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He found himself grinning back. He’d been doing more of that these days. He took a seat at the counter to wait, accepting a glass of ginger ale from Evie.
“Mr. Zayne!” Hudson’s high-pitched greeting had everyone turning to see the little redhead run up to Zayne, reaching his arms high. “What are you doing here? Where’s Duke? Did you build more ginjah-bed today?”
Zayne’s smile was even more quick this time. He lifted the boy up onto his lap, looking around for Andrea. “Hi, kiddo! I’m picking up some food. Duke is sleeping at home. And yes, I carved some gingerbread pieces this morning for a house here in town.”
“Put himdownthis instant! How dare you touch this child!”
The harsh words came from an older woman who’d just come through the door. Her hair was blond, but it was the brazen sort of blond that came from a box. She was slender, well-dressed and heavily made-up, particularly for The Spot. She grabbed at Hudson, who was still sitting on Zayne’s thigh.
“Letgoof my grandson before I call the authorities!”
“But, Mimi, Mr. Zayne’s my friend!”
Marissa Wentworth pulled Hudson away from Zayne and set him on his feet, her hands gripping his little shoulders like claws. Zayne went cold all over, quelling his anger the best he could, but only because of Hudson’s eyes on him. Andrea’s mother’s eyes were golden brown, but just as cold and lifeless as a chunk of metal. She was still glaring at him.
“This man is not your friend, and you need to stay away from him—”
Evie slapped her hand on the counter a couple of times to get everyone’s attention, her eyes narrowed on Wentworth.
“That’senough, Marissa. Take a breath, take a step back and lower the volume.” Evie pointed. “Or take that door right back out of here.”
“No, Mimi!” Hudson looked up at her, confused. “Mr. Zayne’s my friend! Momma and I go to his farm all the time, and he has a giant dog named Duke and he builds stuff with wood. He’s making a corn maze for Momma and I know she likes him because she holds his hand a lot and I saw them kiss...” Hudson’s voice trailed off when he saw Zayne give a quick shake of his head.
Marissa’s eyes went wide. “Andrea’s with...you?” Her voice dripped with disgust. It had been a while since anyone used that tone to his face, and it brought back plenty of memories. None of them were pleasant. He thought of what his brother said a while back—that being mad at the world was exhausting. But this feeling? Being treated like shit? That was exhausting, too. He shook his head slowly, trying to balance his response. He was in a public place. And Hudson was right there.
“Good to see you, too, Mrs. Wentworth,” he said evenly.
Evie snorted from her side of the counter before walking away, asking Hudson if he wanted a chocolate milkshake. He pulled free from his grandmother and happily followed Evie to a counter stool far enough away to give them privacy. Zayne turned back to Marissa. “And yes, Hudson and I are friends. His mother and I are also...friends.” Anything else they were was none of her business.
Marissa deflated as if someone had popped her with a pin. “Oh my God. Andrea’s choice of men just keeps getting worse and worse. First she humiliates me by having a child out of wedlock by some married deadbeat stranger, and now she’s...” Her face twisted. “She’s with...aRutledge. I thought I got you out of her life back in her senior year.” She rolled her eyes. “She has to be doing this to me on purpose, but to stoop this low...”
Sure, her words stung his pride, but more than that, they made him angry on Andrea’s behalf.
“Andrea’s a grown woman, making her own decisions and living her own life. Instead of bad-mouthing your only daughter, you should be proud of what she’s done for herself.”
“He’s right, you know.” Vickie Pendergast stopped next to Marissa on her way out the door with Gordy Lexiter. “Andrea’s putting together a stellar festival, and because of it, I hear she’s under serious consideration for the director job at the college.” Vickie’s eyes met Zayne’s. “And if she and Zayne are falling for each other, you should be happy for her.” Vickie winked, then left, taking Gordy’s arm.
Zayne appreciated the support, but it rankled that anyone thought it was necessary to defend him. He couldn’t move past Andrea’s mother referring to him asa Rutledgeas if she was sayinga disgusting troll. He frowned, thinking of something else she’d said.
“What did you mean when you saidyougot me out of Andrea’s life?”
She waved a hand dismissively, talking as matter-of-factly as if she was discussing grocery shopping. “I told Andrea I wouldn’t pay for her college if she remained friends with you, and that was all it took.”
He went silent and still. They’d declared their love for each other at sixteen, and she’d turned on him a year later because of a bribe. His face felt tight as he wrestled with the anger and hurt boiling inside him. Anger with Marissa, yes—but also with Andrea. At the worst point of his life, with his dad going to prison and what felt like the whole school mocking him, she’d walked away and let him face it all alone.
Marissa sighed dramatically. “I wonder what I’ll have to bribe her with this time.”
“What?” He blinked a few times, trying to remember his more recent encounters with Andrea. Laughing. Loving. Sweet. Hot.
“IsaidI wonder what I’ll have to bribe her with this time. I can’t let her ruin her life—and Hudson’s life—by getting involved with you Rutledges.” Her voice dropped even lower, so only he could hear. “She keeps talking about rebuilding her reputation in this town, but how can she do that with you? What will people think? Any chance she had for a promotion at the college will disappear. You will erase anything good she does. You will ruin her.”
Evie came out with Zayne’s order, but he shook his head at her, dropping a twenty on the counter. “Give it to someone else. I gotta go.”
“Zayne, don’t...” Evie’s face fell, then she glared at Marissa. “Not because of her.”
He’d never thought much about Marissa’s opinions, but in this case she was probably right. He’d ruin Andrea. He’d spent a lifetime ruining things, so why would he think their relationship would be the exception? Enough people thought like Marissa Wentworth that Andrea would always have a cloud around her if they were together. What kind of judgment would she be showing if she stayed with a guy like him?
Not to mention that Marissa could just bribe her to turn her back on him the way she did years ago. Andrea had walked before. It would break him if she walked again. No, it had to be him deciding this time. He left the diner, ignoring Hudson’s little voice calling out to him. He’d been a fool to think he could create some fairy-tale family on that farm.
