Page 4 of Welcome Home to Ivy Falls

‘Yeah, I’d much rather have Old Mrs V in my corner than against me.’

‘That’s the truth. Remember how she practically ran that guy out of town when he said he wanted to start a nightclub inside the old knitting shop?’

‘That was one hell of a town council meeting. Never seen so many red faces and irritated stares in my life. Thought for sure Amos was going to launch himself over the council’s table and grab that guy by the lapels.’

I shook my head. Town meetings were notorious for being equal parts serious business and sideshow antics.

‘Oh, Amos would have if Deputy Ben hadn’t been giving the guy his own stare down,’ I said.

‘Old Mrs V was in rare form that night. I think it took two sentences about picketing and chaining herself to the door and that guy couldn’t get out of here quick enough.’

I smiled at the memory of her going toe to toe with the guy, her small, resolute chin tipped up as she traded barbs with him.

Silvio waved his mug at me again and I went back to working the espresso machine. As I grabbed the milk from the fridge, my gaze snagged on the cute guy with the sweet tea. He spent a lot of time scrolling on his phone and rubbing at the dark stubble on his chin.

Maisey followed my stare. ‘Guesses on what he does for a living?’

‘In that outfit, he’s either a car salesman or a realtor.’

‘Not with those shoes. They’re Berluti Oxfords. They cost twenty-five hundred bucks.’

I’d argue with anyone else about the price, but Maisey studied fashion design at UT Knoxville, and avidly followed the latest trends at New York and Paris fashion weeks. ‘Um, wow. Okay, then he’s a spy.’

‘Nope,’ she said with a pop. ‘James Bond couldn’t afford those babies on an MI6 salary.’

Just as I was about to suggest billionaire tech tycoon, the preteens came back toward the counter. Their leader, Dex Swanson, was a head taller than most of them and had a talent for finding trouble. More than once, Barb and Susan had to walk him out of Sugar Rush for shoving four donuts into his mouth at once and challenging other kids to do the same.

He raced around holding a young-adult book over his head and taunting a smaller blond-haired boy. ‘Mason likes to read about kissing!’

I grabbed Silvio’s drink and moved out from behind the bar. Dex kept cackling and jumped on his skateboard, careening in my direction. I spun away but not before he clipped the edge of my sneaker and I stumbled forward. The glass mug flew out of my hand in a sharp arc, landing with a crack on the arm of the gray chair where the dark-haired guy sat. Coffee showered the front of his blazer, soaking the crisp white shirt underneath.

‘Oh, shit. I’m so sorry!’

Old Mrs Vanderpool moved from her table, shaking a finger at Dex.

Penny came flying across the room. ‘Out, all of you! And don’t think I’m above ratting you out to your mother, Dexter Swanson!’ Like a bodyguard, she corralled all of the kids out the front door.

Maisey rushed me a handful of napkins. I patted at the man’s shirt and then lower to where his pants were soaked.

Olfactory fatigue reversed, because this guy reeked of vanilla latte.

He shuddered under my touch, and when I looked up he gave me a puzzled smile.

Yeah, maybe touching the zipper on a stranger’s wet pants is a bridge too far.

‘I got it,’ he said, taking the napkins from my hand. His fingers dragged over the top of my skin and my heart took off like a shot.

‘Let me grab you a wet rag,’ I sputtered.

‘It’s okay.’ He gave me an amused smile. Dabbed at his shirt, which was pointless, because he was drenched. ‘What do I owe you for the tea?’

‘Oh no. After this…’ I flung my hand out to the milky brown mess dripping off the chair. ‘It’s on the house.’

‘All right. Thank you.’ He shoved his wallet into his back pocket, a conflicted look crossing his face. ‘Maybe I’ll come back here again. It’s a nice place.’

‘Next time, I promise you won’t get a latte bath.’

The grin he gave me made my insides flare. ‘I’m counting on it, Piper.’