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“More importantly,” Meg added, “when you do, are you planning on chopping him into little pieces and burying him?”
Waverley smiled. “I’ve definitely spent more than a little time imagining what I’d do to him if I got him alone. But now? I’m just hoping Reynolds and I track him down to Key West this weekend so we can turn him over to law enforcement and get his sister’s trust restored.”
The questions came at her fast and furious, and she spent the rest of the lunch filling in her new friends with what details she knew, including her dreaded weekend with her old pals from college as she and Reynolds pretended to be dating.
“Reynolds is going to pretend to be your fake boyfriend?” Poppy asked. “What I’d give to be a fly on the wall to see this. I can’t remember the last time he dated anyone since moving back to Blue Haven. He’s going to be pretty rusty.”
Interesting. “Reynolds hasn’t dated at all?” Waverley asked, trying not to sound too interested in the answer.
“Not anyone in town anyway or I would have heard,” Poppy said. “He’s always been private about his personal life. In fact, you’re the first woman I can think of that he’s ever brought home to family dinners since Rachel. And that was like four, five years ago?”
“Rachel, Rachel…” Meg repeated as if trying to jog her memory. “Oh. That’s right. I think I met her at the Christmas party my first year in town. She was certainly very… interesting.”
Poppy nodded in agreement. “That’s one way of describing her,” she said and grabbed a fry from Meg’s plate.
“Oh, tell us more,” Avery said, her eyes lighting up, and Waverley wanted to kiss her for asking the necessary questions so she didn’t have to.
“To be fair,” Poppy said, “I didn’t really know her all that well. But the few times I did meet her, she always seemed kind of…bored. I guess she came from some well-to-do family out in Philadelphia with more connections than the freaking Kennedys—which she liked to mention.”
“Why was she even in Colorado then?” Waverley asked, unable to help herself.
“She landed a job at a PR firm in downtown Denver. It guess it’s one of the top in the country. To be honest, I don’t know how they even got together. They seemed so different. Wanted such different things. Anyhow, after he got shot and decided to leave the force, she wanted him to go to law school. He wanted to come home and open a PI firm. I think you can guess the rest.”
“Poor Reynolds,” Avery said, shaking her head. “And he never dated anyone since?”
Poppy shrugged. “Not that I know of. But again, he’s fairly secretive about his personal life. Which is why I think we were all floored when he brought you home.” She popped another of Meg’s fries in her mouth. “I also have it on good authority that he even cracked a smile a few times. You seem to be having quite the effect on him.”
All eyes turned to her, their lips twitching.
“Don’t get too excited, ladies,” Waverley said. “We only work together. That’s it. And even then, he’s usually out of the office half the time.”
“Hmm,” Avery said. “I don’t know. There definitely seems to be a vibe running between you two. You’re sure there’s not something more there?”
That’s right. The woman had caught Waverley ogling the guy at dinner the other night. “Well, I like to think we’ve become friends over the past couple of weeks.”
“That’s too bad,” Poppy said, sighing in disappointment. “But I guess I can’t say I’m surprised. Reynolds can be kind of…cold. Indifferent even.”
Reynolds cold? She felt a flash of protectiveness and anger on his behalf. “Reynolds is, admittedly, a little more stoic and serious than some of the other brothers, but he’s far from cold. He’s actually surprisingly thoughtful and kind and fiercely protective. And although he pretends to be this cranky ogre, I’m pretty sure it’s hiding a soft, gooey marshmallow inside. I mean, would a cold and indifferent guy go on a stakeout to find someone’s lost cat?”
The women exchanged a look between them, not hiding their laughter.
“Right. Just friends,” Meg said.
Poppy was wilier than she’d given her credit for. She’d clearly been setting a trap with that whole cold and indifferent remark.
She sighed. “Okay, okay. So maybe I kind of think he’s pretty amazing. But that doesn’t mean he feels or ever will feel the same way about me.”
“Why not?” Avery asked, sounding genuinely confused.
She leveled her with a look. “I’m not exactly the kind of woman a guy like him is usually interested in.”
“You mean because your ex is a wanted felon and an adulterer?” Meg asked.
“Those would definitely be legitimate reasons,” she said, smiling wryly. “But let’s be honest. Last year at this time I was a totally different woman. A woman who didn’t have to shop in the plus-sized rack at the mall. I mean, Reynolds is gorgeous and ripped and incredibly sexy. He’s not going to want someone who looks like me.”
“I’m going to have to take your word as to whether Reynolds is ripped or sexy,” Poppy said. “And I don’t know what you looked like before, Waverley, and I don’t care. You’re beautiful, and if that skirt you’re wearing is any indication, you’re also incredibly creative and talented. You’re also more resilient and brave than most people would be had they gone through what you have this past year. I’m awed by you.”
“Me, too,” the other two women echoed.
