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Dakota giggled. “It’s kind of funny that we used to tease Ryder and Ezra that they were making up their rich cousins who lived in Seattle when they were kids, though, isn’t it? Maybe that’s why we never met him—because they were always embarrassed of him. It’s a little sketch that Ryder never mentioned he moved here to either of us until this job opportunity came up, though, don’t you think?”
“Um, yeah, super sketch. I think it’s safe to say the guy’s not exactly a people person. Don’t count on him coming in here spending his billions at your fine establishment.” I quirked her a grin.
“And here I thought I was about to hit a windfall,” she said with a chuckle as she grabbed the two plates piled high with pastries. “Give me a second to deliver these. I’m getting the stink eye from across the room, over here slacking.”
“Do your thing.”
She waltzed her voluptuous body out from behind the counter and to a booth under the bay of windows at the front. Her laughter rode through the café at something one of them said. Clearly, she hadn’t pissed them off too badly.
I couldn’t help but watch her from over my shoulder.
Dakota Cooper was the best kind of friend anyone could have. Not in that cheesy way, but in a real, genuine, life-changing way. Someone who was fun and kind and listened. She always had my back, but she didn’t hesitate to put her foot down and shake some sense into me when I was going off the rails, either.
We’d grown up two streets over from each other.
Friends forever.
We’d climbed trees together. Played Barbies together. Dreamed together.
As we’d gotten older, we’d giggled and goofed around during class, passing notes, then we’d stay up all night during our slumber parties we’d shared every weekend. We’d imagined all the amazing places we were going to go, and the amazing things we were going to do.
Then we’d grown and matured and began to chase after those dreams. We’d both had some of those dreams crushed, had experienced setbacks and disappointments and tragedies.
But we’d gone through them together.
I had missed her like mad while I’d been living in Arizona.
A soft smile pulled at my mouth, thankful that she’d found so much joy in this place and in her son, Kayden, even though I got a sense that she was holding a pain that hadn’t been there before I’d left.
Pain I was hoping she would trust me with now that I was back.
And maybe it wasn’t that she didn’t trust me—it was something about herself that she wasn’t trusting or acknowledging.
But at least now I was here, ready for when she needed me.
She checked on a few customers before she turned around and sashayed back my way, her lush curves accentuated by her cute summer dress.
She eased around the counter, eyeing me when she asked, “So, you’ve got to give me more details on this cousin. How old is this guy?”
Images flashed. His penetrating eyes and the severe cut of his face. The strength that burned through his lean body that had been so potent I’d felt seared by it.
I took a long gulp of my tea. “Um…thirty-five, thirty-seven maybe? Typical suit.”
Except he wasn’t typical at all, and I had to force myself not to go and chew on my lip as I thought of the ink that scrolled out from beneath his sleeves. The darkness that had radiated from him, this thing that warned of danger and a trap.
“I’m picturing a computer geek. Am I right?”
“Ah, no. He’s more Give me all your money, or I will kill you.” I gave it a go at imitating that growly voice.
Dakota cracked up. “Girl, you should run. After all that, you agreed to go back?”
“What else was I going to do? I can’t let Ryder down, and I could really use the extra cash right now.”
“I told you that you could work here.”
I sent her my most emphatic groan. “That sounds like a terrible idea.”
“Are you trying to hurt my feelings?” She returned it with a pout.
“Um, no, I just don’t want my bestie to be my boss.” My grin was wide.
Okay, truth was, she was way too organized, and I was basically the opposite of that. We’d drive each other nuts.
Plus, this was my opportunity to finally get back to working with horses.
I’d forgotten how right it felt. It was like the second I’d run my fingers through Mazzy’s mane, a place I’d kept locked inside me had unfurled.
A stunted seed that had bloomed.
Dreams rekindled.
“Besides, he offered to pay me double whatever I charged. I’d be a fool to pass that up.”
I said it so simply, like there wasn’t an undercurrent of something else that had forced me to stay.
She hummed. “That seems…generous.”
I snorted. “Generous? More like a bribe to put up with his surly, gorgeous ass.”
