CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR #2
His answer stings, even though it’s probably legitimate. I want to know more, but I’m also a little scared it’s because he’s on his way to Columbus. I don’t feel ready to confront that yet. Mom must see something in my expression because she pats my arm.
"Give him time, honey. Sometimes the best gifts take a while to unwrap."
"What do you mean?" I ask, studying her face. "Is he planning something?”
She just gives me the same mysterious smile she's been wearing since she woke up from the coma, then leans in and kisses my cheek.
Monday morning arrives crisp and clear. For the first time in a while, I'm not running on pure caffeine and determination.
The spa day worked its magic—my shoulders don't ache, my mind feels clear. I am ready to run myself into the ground again.
No, wait. I’m supposed to be taking better care of myself. I’ll figure that out as I go, I suppose.
Once I’m dressed and ready for the day, I pop my head out the back door, temping the air. It’s pretty chilly, but still biking weather. I’m out the door and cruising up to Cloud Nine by seven. Jerrica is scheduled to open again for me today so I can focus on Barny.
As soon as I pull into the lot, I pump my brakes and stop short. There are vehicles in the parking lot. Plural. All parked and gathered near the barn.
My stomach dips. I didn’t have anything planned for today other than visiting the barn and taking in all my progress. I don’t think it’s customary for construction companies to come unbidden for a quote, either.
So what the hell is going on over there?
My heart starts thumping as I pedal over. I park my bike next to an unfamiliar silver truck. And that’s when I notice a very familiar black truck a few cars down. Next to Griffin’s black sedan.
The barn doors are closed, but deep, male voices are spilling out. I slide the big door open, completely unprepared for what I see inside.
Kru is there, sleeves rolled up, conferring with another man while holding unfurled blueprints.
Griffin is carrying lumber with Dane. Asher and Jett are clearing debris from one corner.
A few other men I don’t recognize are walking around the barn taking measurements.
And then I realize who’s standing at Kru’s side—Hazel’s husband, Grayson Daly.
They all turn when they hear the door rattle open.
"There she is," Kru says, his smile soft and warm. "Honestly I was worried we wouldn’t make it here before you this morning."
"What…what is this?" I manage to ask.
Grayson steps forward, hand extended. "Hey there, Piper. Long time no see. Kru called me yesterday, said you had a vision that needed some professional input."
I shake his hand numbly, looking around at my brothers, who are all watching me with expressions I can't quite read.
"I don't understand," I say. “You guys don’t want me to be doing this.”
"Your boyfriend here laid it out pretty clearly," Asher says, leaning against a support beam. "You've got a solid business plan, you're willing to put in the work, and we've been idiots for not supporting you or listening to you from the beginning."
“You’re awesome, Piper,” Jett adds. “We shouldn’t have needed a near stranger to make us really see you.”
"And as I saw with my own two eyes, you've been killing yourself trying to do this alone," Griffin adds. "Which stops today."
"But I don't have the money yet for a full crew—"
"Friends and family discount," Grayson interrupts with a grin.
"Plus, you've got plenty of free labor right here." He gestures to my brothers. "If you’re willing for the project to take a tad longer, we can make this happen really affordably, especially with your brothers stepping up. I’ll be able to fit this project into the margins of my current schedule. Kru walked me through your Pinterest boards this morning and he gave me all the outlines and blueprints you’ve drawn up.
Your vision is incredible, Piper. Let's make it happen. "
I look at Kru, who's watching me with an expression so tender it makes my chest ache.
"You did this," I whisper.
" You did this," he corrects. "I just made some phone calls."
I’m unable to keep myself away from Kru any longer, brothers be damned. I leap into his arms, wrapping my legs around him as I shriek with laughter.
“I can’t believe this,” I gush, wrapping my arms around him. “I feel like I’m dreaming. I never thought a sight like this would even be possible.”
Kru’s arms squeeze around my waist. The solid heat of him against me is so welcome and reassuring I could burst into tears.
“We all love you, Piper.”
Tears are in my eyes as I pull back to look at him. “Even Grayson?”
We both burst into laughter. I love this man. I love how he shows up for his loved ones. I love his vision and his journey and his heart. I press my lips to his in a deep, hungry kiss.
When we break apart, I look into his soulful brown eyes and say, “I love you too, Kru.”
“Um, excuse me, we’re all still here,” Griffin whines.
I wriggle in Kru’s arms, letting out another peal of laughter. “This is the best day of my life!”
Once I’m out of Kru’s arms, I walk over to my brothers. This still feels like a dream—all four of them under the roof of the place I was afraid to even mention to them weeks ago.
“Thank you guys,” I say softly. “This means a lot to me.”
Asher ruffles my hair the way he used to when I was little. “Anything for you, Pipe Cleaner.”
“Literally anything,” Dane adds. “Up to and including remodeling a barn you just started renting.”
“And backing down on the helpful life guidance,” Jett adds.
“And, I guess, not punching your boyfriend anymore,” Griffin rounds out.
The tears are back, streaming down my face through the laughter. It feels so right…and so wild. My brothers crowd around me in an awkward, hot group hug.
“Ok, I’m sweating in here!” I exclaim after a few moments.
“No, Pipe Cleaner, we’re not done hugging,” Jett goads.
“Heat exhaustion, happening now!” I warn.
They crowd me a little tighter until I burst into giggles. Then they finally break apart, and I can breathe again.
The next few hours pass in a blur of sawdust, laughter, and future planning.
My brothers, who I've never seen work together without arguing, function like a well-oiled machine under Grayson's direction.
Kru moves between helping with the physical prep work and consulting with me on design decisions as we all get on the same page from day one.
"The electrical will need to be installed completely from scratch," Grayson explains as we stand in what will become the kitchen area. "And we'll need to reinforce this section for the commercial appliances. But the bones are solid."
"So how long do you think it will take? Any chance it could be done by next summer?”
"You’ll be up and ready by summer for sure. I mean come on—look at this crew." He grins at my brothers. "Might even be spring."
“And I can definitely help out on occasion,” Kru says. “Fill in any gaps in the schedule.”
I dip my chin, seeing my opportunity to finally broach the question I’ve been content to avoid. “Aren’t you going to Columbus tonight?”
He pinches my chin gently, so much tenderness in his gaze that I almost have to look away. “No, Maven. I’m not. I decided I’m going to wait on anything that isn’t in Bayshore. I’ll be right here with you.”
After only a few hours of prep work, the transformation from one-woman show to professional construction project is visible.
The space feels bigger, organized, more purposeful.
Grayson’s laid the framework and taken the reins.
I’m so thankful to have a professional at the helm—and someone who can tell my brothers what to do.
Once noon hits, all the men are grumbling about being hungry.
“Lunch is on me,” Kru announces. “I’ll start getting our plates ready. You guys come into the restaurant, okay?” He winks at me before heading out of the barn.
“I’ve gotta head out to my other project soon,” Grayson says, tugging off his work gloves, “but I won’t say no to whatever that man is cooking up.”
“I haven’t tried any of his food yet,” Dane admits.
“I’ve heard good things,” Asher mutters, though it sounds grudging.
“He’s number one in the Best of Bayshore competition right now,” Griffin says, and it’s clearly grudging.
“You guys are going to love whatever he makes you,” I promise.
Grayson and his crew get their things packed up.
We settle on a construction plan—basically part-time, based on when at least two of my brothers can help out at the same time—which feels like a major relief.
I don’t have to sacrifice my every waking moment to make this become a reality.
I have a plan. I have support. I have the best family. And boyfriend.
We all slowly trickle toward Ray’s. Inside, it’s totally empty, since today is Kru’s off day.
However, he called in help just for us. Brady waves at us as we come inside, taking our orders quickly since Grayson and his guys need to move on to their main project of the day.
Kru and Brady disappear into the back. As we wait for the food, I’m taking in the restaurant alongside my brothers.
They look impressed, if not a bit in awe.
“Did he build that bar himself?” Jett asks, nodding toward the pennies.
“He had help,” I say with a grin, “but it was modeled after his dad’s idea. Kru lost his father about five years ago, and this restaurant is in his honor.”
Dane smiles softly at me. “He’s a good dude, huh?”
“The best,” I say.
Soon, Kru and Brady are coming out of the kitchen with our meals.
Plates of braised short rib tacos, pistachio crusted salmon, tuna salad wraps and more are set down for our hungry table.
Kru slips into the chair at my side. Everyone is oohing and aahing, but I stop short when I notice Asher has ordered the lobster with the brown butter sauce and nutmeg marshmallow.
“I had to see for myself what the number one dish in Bayshore is like,” he says.
“We know Piper has the true number one dish though,” Jett clarifies.
Kru just smiles, taking it in stride. “She’s not just the true number one dish in Bayshore. She is also part of that number one dish in Bayshore.” He gestures to Asher’s plate. “Those are her marshmallows. And I think that’s why I slid into first place, because of her addition.”
I reach for his hand under the table. He winks at me, giving me a squeeze.
“We’re better together,” I say in a singsong voice.
“Lobsters and marshmallows are a perfect match,” he says, before dipping down to give me a kiss. My brothers groan, even though it’s barely a peck. I love that we’re at kissing-in-front-of-my-brothers status already.
Everybody digs in, and soon our table is a raucous chorus of contented murmurs and delicious exclamations.
As they eat, my brothers offer their feedback, which Kru laps up.
Asher is notably silent, until I realize it’s because he’s been inhaling his food.
He doesn’t utter a word until the plate is totally cleared, minus the shell.
Then he pushes it aside, looking over at Kru.
“Phenomenal,” he says. “The marshmallow mixed with the sauce…”
“It’s great, isn’t it?” Kru winks over at me.
Grayson and his crew are the first to head out after a big round of compliments to the chef. It’s just us Keegans and Kru at the table when Dane’s phone buzzes. He frowns down at the screen.
“Mom just texted. She said they found a safe in the rubble at the bakery.”
“Is it hers?” I ask.
“She says it’s not, but it has our last name inscribed in it.” Dane frowns at his phone for a moment longer then looks up at us. “There’s a combination lock and she’s tried to open it but can’t.”
“Okay. Mysterious gift from the fire,” Griffin mutters.
“We have to figure out how to open it,” I say.
“I guess we’ll start trying combinations,” Jett adds. “Starting with all zeroes.”
We chat about what a mysterious safe might contain, especially one with our last name on it and one that Mom doesn’t already know about. After some spirited discussion, Dane, Asher, and Jett head out, claiming they need to get back to work.
I let out a contented sigh. “I think that was the best lunch I’ve ever had. Both from a flavor standpoint and a personal standpoint.”
“That’s what we shoot for here at Ray’s,” Kru jokes.
“It was great,” Griffin concedes. “Even if I’m salty about you getting the glory on Best of Bayshore when you used my sister’s business to snag first place…”
“Trust me, there will be no doubt that this was a collaboration,” Kru says. “Once the final results are published, Bayshore will know that this was not just my creation, but ours .”
I wrap my arm around his, resting my head against his bicep. “You’re the best.”
Griffin sighs and shakes his head. “All right. I’m out. This whole boyfriend thing is gonna take some getting used to.”
“You could work on finding a girlfriend, you know,” I remind him.
Griff shakes his head. “There’s no time. I’m remodeling this barn, I’m going to physical therapy, the season is in full swing…”
I grin over at him. “You’re the best big brother out there, you know that?”
Griffin cracks a heartbreaker smile, one that looks just like an old picture of our dad. “I won’t tell the others you said that. And you’re the best little sis out there.”
“I’m your only little sis.”
“Point still stands.” He pushes to standing, jerking his chin toward Kru. “Thanks again for the meal. We’ll see you on Wednesday, right?”
Kru looks stunned as Griff heads for the front door. “So they want me back at game night?”
“I think this means you’re part of the family now,” I tell him. “All you had to do was yell at my brother a little, rope them into renovating a barn, feed them, send my mom to a spa day, and…what else was there?”
“Fall head over heels for the Keegan sister,” he adds.
“Oh yes, that.” I laugh before I press a kiss to his lips. I nuzzle against him, buzzing with happiness. The restaurant is a dull roar around us as we sit in our little cocoon, bellies full and hearts warm.
There’s nowhere I’d rather be than right here: sitting in his thriving business, only feet away from my own thriving business, wrapped up in the arms of my perfect match.