Page 111 of The Moment They Can't Forget

“Is there a reason for that look?” Sawyer asked.

“Some people in this town may be stupid. However, Bart and I are not two of them,” Nina said, taking Sawyer’s coffee and drinking it. “We know something is going on between you three.”

“No, it’s not,” Zoe said in a high, squeaky voice.

“Now, Zoe, he’d be a great man for you. JD is loyal, handsome, and has a brain, unlike some of the other young people in this town.”

“What?” Zoe gulped down a mouthful of coffee.

“Denial, Bart, it’s all around us,” Nina said. “Especially when I caught them in an embrace once, but they tried to talk their way out of it. But I knew.”

Sawyer made a sound like he was choking.

“Are you here for a reason?” Zoe asked Nina.

“JD wants new awnings fitted throughout The Gnat. You need to come and measure, he said, and he trusts you to pick the right colors.”

“He does?” Why did that make Zoe feel good?

“The man looks at you like the sun rose when you did, girl. I’m pretty sure you’re the only person who can’t see that,” Bart said. “And perhaps your brothers, who don’t choose to see.”

Sawyer growled low in his throat, sounding like one of his dogs on intruder alert.

“He’s your friend, Sawyer. Surely the match would be perfect if that is the case. After all, I’m sure you wouldn’t have grown close to JD if you didn’t think he was a good man,” Bart said, now leaning on the counter with his arms crossed. Clearly, he and Nina were settling in for a nice long chat, as she had the same stance.

“This is not your concern,” Sawyer said in a tone that would have had his siblings running for cover.

Bart and Nina were clearly made of sterner stuff. Neither moved an inch.

“It’s my concern if my boss runs away and leaves me in charge. I have to work hard, and that’s not my favorite thing to do. Cill’s the same. Both of us are exhausted, and it’s only been a week. I don’t know how JD does it. Last night, he rang me to go check on his animals and Vi. Not that he doesn’t trust Bradford, but he wanted a second opinion. If you and he were still talking”—Nina jabbed Sawyer in the chest with a long nail—“he would have called you.”

“The animals are fine,” Sawyer said. “Me and Zoe checked. Vi’s okay too. Brody called at the Miller home yesterday.”

With yet more help from Uncle Asher and Birdie, their mother had lectured her children about their behavior and the need for her sons to let Zoe make her own decisions. It was exhausting. The end result was a fragile peace between her and Sawyer as long as JD’s name wasn’t mentioned.

Robyn Duke had come to her room that night and told Zoe that if she loved JD, she should make sure he knew it, because love was a fragile thing and could be taken away as fast as it came. She’d wept into her pillow after her mother had left for the woman who had lost her husband far too soon and for herself, because she did love JD and wasn’t sure what the hell to do about that.

“Do you care for that boy, Zoe?” Bart asked her suddenly.

“Ah… well, as for that?—”

“Answer the question.” Nina sounded testy.

“Is this something that’s up for public debate?” Sawyer asked.

“Likely not, but someone has to make you two see sense,” Nina said. “So wise the hell up and see that JD is the man for you”—she jabbed Zoe this time—“and your best friend.” Sawyer got a nail in the chest again. She then stormed out with Bart on her heels.

“What just happened?” Zoe asked.

“Hell if I know,” Sawyer answered her.

“You need to ring him, Sawyer. Make sure JD is okay. He’s your friend and has been there for you. You have to put everything aside and remember what he is going through. What’s between him and me is our business, but right now he needs his friend,” Zoe said.

“I’m not ready to talk to him yet.”

“But I’m your sister, and you’ve forgiven me—not that there was anything to forgive, as this is partly your fault.”

“How do you figure that?” Sawyer had his arms folded now, glaring at her.

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