“What do you mean?” I was genuinely curious. I knew from Grayson that she’d been married and divorced. But that was it.
Janet pursed her lips, shaking her head and letting out an annoyed huff. “Her ex was an asshole. They met through business. She had a florist business in Seattle, and he cleaned her out. She hasn’t said a word about it since she came back to Willow Brook a few weeks ago, but her mother told me she’s close to completely broke. She came away with nothing. I suppose she could have put up a fight, but it sounds like she just wanted out.”
Anger twisted like a cold fist in my gut. “Why did they get divorced?” I pressed.
Janet shrugged. “I don’t know all the details. In the end, it sounds like he married her to steal her business right out from under her nose.”
The wheels were spinning in my brain. I could find a way to make her ex pay. There were some advantages to having enough money to make life messy for others. As if Janet could read my mind, she shook her head. “You know Brynn won’t like you interfering.”
I cast her a sheepish smile. “Since when did you become a mind reader?”
“You’re not that hard to read,” she said pointedly.
Someone called her name from up front. She stood from the stool, draining her coffee and then crossing over to set the empty mug in the industrial-sized dishwasher in the back of the kitchen. When she returned to the table, she smiled over at me. “Are you staying for Christmas?”
“That’s my plan.”
“Where would you spend Christmas if you didn’t come here?” Concern flickered in her eyes.
“Probably in Seattle. I do have friends. Don’t go thinking I’m all alone.”
That was true, but with both of my parents gone now, I didn’t have any family. My band was my family.
“I think you should stay. I don’t know what might happen with you and your girl, but you know you’re welcome for Christmas dinner with me. I still do it every year.”
“I just might take you up on it.”
Someone called Janet’s name again. “I have to get back to work. You can let yourself out the back or come through the front. Take your pick. If you need a little extra cash, I always have shifts to fill.”
I burst out laughing as Janet waved and hurried to the front. I finished my coffee and popover, contemplating what to do next. My father’s house felt like walking into a time warp. I supposed I could call a realtor. The moment I considered that, I wasn’t so sure I wanted to sell it. Maybe I needed a place far away from my usual life to escape to. Maybe Willow Brook could be that for me. It felt like home in a way no other place did.
I put my empty plate and cup in the dishwasher and wiped off the table in the back. Old habits die hard and all that. Janet had always been strict with her staff and making sure we didn’t leave messes, no matter how small they were. My first job had been here, and I’d loved earning that extra cash in high school.
When I walked back out to the front of the café, wondering who I might see, my eyes were drawn to the front like a magnet and landed immediately on Brynn. She was sitting at a table by the windows, chatting with a woman I didn’t recognize and Beck Steele. Of course, I recognized Beck. We’d been in school together all the way until I moved away from town.
I rounded the counter, squeezing Janet’s shoulder as I passed by and ignoring the eyes on me as I crossed the café to Brynn. My heart kicked up a fast drumbeat in my chest. When Brynn’s eyes lifted to mine from across the room, the hair stood on the back of my neck, and awareness sizzled down my spine.
Brynn
My heartbeat stuttered and then lunged, galloping like a spooked horse, the moment my eyes collided with Caden’s. Maisie was saying something, but I didn’t even hear it. Beck said, “Well, well, if it isn’t the rock star in the flesh.”
Caden stopped beside Beck. Maisie narrowed her eyes as she looked up at him. Her eyes widened right when I presumed she figured out who he was.
Caden flashed a grin at Beck, and I looked around the café as all eyes were aimed toward our little table. So, this was what it was like for Caden to be a world-famous rock star. Even in Willow Brook, people recognized him. Some eyes were wide, and others amused.
Beck was completely amused. “How’s it going, badass?” he teased, lightly cuffing Caden on the shoulder.
Caden was quiet for a beat and then shrugged. “Doing well.”
Maisie was watching them avidly. Beck asked, “Is this your first time back since you moved away in high school?”
Caden nodded. “Yep.”
“Well, good to see you. What finally brings you back?”
Caden looked straight at me. “Brynn.”
Heat blasted my cheeks, and I swallowed. My belly did a spinning flip. I tried to take a breath but only got a stuttering sip of air—not nearly enough to slow the thundering beat of my heart.
Beck looked from Caden to me and back again. “Well.” After a quiet moment, Beck added, “This is my wife, Maisie.” He gestured to her.
Maisie cast him a side-eye before offering a small smile to Caden. “Nice to meet you.”
Caden nodded at her politely. “Nice to meet you.” His eyes landed on her baseball cap. “Kickass Construction?” he asked.
“It’s a construction company some friends own,” Maisie explained.
I’d met Maisie the day after I arrived back in town. Like Caden, I went to high school with Beck. He was so obviously smitten with Maisie that it was kind of adorable. She had curly dark hair and freckled cheeks. I was still recovering from learning that she and Beck had two children. I couldn’t even stay married, and Beck, one of the biggest flirts in high school, was happily settled down with kids.
“Our business,” a woman commented as she approached our table, apparently hearing Maisie’s reply.
Maisie glanced up and smiled. “Hey, Lucy.”
Lucy was a tomboy from her baseball cap with the same logo as Maisie’s to her overalls and down to her work boots. She was also petite and beautiful with blond hair and bright blue eyes. She gave off an elfish kind of vibe.
Maisie gestured from Lucy to me to Caden. “This is Lucy. She owns Kickass Construction with Amelia.” Her eyes held mine. “If you went to high school with Beck, I’m sure you know Amelia.”
“Amelia Haynes. She’s Amelia Masters now,” Beck offered helpfully.
“Oh, she married Cade?” I asked, referring to Amelia’s high school boyfriend.
Beck grinned. “Oh, yeah. They weren’t together straight through, but now they’re married.”
I swallowed. It was nice to learn another old friend had settled down, but it only illuminated the disaster of my love life.
Caden focused on Lucy. “Do you do renovations?”
“Of course,” Lucy said, appearing slightly affronted by his question.
She didn’t seem to recognize him, and I idly wondered if he wearied of people knowing who he was.
“I’d like to hire you then,” Caden said.
“Oh. Don’t you want to see our work, or talk first?” Lucy asked, appearing startled at his quick choice to hire them.