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Shannon nodded around a sigh, rubbing her belly and lost in thought. “She needs time, Grant. I know you’re used to your charm working on every female from age zero to ninety-nine but this isn’t the same. She’s lost her mother and her godmother, it’s a lot of change for kid. She needs you to be kind and patient and loving. Most of all, she just needs you to be there. Always there.”
“I am.” That was about the only thing I was good at, showing up and being there. The rest would take some time. And plenty of effort.
“Good.” She gave my chest a pat and gifted me with a wide, warm smile. “I brought brunch.”
“You are the best, Shannon!” I pulled her into a hug, ignoring the disapproving groan from Miles. “What did you bring?”
“Let’s find Mariana and see.”
Giggles sounded from the kitchen, a sound that surprised me but not as much as finding the little girl wearing a bright smile as she chatted on the phone. On. The. Phone. “You gonna come over?”
Shannon smiled and turned to me. “She’s already making friends? That’s good.”
I shrugged. “If so, it’s news to me. We haven’t been anywhere other than your party and a big box store since she got here. Maybe it’s Luna.”
“Interesting.” Miles stroked his chin, smiling as if Mariana’s smile was contagious.
“Okay,” she said and bopped her head from side to side. “I won’t forget. Mmm-hmm, I promise.” She nodded even though the person on the other end of the call couldn’t see her. “Bye Brenna. See you soon, right?”
Brenna? The same Brenna who basically ghosted me since the party this past weekend? I figured she vanished because of Mariana but here she was, chatting like they were old friends. Which meant it was me. Right? I looked back at Shannon who wore an equally shocked expression. Miles held up his hands in a don’t ask me gesture. “You guys are a big damn help.”
“I’m still hungry,” Mariana said unceremoniously, a hint of a pout in her tone.
Shannon laughed. “I guess it’s a good thing I brought mini breakfast burritos, isn’t it?”
Mariana gasped. “You did?”
“Yep. Do you like breakfast burritos?”
Mariana nodded. “Does it have cheese ‘cause I love cheese.” She arched her brows and waited for Shannon to put the Bread Box bag on the table. “All kinds of cheese,” she clarified.
Shannon laughed. “I think we’re gonna be good friends, kiddo. I love cheese too. All kinds.” She put two miniature burritos on the plate in front of Mariana before the rest of sat down and ate in a satisfied silence, which gave me plenty of time to think.
Why was Brenna ignoring me?
What had I done to piss her off?
I had no answers, not yet, but I made a plan to go see her later today and get some answers.
Brenna
The salon was busier than ever today with half the chairs occupied, mostly with walk in clients and I should have been thrilled. I was thrilled to bits but I didn’t feel like myself. My spark was missing and I knew why. In one word, Grant.
I missed him. I missed the sound of his laughter, his handsome face, the way his eyes twinkled with mischief, and even the way he teased me about my accent, which I knew he secretly loved. I just plain missed him and that fact, well is made me mad. Spittin’ mad if you want to know the truth. I had to keep my distance, no matter how bad the longing got, no matter how many ways I convinced myself that one little phone call wouldn’t hurt. Much.
I knew it would and I was determined to keep my distance, so I focused instead on the gossip being bandied about the salon.
“Ten bucks and my blueberry pie says Stone and Sophie will have a beautiful little girl.” Shirl’s voice was more wistful than anything and I wondered if she had any grandchildren of her own.
“I’ll take that bet. I’ve already got twenty on Mara being pregnant before year’s end and I have a feeling I’m gonna cash in big!” I zoned out again so I couldn’t say who took Shirl’s bet but I let the gossip bounce off me as I set curls, washed hair and clipped split ends until I was blue in the face.
It was a good day at work, no, it was a great day at work and I just wasn’t in the head space to enjoy it, and that just directed all my anger at a certain former SEAL who occupied my thoughts nonstop. By the time the first and second wave of customers cleared out, it was past lunch time and I was cranky and starving, what some of the girls called ‘hangry’. But the two remaining clients were nurses who worked the overnight shift and were desperately in need of some pampering, so I did my best to give them what they needed while I counted down the minutes until I could grab some food.
