I knew exactly how to get her goat and said, "Ben Murphy came by the shop today."
Never one to miss an opportunity to remind me of the attractive, eligible men in the area, my mother replied, "Oh, really? Well, he is a very good-looking young man. And single."
I rolled my eyes again. "Actually, he dropped in to tell me that Brody is back and he brought his daughter with him. I didn't get the details, but my impression was that he and his wife had split up."
"Oh, I knew that. Your brother called me last week and asked me to keep an eye on him. Apparently, the divorce is finalized but there's still a lot of bad feelings. Or at least on his ex-wife's part. I got the impression that Brody put up with a lot before he said enough was enough."
Damn. There went my leverage. It figured that my mother would know more about the situation than I did. As she did with Sierra, Colette McClane took Brody under her wing as well, mothering him as much as possible as well as passing out lectures when necessary.
"Maybe he'll take a liking to Sierra when he's here for Sunday dinner," she commented.
Something in the vicinity of my chest twisted at her casual implication. It couldn't be my heart, but it sure felt like it. More likely, it was the guilt I felt for having to subject Sierra to him because she was my best friend and she didn't deserve that. "Yeah, maybe," I murmured.
"Oh, I have to go. Your father's two o'clock is here. Love you, Cam."
"Love you, too."
I didn't lower the phone after the line clicked, signaling that my mother had hung up. Instead, I stared at my front door, wondering why in the hell I cared if Brody hooked up with my bestie. I'd barely seen him in seven years and my pitiful high school crush was long gone.
"Whoa, what did your mom say to put that look on your face?" Sierra asked.
I shook myself out of my thoughts and shrugged. "Nothing. She's thinking of playing matchmaker for you."
Sierra's blue eyes widened. "Oh, hell no. I'm not going Sunday. I'll come down with meningitis or something."
I frowned at her. "You do realize meningitis is a serious illness and that you'd have to be in the hospital if you had it, right?"
"Shit. I meant the mumps."
"You've had all your vaccinations, Sierra. Mom and Dad made sure of that, so I don't think they'll believe it."
Sierra sighed. "Damn. Well, what creepy dude are they planning to set me up with?"
"Brody. He's Ben's older brother."
Her expression turned calculated. "Oh, really. Is he as hot as his baby bro?"
Hotter. Definitely. But I wasn't going to admit that out loud. Instead, I lifted my hand and rocked it back and forth. "So-so. He's handsome, but I don't know if I would say he's better-looking than Ben."
"There is something to be said for the bad boy turned good. Or at least, better." She cocked her head. "What's Brody like?"
Smart. Funny. Sexy. Infuriating.
I didn't utter the description aloud. "He's my brother's best friend. He lived to make my life difficult while I was in high school but I haven't seen much of him since he went to college over a decade ago. I have no idea what he's like now."
Other than the fact that he'd looked even better at thirty than he had at twenty, the last time I'd seen him in more than just passing was seven years ago at his wedding. Maybe he'd gone bald and grown a beer gut.
If only life worked like that.
"Hot or not, I'm honestly not ready to jump into anything. The last guy I dated turned me off when it comes to relationships."
Sierra had been tight-lipped about her previous boyfriend. I think she'd only mentioned him a couple of times. I didn't even remember his name.
I unlocked my front door and gestured for Sierra to follow me inside. My house was cool and dim, an oasis in the middle of my usually hectic life. If I wanted more light, I only had to open my curtains. My house was small but perfect for me. A cozy hideaway.
"Wow, this place looks great," Sierra said as she came in behind me. "You've really made it homey and peaceful."
"Thanks. You wanna put your stuff in your room or grab a drink first?"
Sierra groaned. "Room first. This bag is heavy as fuck."
I glanced back at her. "Um, Sierra, that's a rolling suitcase."
"I know," she replied, staring at me as though I'd lost a few marbles.
"So why are you carrying it?"
Her expression remained blank for a few moments until the penny dropped. "Well, shit."
"You graduated magna cum laude?"
"Shut up," she grumbled. "I've been up since five and then on the road all day. I'm tired."
It was probably true, but I didn't tease her anymore. I didn't have time for the inevitable bickerfest that would surely follow. Sierra was brilliant but sometimes she spaced out on basic things that required common sense more than book knowledge. Usually when she was tired or tipsy.
I led her down the hallway to the guest room and flipped the switch just inside the door.
"Oh, my God," Sierra sighed. "This is perfect, Cam." She dragged her suitcase into the room and looked around before her eyes came to me. "I didn't think you'd be able to fit a queen bed in here but it definitely works."
My guest room was done in shades of light blues and greens. The walls were white and I'd kept the furniture to a minimum. The result was airy and light.
"Thanks."
Sierra dropped her bags in the corner and twirled around in the center of the room before she fell backward onto the bed, her arms and legs splayed out.
"Ahhhhh," she sighed. "This is the best thing ever. I'm never moving out."
I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned my shoulder against the doorjamb. "Awesome, I'll draw up your rental agreement in the morning."
"Rental agreement?" Her head popped up as she stared at me with bugged eyes. "You would charge your best friend and business partner rent?"
"Hell yeah. I am, first and foremost, a businesswoman."
Sierra smiled, sly, and a little scary. "I'm so glad I've finally rubbed off on you." She let her head fall back and closed her eyes. "Now, go away so I can take a nap. Did I mention I've been up since before dawn?"
"Only a couple of times. Instead of giving us both food poisoning when you attempt to cook dinner, why don't you come by the shop around closing? Maybe grab some takeout on your way?"
Sierra didn't bother to respond to my jab about her cooking. "Yeah, yeah. Pizza or tacos?"
"Burgers from the gas station."
"God, I'd forgotten about those," she groaned. "Sounds great. See you at eight."
Her eyes were closed before I even left the room.
3
I walked into my parents' house Sunday afternoon with Sierra in tow, only to be greeted with a shower of frigid iced tea.
"Holy forking shit!" I cried.
I pinched my soaked shirt between my thumbs and index fingers and pulled it away from my skin. My entire outfit was now uncomfortably wet and chilly but also stained with tea.