“I’m not sure you know my twins very well, but they can be a bit, shall we say, much at times,” Ceci continued. “And their Aunt Devon knows exactly how to harness their energy for good.”
I nodded warily. “Okay.”
“And I want Devon to stay in town. For much longer than the six months she’s planning on.”
Six months? Why did that length of time seem so familiar?
Jodi emerged from the back. “I’ve got the muf—”
“Shht!” Ceci spat out the noise and held up a hand to stop Jodi in her tracks. Honestly, it was impressive. Not only did Jodi freeze, but so did I and the other barista. Those twins had no chance.
Ceci continued, her hand in the air, Jodi and I still in place. “Listen, Aaron, I’m going to get straight to the point. You need to ask her out. I like your chances,” she waved her free arm up and down, presumably indicating me or my body, I wasn’t sure which. And I didn’t care for her to elaborate.
“Can I move?” Jodi squeaked.
Ceci smiled graciously at her and lowered her arm. “Of course.” She turned her steely eyes back to me. “So you’ll ask her out. Muffins are on me.”
Ha. “Despite your generous pastry purchase, Ceci, I don’t think she’s interested.” Although that look on her face…Either way, I didn’t want yet another person—or two people, seeing as how Jodi and Ceci were both trying to tag-team me here—interfering in my life. “So thanks, but no thanks.” I grabbed the muffins from Jodi, threw a couple twenties on the counter, and nodded at both of them. “It’s been a pleasure.” I turned and hightailed it out of there before Ceci could say another word, or at least before I could hear it.
Outside, Daisy popped up from where she’d been sitting and we headed back to the station.
Chief caught my eye as I sat the muffins on the kitchen counter. “Long line at the Daily Dose?”
I shook my head. He knew exactly why it took me so long. The meddler network’s force was powerful. “Samson tripped someone.”
Chief’s thick eyebrows rose. “She okay?”
“Pretty sure you already know the answer to that, seeing as how I didn’t tell you whether they were male or female,” I grumbled.
He laughed, utterly unapologetic. “How was it seeing her? You like enough of her posts on social media.”
I narrowed my eyes. Him, too? I’d been betrayed by Instagram. “She’s not staying.” Why would she?
“Hmm. Maybe she didn’t post that part on the face feed,” he mused.
“What are you talking about?”
“Six months.”
“Six months?” Again with the six months.
“She has to stay for six months. Something to do with Shirley’s will.” He said it like he was talking to a toddler.
I stared at him as it hit me. Holy shit. Gigi had really done it. “Just think about it, Aaron,” she’d said, “I’ll write it into my will and she’ll have to do it, and that’ll give you six months to sweep her off her feet.”
I’d told her no way, that I wasn’t about to be some plot point in one of her romance books, and tried to forget she ever mentioned it.
And damn if she hadn’t gone and done it, even though I’d told her not to. That crazy, wonderful old woman. The hope that had started to unfurl now bloomed across my chest. Maybe I really did have a chance with Devon. “Did you have something to do with this?”
Chief gave me an innocent look. “With what?”
I snorted. I bet he did. Probably thought the whole idea was his first sure match in town.
“But now that she’s here…” He gave me a look.
“Now that she’s here, nothing.” I wanted him to stay out of it.
“How would you know?”
“How would who know what?” Price asked, strolling into the kitchen and flipping open the box of muffins. “Mmm, banana nut. My favorite.” He plucked it out of the box and looked expectantly at the two of us. “So?” He waved his hand and shoved half the muffin in his mouth.
“Your brother’s crush is back in town,” Chief said.
“Okay, enough.” I held up my hand. “She is not my crush, and she has a name.”
Price rubbed his hands together. “Ooh, is this the infamous Devon Rayne?” Crumbs flew out of his mouth as he spoke.
I nearly choked on my own saliva. “How the fu—?”
He cackled. “It is! Oh, this is good. I gotta tell Will.” He wiped his hand on his shirt and pulled his phone out, and I felt the text vibrate in my pocket seconds later.
Price
Baby brother’s crush is back in town
I bit back a curse. I was the youngest, but damn if they wouldn’t ever stop calling me “baby brother.”
Will’s reply came almost instantly.
