CHAPTER 6 - BRYNN
Amoment of peace isn’t something I’ve been able to indulge in very often.
Not as a single parent who works at night and goes to school during the day, all while raising a smart, sassy daughter and babysitting a chaotic parent with no self-control.
This morning is different though.
This morning, I’ve spent no less than thirty minutes in a scalding hot shower, while Jovie skims through every streaming service and television channel on the extra large TV hanging on the lounge wall.
A cloud of steam follows me from the bathroom as I pad down the short hallway of the small apartment and into the living room.
Jovie sits up on the sofa, her nose crinkled. “You smell like a dude.”
I lift the back of my hand to my nose, inhaling the faint smell of cedar and pine courtesy of the soap I found under the sink. “It is kind of boyish, huh?” I agree before shrugging it off. “But I kind of like it. It’s warm. Forresty.”
Jovie rolls her eyes and drops back onto the sofa just as a sharp knock rattles the door.
“You order something?” I joke, walking over and pulling the door open without thinking.
Grizz fills the doorway, his broad shoulders blocking the morning light that’s shooting up the small stairwell. His eyes narrow instantly.
“Don’t open the door without asking who’s on the other side,” he grumbles, his voice low and sharp, instantly cutting through the happy haze that I’d been dancing in. “What if it wasn’t me?”
I roll my eyes. “Then I would have flashed them and slammed the door while they were stunned,” I counter with a smirk, though it falters quickly when he pushes his shoulders back and folds his arms across his chest, tattoos and muscles on full display.
A rush of heat blazes through me, like a fire crawling up my chest and neck.
I clear my throat, clutching the towel a little tighter to my body, though to my surprise, Grizz doesn’t so much as glance down at my exposed skin.
His intense gaze stays pinned to my face, and I swallow a nervous lump before I finally force a couple of words out.
“To what do we owe the pleasure?”
“Groceries,” he says, stepping aside to reveal bags lined neatly along the landing, mostly paper bags with fruit, snacks, and some bread, but there’s also a couple of others with folded sheets and blankets.
“Figured you two could use more than bar food and a bed. I’ll be downstairs opening up. Staff’ll be here soon.”
The heat that had been raging through me like a hot fire suddenly turned to something else.
It became warmth.
Like a hot coffee on a cold morning, or a fluffy hat on your head on a winter's day. It’s a warmth that wraps around you—the kind I’m not sure I’ve ever experienced before from a single gesture.
I lick my lips, feeling emotion swell in my throat. “Grizz, you didn’t have to—”
“But I did,” he cuts in, turning toward the stairs. “Get this stuff inside, and come down whenever you’re ready. But with clothes on, yeah?”
I nod, fighting a smile and clutching the towel to my body like armor. “Yeah.”
He heads back down the stairs, his heavy boots echoing in the open space.
“Can you help—” I start, but Jovie is already darting past me, gasping in excitement as she digs into the bags.
“Mom! There’s hot chocolate mix! And pasta, the real kind that you see at those fancy stores, not the hard kind we always get,” she rambles, hefting a couple of the large bags and dancing back through the doorway.
I gather the rest, grinning widely as I carry the heavy load back into the apartment and kick the door closed with my foot, flicking over the lock before juggling everything to the kitchen counter.
“This is like Christmas!” Jovie exclaims, throwing open the fridge and shoving the rows of beer to the back.
I pull things from the bags, handing them to her one at a time and watching as she lines up the fresh haul of food as if they’re trophies on a shelf.
“The juice should go at the front. The eggs down here. Oh! Grapes!”
A completely unexpected laugh bursts from my mouth, and I lean back against the counter, enjoying the moment.
Getting the giggles over a load of groceries is weird, I know.
But it’s not just that. It’s the fact that for once, someone thought about me and Jovie.
For once, I’m not counting dollars or explaining to her why fruit is a luxury we can’t afford.
It’s something so little that I honestly never imagined would mean so much, because I’ve been so used to living a certain life.
Could it just be because Grizz wants to make sure I stay and work hard so he doesn’t have to find someone else?
Yeah, likely.
Could it be more?
Nah.
Why would a man like him want—
“Oh, look! There’s a coloring book and pens in here!” Jovie waves the book around, pulling me from my daydream.
“That’s perfect,” I say, smiling as I gather my wits. “I’m gonna get dressed and go down to help Grizz set up for the day. You can bring that with you if you want to hang out.”
She nods immediately, Jovie being a far bigger fan of company than quiet.
A quick change later, I pack her some snacks and we jog down the narrow staircase.
The scent of coffee brewing and old wood greets us as we step through the back and into the bar. It’s rich and comforting, and I’m instantly itching for some caffeine.
I head for the coffee maker behind the bar, while Jovie makes a beeline for Grizz who's sitting on a barstool at one of the tall tables. He’s hunched over some papers, his leather club vest stretched tight across his back as he taps a pen in a steady rhythm.
It pauses when he notices us and his eyes lift, meeting mine briefly before sweeping over my body in one slow pass that again, draws a warmth to the surface of my skin.
In a blink, it’s gone, and he turns his attention to Jovie.
“You good at math, kid?” Grizz questions. “Cos this ordering shit is doing my head in.”
Jovie slaps her coloring book onto the table, her brow pinching as she considers her answer. “I know what pi is to three decimal points?”
“That’ll do. Get up here,” he says, reaching for the stool beside him and pulling it out for her to climb up on.
I press my lips together to hide my smile, trying to focus on getting the energy I need for when this place opens in a couple of hours, and the hungry hordes descend.
“Yes please, Brynn!” Sarah calls as she steps through the front doors, a bright smile on her face, though her nose is bright red from the cold. “I would kill for a latte!”
I nod, reaching for a couple of cups. “Coming right—”
“Could you make that two?” another female voice chimes, this one a lot more poised and pronounced.
I glance up, seeing Sarah walk toward the bar but with an older woman trailing close behind her. She’s wearing a beige, floor length trench coat and tugging at the leather gloves on her hands.
“Grizz,” she greets simply, wiggling her fingers at him.
He doesn’t even look up, answering with a casual, “Victoria.”
The stark contrast between this slick, city woman and her polished boots and perfect hair, compared to the earthy, casual bar, and the biker sitting in the center—it’s like night and day. Almost as if two worlds have collided.
“You must be Brynn,” the woman greets with a toothy smile, stepping up to the bar while Sarah rounds to stand beside me.
“I’m Sarah’s Mom, Victoria. I really hoped I’d see you so I could thank you for standing up for her yesterday.
She told me how things had gotten a little crazy, and being only young, she can find it hard to use her voice. ”
I smile and shake my head. “No, she was doing perfectly fine on her own,” I explain, busying myself with the coffee machine. “I’m just allergic to jerks, so when I hear one speak, I have to snap back.”
Victoria chuckles, her laughter bubbly like expensive champagne.
“Either way, I’m glad she has someone here looking out for her,” she explains, cupping her hands together.
“I honestly thought when she turned twenty-one that I’d be spending time with her at college, but there’s something about this town that she just can’t leave behind. ”
Victoria’s eyes flicker to Grizz. Though it’s subtle, it’s intentional, and Sarah instantly turns bright red.
“Mom, stop!” Sarah hisses through her teeth. “You’re doing it again.”
The instant tension has me focusing extra hard on the espresso machine and tapping my foot to try hurry it along. I’m not sure if this is a case of a mom teasing her daughter about her hot boss, or some small-town lore I’m not in on.
Victoria definitely seems the type to look down on the club and its existence, especially if she’s walking around town like she’s just walked out of vogue.
“Here we go!” I announce, a little too brightly. “Latte for you, and one for you.”
I hand them both drinks before returning to the coffee machine and starting my own. Victoria quickly placing it on the counter and dousing her hands in a generous blob of hand sanitizer, the strong alcohol scent cutting through the fresh coffee.
“I could definitely get used to this,” Victoria sighs, her fingers circling the cup as it sits on the bartop. “Do you plan on hanging around, Brynn?”
“Hopefully for a little while,” I say with a polite smile. “Jovie and I really want to look around town, experience some of the Christmas festival, and get to know more about this place. It seems so interesting. Special even.”
Victoria’s eyes gleam and she nods enthusiastically. “Oh yes! I’d be happy to show you around. Give you a personal look at our beautiful Hallowed Springs.”
Sarah nods to the table where Grizz and Jovie are chatting between themselves. “I’m sure if you ask Grizz, him and the boys could give you a tour too. They know the woods around here inside out.”
The way her eyes linger has me wanting to aww out loud as I begin to understand a little more about the tension in the room—a little crush maybe, and a mother who believes they are above certain members of the community.
Victoria clears her throat loudly, and Sarah shrinks back, quickly turning her attention to her coffee.
Smiling at the two women, I nod my head, trying to appease them both. “Wow, that’d be great. Jovie is really interested in hearing the story about the springs.”
“Perfect! I have to get to work, but maybe tomorrow morning we can have a chat about going on a little private tour,” Victoria says, clearly excited about sharing the town's stories. She pulls on her gloves again and straightens her jacket. “If you need anything, let Sarah know. We have spare rooms if you don’t want to pay—”
“Oh no,” I interrupt, my eyes focused on the pretty pattern I’m trying to create with the hot milk. I was never a whizz at the coffee art stuff, but it’s fun to try. “Grizz has let us stay in the apartment upstairs so I can help here with the bar. He’s—”
SMASH.
The sharp crack of the ceramic mug on the wooden floors bites through the quiet room like a gunshot. Hot coffee sprays everywhere, soaking Sarah and I, and everything within a six foot radius.
“Sarah!” Victoria scolds, a flash of irritation breaking through the poise.
“I—Sorry!” Sarah stammers, red faced and panicked.
I shake my head, grabbing a towel, and crouch down, carefully picking the pieces off the floor. “Shit happens, it’s fine,” I tell her, offering a smile as she joins me.
“I have to go to work,” Victoria announces, leaning over the bar to glare at her daughter. “You need to be more careful!”
Then she’s gone, the clip clop of her heels disappearing into the distance.
A stool scrapes on the floor a moment later, and Grizz’s slow but heavy footsteps vibrate through the floorboards until he appears at the end of the bar, his arms folded. “Just like your mom to leave on a dramatic note,” he mutters, and Sarah huffs out a sigh.
“I’m sorry, Grizz,” she apologizes, getting to her feet. “She demanded to come in and meet Brynn.”
“Figured as much,” he comments, his hand shooting out, fingers wrapping around my wrist just as I reach for another piece of broken mug. His grip is tight, but not painful, and I look up at him with a frown. “Leave it.”
I shake my head. “It’s fine, I’ve got it,” I tell him, but when I try to move, he holds me tighter.
“It’s not fine,” he argues, gently pulling me to my feet. “Last thing I need is the server I just hired to slice her hand open and not be able to serve. Now, both of you, go dry off while I finish this.”
He finally releases me, but I can still feel his hold. It’s grounding, like an anchor—a strange feeling when that’s all I’ve ever been for others. It’s always me taking control. Always me cleaning up the mess.
“Brynn,” he growls, his tone causing this heat to swirl low in my stomach, and when I meet his eyes, I inhale a sharp breath. They’re dark and hooded, and when he dips his head toward the stairs, it feels like a command. One that I dare not oppose. “Go on.”
My mouth is dry, and I quickly nod, clearing my throat. “Yeah, okay, I’ll just be a minute.”
I hurry through into the loading area, heading for the stairs.
“He really likes you.”
I jump at the sound of Sarah’s voice. She’s standing off to the side, pulling on a fresh shirt with a smile.
I choke out a laugh. “I’m not sure about that,” I argue playfully. “He likes that I’m good at what I do.”
Her eyes blink rapidly and she shrugs. It seems casual, but there’s an undertone I can’t quite place. “Either way, you being here is going to make things interesting.”
I scrunch my nose up as she walks away, wondering what kind of small town drama I may have just stepped in.
And whether it’s too late to get the hell out of town.