Page 6 of Stuck with my Pack
“Oh, my God.” She laughs, the sound bubbling up from her. “What happened? Why was she in the orchard? Did she?—”
“She inherited the inn and now is living there,” I interrupt, my tone clipped. “Showed up out of nowhere, on Hawk’s heels no less. Started talking about her property, and how she’s going to fix the old place up.”
Lily’s smile falters, replaced by something softer. “Well, maybe she is. People come back for all kinds of reasons, Ethan.” She pauses and stops to look at me, her eyes softening. “Maybe she’s looking for a fresh start.”
Lily has always been a softy, especially where Sophie’s concerned.
“Or maybe she’s bitten off more than she can chew,” I mutter, crossing my arms. “And it’s all going to be one big fucking disaster. She has no idea what she’s getting into.”
“Hmm.” Lily tilts her head, studying me like I’m a puzzle she’s trying to piece together. “That’s not what has your hackles up, is it?”
I glare at her, but the back door swings open before I can answer, and Brodie steps inside. His presence fills the room instantly, his easy grin and sun-kissed skin radiating the kind of effortless charm that used to make me angry and the girls crazy when we were kids.
His scent fills the room, and I see Lily leaning into his presence. Even though they’re friends, I’ve always thought they might have been more.
“Am I interrupting something?” he asks, setting a toolbox on the floor and glancing between us.
“Not at all,” Lily says, her tone laced with amusement and affection. “Ethan was just telling me about Sophie Everhart.”
Brodie raises an eyebrow, his amber eyes gleaming with curiosity. “Sophie Everhart? The one you used to?—”
“That was a long time ago…emphasis on long,” I snap, cutting him off.
“Huh, I thought you guys said she just disappeared.”
“Well, it seems Sophie has decided to reappear.” I snap, trying to remove the rush of pain and memories that talking about her brings up.
“Touchy,” Brodie says, pulling up a stool next to me and reaching for a cinnamon roll, only to have Lily slap his hand. “So, why’s she here, and why do you have that look on your face?”
“She owns the inn now,” Lily supplies helpfully, ignoring my glare. “Apparently, Ethan ran into her earlier. In the orchard.”
Brodie’s grin widens. “Oh, this just keeps getting better. What’d she say? Did she look good? Did you?—”
“She’s a mess,” I say sharply. “The inn’s falling apart, and she’s completely out of her element.”
Lily rolls her eyes and points her finger at me. “You’re so dramatic. She’s probably just trying to get the lay of the land, and you have no idea what she’s capable of now.”
“She should’ve stayed wherever she was,” I mutter, but the words feel hollow even as I say it.
Brodie’s gaze sharpens, and he drops the teasing tone for once. “Sounds like there’s a lot more history there than I thought.”
“There’s no history,” I say quickly—too quickly—though I know the lie is obvious.
“Uh-huh,” Brodie smirks. “Well, if she’s as fiery as you say, maybe this town just got a lot more interesting.”
“Stay out of it,” I warn, but Brodie just laughs, the sound warm and infuriatingly carefree.
“Relax, Ethan. I’m just saying that a little excitement never hurt anyone.”
He grabs an apple from the basket on the counter, tossing it in the air before taking a bite. I watch him, my jaw tightening as that flicker of possessiveness stirs again. Sophie might not be mine, but the idea of Brodie showing up at the inn, flashing that grin of his, makes my blood boil.
“She doesn’t need your kind of help,” I say.
“Everyone needs my kind of help,” Brodie replies, winking at me, his tone light. “But from where I sit, you could use some assistance right now.”
Brodie stands and gives me a one-armed hug around my shoulders as he makes to leave with a knowing smile on his face. A mixture of frustration and something I can’t quite name washes over me.
We follow him out to the porch and wave as Brodie drives off.
