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I remembered agonizing over which timepiece to buy—the gadget watch with the fish finder, pathfinder, altimeter, barometer, transponder, or sleep tracker—but since he liked scuba diving, I’d selected a dive watch. “It’s waterproof as I recall.”
His grin faded as he pulled at the expansion band. “Do you want it back?”
“Keep it.” I glanced at the paper—Maeve, I’ve been meaning to write, but—then handed it back. “In fact, keep this, too.” No more reminders. No more tears.
Shoulders drooping, he accepted the letter like a warrant for his arrest. “I just want you to understand why…” He stifled a sigh and started over. “Could we go somewhere for coffee?”
Lips pressed together, I shook my head.
He glanced at the time. “Just coffee—not a champagne brunch.” A corner of his lips rose in a tentative smile. “Look, I’d appreciate getting something off my chest.” He half-lifted the letter. “Like I said, I tried to write, but—”
“Cody, you broke up”—I pointed at him, then jerked my thumb at myself—“with me, remember? Not the other way around. So don’t expect me to come running back. You can’t have it both ways. Life doesn’t work that way.”
“Everything all right?” Luke’s voice boomed from the doorway.
I took a deep breath, glad for the reinforcements.
“I’m Cody Winters.” He stepped forward to shake hands.
“I’m talking to Maeve.” His eyes flinty, Luke turned toward me. “Everything okay in here?”
“Yeah.” My mouth dry, I swallowed. “Cody served with me at Fort Carson. Cody, this is Luke Kaylor, the owner.”
Luke’s eyes narrowed as his head dipped in a cool nod.
What do I do? Uncomfortable as I eyed the two men, a montage of the weeks with Luke flashed through my mind, while two years of memories with Cody reran like a bittersweet video. He was a ghost from the past that I didn’t want to resurrect. But this might be the only chance to learn why he broke our engagement.
“Cody wants to catch up over a quick cup of coffee. Mind if I start pruning a little late this morning?” Lifting my brows, I silently appealed.
With the same wounded trust in his eyes as in Teddy’s the night before, Luke held my gaze. “Do what you want.” Then the color draining from his face, he turned and strode out.
“All right, Cody, one hour, then I’ve got to get back.” I stared after Luke. Is this a mistake?
****
Arms crossed, I hugged the car door on the drive to town.
“There’s a taqueria.” Pointing, Cody slowed the car. “Looks like a good place for coffee.”
Rosie’s café. “No!”
“Why?” His head spun toward me. “What’s wrong with it?”
“Too noisy for conversation.” I took an uneasy breath, amazed at how easily I lied. “The drugstore in town has quiet booths in the back.”
“Okay.”
Five minutes later, we slipped into a booth made from recycled wood.
“Coffee?” The question rhetorical, the waitress set two mugs and a coffee urn on our table. “Want menus?”
“No, thanks.” I shook my head as I glanced at the time, then turned toward Luke. “I’ve only got a few minutes, then I’ve got to get back.”
“Why? Are you on the clock?” Cody’s smile hinted at a joke.
“Actually, yes. I’m helping Luke prune vines.”
“In exchange for what…?” His lip curling, he implied more.
