there?”
I exhale and look over my shoulder. Ivy holds a small basket that’s quickly filling up with baked goods. Her eyes meet mine and stay that way for several seconds.
“There’s that connection,” Mom says.
“Mom,” I scoff and turn away. “Nothing’s happening.”
If we linger in here for too long, Mom would definitely find a way to convince me to seek something deeper with Ivy. I’m ashamed to admit I wouldn’t need much convincing. We should leave as soon as possible. Now.
I lean in and peck her cheek. “We’re just passing through. I’ll see you soon, okay?”
“Okay, son.” She has a knowing smile that I refuse to acknowledge.
Hours later, we return to the cabin.
Iris drags herself ahead of Ivy and me. “I’m so tired.”
“You should get some rest,” Ivy says. “I’ll put everything away.”
“Thanks.” She looks over her shoulder. “Thank you, Brody. I had a lovely time.”
I nod to her. “No worries.”
I remain on the porch and dart my gaze around the terrain. It’s getting dark quickly. I may miss something just standing there. I can’t be lured into a sense of false safety so I step out into the fading light and scan the area. It’s devoid of human life or anything suspicious.
When I return to the cabin, Iris is gone and Ivy is stacking up the treats in the refrigerator.
I join her, leaning against the counter. “Need help?”
“No, I’ve got it.” She moves around for a while before coming to face me. “I know I give you a lot of a shit, but what you did today was very sweet.”
“As opposed to everything else I do?”
She scoffs. “You know what I mean.” Then with her eyes boring into mine, her voice quiet, she says, “Thank you.”
The softly spoken words hang between us.
I don’t want a thank you. My gaze drops to her lips. I want something else.
So I take it.
I close the gap between us and slip a palm around her nape. Her soft hair tickles my fingers and sends shockwaves through my system.
She murmurs my name, wide eyes searching my face. She doesn’t pull away or push me. She leans in, her lips parted. It’s all the opening I need.
I crush our lips together.