Chapter Twenty-Five PAISLEY #2
Mae was pretty with honey-gold hair and big blue eyes. She slipped into the chair and shrugged out of her jacket. “Well, this place feels exactly the same,” she commented as Susannah rounded the table and took the seat across from her.
“It hasn't changed much,” Phoebe offered. “They have updated the menu, though.”
“And added another wing to the hotel,” Susannah chimed in.
Mae laughed softly. “Willow Brook seems like it's growing up.”
“Sort of, but not really,” Susannah returned. “We have a new pizza place and an art gallery.”
“Ooh! We're getting high class,” Mae teased. “So you were in Seattle, right?”
Phoebe nodded. “Yup, stayed there after college, but it’s good to be back in Alaska.”
“It’s definitely a change of pace from Seattle,” Mae replied.
Phoebe grinned. “For sure. If I need my city dose, I can go to Anchorage.”
Mae glanced at me. “Where are you from?”
“I'm from a small town in Washington in the foothills of the Cascades.”
Mae’s gaze shifted between us. “Three firefighters. Wow. It makes me feel like I'm not that tough.”
Susannah rolled her eyes. “You're plenty tough, Mae.” She glanced at me. “She was a sports star in high school.”
“What did you do?”
“Cross-country. I ran and ran and ran and got a scholarship to a university in North Carolina, so I took it. Everything was covered, so it was a sweet deal for me,” Mae explained.
“There's a guy on our crew from North Carolina,” I chimed in.
Mae’s gaze sharpened as she glanced in my direction.
“Really? Who?”
“Rowan, Rowan Cole,” I replied.
“You’re kidding me,” she said flatly.
“What? You know him?” Phoebe interjected.
Mae let out a heartfelt sigh. “Yes, I do.”
“It sounds like there's a story there. What's the scoop?” Susannah asked just as our waitress arrived.
She delivered our appetizers and took Mae’s drink order before whisking off to another table. “Help yourself,” I said as I doled out the stack of plates the waitress had left for us.
“You sure?” Mae asked.
“Of course,” Susannah chirped. “Now, what's the deal with you and Rowan? He seems like a nice enough guy. I'm not on his crew, but Phoebe and Paisley are.”
I nodded. “Rowan’s a solid guy, kind of quiet.”
Phoebe offered, “He's got the whole tall, dark, and mysterious vibe going strong.”
Mae pressed her lips together. “We briefly dated in college. It didn’t work out,” she said curtly. “I can't freaking believe he's here in Willow Brook. What are the chances of that?”
Susannah drummed her fingertips on the table, casting Mae a sympathetic look. “His cousin Lucas is friends with Remy Martin, who’s a firefighter here. He told Rowan about the job. Alex Blake is also engaged to Delilah Taylor, who’s from the same town.”
“You mean Alex of Alex and Holly, the twins?” Mae asked.
“That's the one,” Susannah replied.
“Wow. Alex Blake is engaged. I can’t believe it.”
“He’s totally in love with Delilah,” Phoebe offered. “And Holly is married to Nate Fox.”
Mae’s eyes got big. “You are freaking kidding me.”
“Nope. Definitely not kidding,” Susannah said. “There’s a ton more gossip for you to catch up on.”
“Have I met these people?” I asked.
“If you haven't, you will. Holly’s a nurse at the hospital, and she's awesome. Nate does flights for the firefighter crews in the summer, and Alex is a plane mechanic,” Phoebe explained.
Mae popped a halibut bite in her mouth, letting out a satisfied sigh. “God, I missed halibut,” she said after she finished chewing. She looked around the restaurant.” I hope I don't run into Rowan while I’m here.”
Phoebe piped up, “Don't look now, but Rowan just came in with Russell.”
“Russell Dane?”
“That’s the one,” Phoebe replied.
“We’re friends. I need to say hi to him,” Mae said as she twisted in her chair.
“Why don't you say hi to Russell? I’ll avoid him and occupy Rowan for a minute,” I offered.
“Oh, you're avoiding Russell?” Mae asked, her gaze curious.
I shrugged, hoping the heat I felt in my cheeks didn’t show. “No, not really.”
“They're roommates, and they're getting it on, but they think it's a secret, and Russell won't stop giving her smoldering looks at work. It's a problem.” Phoebe’s summary was brutally honest.
I glared at her. “Do you have to be that blunt?”
“I'm all about the truth,” she said with a shrug.
“Rowan’s headed right this way,” Susannah warned.
Mae sighed. I was beyond relieved that Mae was here, if only because it helped me feel less insane.
The guys came over, and Rowan appeared surprised to see Mae.
The tension crackled in the air between them.
Mae’s blue eyes were glacially cool when she nodded in his direction, then she gave Russell an enthusiastic welcome with a big hug.
“I’m sorry about your grandmother,” Russell offered when he stepped back.
“Thank you. She's hanging in there, but I don’t think it will be much longer,” Mae said with a twist of her lips.
Russell nodded, squeezing her shoulder when she sat down. “Well, we're going to grab a table with the guys. Good to see you all.”
As he turned away, Russell's eyes landed on mine. Just a passing glance was enough to scorch me. My skin prickled with heat. Susannah commented, “Smoldering, that's what that was.”
I threw a glare in her direction.