Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
Austin
Present Day
I stared at the construction sign and read it for the third time. Son of a bitch. This was bad. This was really fucking bad.
About five miles outside of Whynot, thirty acres of land had gone up for sale in May. Two months ago, an out-of-towner had swept in and snatched it up before any of us could blink. I’d been trying to get Old Tom to tell me the name of who bought it, but he wouldn’t spill the details.
Now I knew.
Nick Steele.
I hadn’t heard that name in years, and I wasn’t happy to see it on the sign. While Nick wasn’t technically an out-of-towner, he’d been gone long enough to feel like one.
Whynot Relax, An All-in-One Resort and Spa, Nick Steele LLC, Coming Soon.
Whynot Relax. I hadn’t approved that name, had I?
They had to go through the town council, and no one had fucking asked me about this, because I would have said no.
We didn’t need another business competing with all the ones we already had here.
Besides, there was already Whynot Stay. Cherry on top, I sure as fuck wouldn’t let Nick use the Whynot name.
It didn’t matter if it’d been years, I held grudges forever, and I hated him.
The sun beat down on me as I fixed my ball cap and sunglasses. It was early, but the heat was already unbearable. The next week, we’d be cooked like an iron skillet over an open flame. July and August were always our hottest months, but it didn’t lessen the sweaty burn of it today.
I shook my head. I had half a mind to toss the sign in the back of my truck, but the last thing I needed was a vandalism charge for something as stupid as this.
Even if this was a disaster.
I pulled my phone out of my back pocket and called my younger brother first, but he didn’t pick up. I groaned and tried Levi instead. Didn’t pick up. Mateo. Didn’t pick up.
All my fucking friends were off being happy and in love and doing god knows what this early in the morning, and here I was, alone and bitter and overworked. It was my own fault, of course. It didn’t have to be this way, but I didn’t really know how else to live.
Since my dad passed away, I’d taken the whole world on my shoulders.
Everyone in my life liked to chastise me for it.
They kept saying I was burned out and needed to take time off.
And maybe they were right, but how was I supposed to do that?
Who would take care of all the things I did?
The answer was no one. Our town was a three-legged table, and if I cracked, the whole thing toppled over.
“Fuck,” I muttered.
I had another missed call and three texts from the debt collector. Phil was a fucking alligator slimeball of a man.
It was borderline harassment at this point.
He hadn’t reached out to Dallas and Avery, at least. They didn’t know anything about this, and I wanted it to stay that way.
The debt company was still attempting to pass our dad’s debt on to our mother, even after a few years, but I’d intercepted that.
Phil was still lurking around though, constantly reminding me that technically I was in debt now too since I cosigned on Whynot Stay with my father.
Just another fucking mess for me to try and get us out of.
I snapped a picture of the construction sign, then climbed back into my truck, texting my three favorite idiots.
Me
Look at this bullshit. Did any of you know about this?
Dallas
That’s what you called me at seven in the morning about?
Mateo
Maybe it’ll be a good thing. By the time it’s built, you’ll finally take a god damn vacation
Levi
God knows you fucking need it
Dallas
You’re going to be a pain in the ass about this, aren’t you? I think it’s a good thing. A spa like that will bring in more business for the town
Me
Love that y’all can text me back but can’t pick up my call. Fuck off
My mood soured even more as I cranked the engine and pulled onto the quiet road that led back to town. What the fuck did Dallas even mean? A spa like that was going to disrupt business.
I turned up my music, shaking my head. I had a playlist for when I was in a mood and it mostly bounced between heavy metal, classic country music, and three pop songs from the 80s.
This was bad. What the hell was Nick doing, coming back to Whynot? He’d always hated this place. Hated me. I’d hated him back. He’d been a womanizer, a bad influence, a liar. He used me to get what he wanted in high school, including stealing stuff from my locker. I knew it was him.
He was the last person I wanted to see around my town. I was not going to welcome him here. Maybe I could run him off.
I was going to be stewing about this all day.
I didn’t even have the time to be pissed off about it.
Between fixing the roof at the hotel, taking groceries to my mom, helping patch up the gazebo at the park, and listening to whatever new grievances Ms. Carlson had about the construction noises on her street—it was a stacked day.
Everyone was right. I did need a vacation. But at this point, that was never going to happen. It was impossible when everyone and their uncle needed something from me.
Whynot Treat Yourself edged into my vision.
The little bakery looked lovely, as always.
It had a fresh coat of paint on it and June had replaced some of the plants out front.
We’d all worked hard to get the businesses on Main Street refreshed earlier this year, and I’d worked hip to hip with Evie for a few hours to paint her bakery. It’d been perfect.
My day was nonstop, but not enough to keep me from the bakery for a quick treat. I slowed on Main Street and pulled up next to the sidewalk.
Admittedly, anytime I came here, it was just to see Evie. I’d never had much of a sweet tooth. My Achilles’ heel was anything salty. French fries, tortilla chips, pickles. But seeing her always made my day a little brighter.
The bell above the door jingled as I stepped inside.
I inhaled the scent of freshly baked goods and groaned.
Okay, maybe I did like baked goods. But only her baked goods.
The display case was already crammed full with bread, croissants, cookies, and her famous pecan pies.
It was early, but there were already three people in line ahead of me.
“Welcome in,” Evie called out automatically.
She glanced up at me and smiled from the counter.
Sweat immediately sprouted at my palms and I swallowed hard, smiling back.
Nerves danced in my stomach as she packed up people's orders. She was gorgeous, as always. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a French twist, which I only knew because Avery had spent an hour lecturing me on hairstyles one time years ago. Her lips were dark red and popped against her rose-beige skin, her eyes bright and friendly despite how busy she was. Her cheeks were flushed, and I found my gaze drifting over the dusting of freckles there. I was tempted to jump in to help her, but she worked the counter like a well-oiled machine. If anything, she’d probably scold me for trying.
The door opened behind me, and I scooted forward to make room. I glanced back but then spun in surprise.
“Matthew,” I blurted out. “Hi.”
Matthew smiled at me, and my heart fluttered.
He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his broad nose and winked at me.
Oh god, he was hot. I drank in how tight his denim shirt was over his muscled shoulders.
Matthew had rich dark brown skin, a short black beard, and short curly hair that was cut into a fade.
Every time I looked at him, my heart beat faster.
He was unbearably handsome and smart and dreamy.
Matthew was a doctor at the hospital, and possibly the best our community had ever had.
I definitely had a crush on him but didn’t know exactly what to do with it.
We hung out regularly, and every time, I was nervous I’d do something silly.
I was helpless when it came to romance. The last person I’d been with was over five years ago, and I was so out of practice when it came to flirting.
I was pretty sure all my attempts came off as me not caring, even though that was the exact opposite of how I felt.
“Here for your daily dose of Evie?” Matthew asked.
“Uh.” See, I didn’t know what to say to that. “Just here for coffee, of course.”
Such a fucking lie.
Matthew’s gaze darted past me to her. “Not me.”
Oh. I followed his gaze back to Evie as she helped the person in front of me. She bagged up their purchases and they headed for the door. The moment they were out of the shop, she blew out a long breath and planted her forehead on the counter.
I frowned. I rarely saw her like this.
“You doing okay?” Matthew asked her.
“It’s just been packed this morning,” she said, straightening back up.
She was wearing a pretty purple sundress today and an apron with hearts all over it.
My gaze dipped down to the V of her dress and then snapped up.
I couldn’t ogle her. I mean, I could, but it seemed like a bad idea.
“I don’t know why I’m always surprised when Monday mornings are busy, yet here I am.
Can you guys give me just a minute? I need to pull a couple things out of the ovens. ”
“Of course,” I said. “Need any help?”
“Nope. Be right back.”
Matthew and I watched her go. I exhaled and leaned against the case, humming in my throat.
“She works too hard,” Matthew said under his breath.
“Yeah.” I pressed my lips together, trying to figure out if there was a realistic way for me to add helping at the bakery to my schedule.
“So do you. Both of you should take vacations.”
“So everyone tells me,” I sighed. “When are we hanging out again?”
“Soon. You should come over and I’ll try and teach you a game.”
“You’re gonna make me be some sort of goblin creature again,” I teased.
Matthew chuckled. “Possibly. It was cute watching you try and figure out how to role-play.”