Chapter 1

Anya

Present Day

Four Years Later

It's surreal being back from college and staying with my parents again. I flop onto my old bed, breathing in a deep breath. When I graduated college I had every plan in the world to go out on my own and make something of myself.

Interior design just wasn't for me, and it's why I changed my degree to business. Mainly Hospitality business, and I dream of the day I can be a part of Atta Boy Brewery and Restaurant.

I've been back for nearly five months now, and getting Callum to let me work at the brewery has been hard. He dismisses my ideas. Like they're nothing. He won't even listen to me when I tell him the back room of the restaurant isn't being utilized to its full potential.

Callum's always been sort of bossy. Especially to me. Maybe it's because he's the oldest, he feels he has the right to boss around the other Atwood siblings. Shepherd and Paxton are older than me, but don't treat me like I'm at their beck and call. However, Callum acts like a second father, always butting into my personal life, my professional life, just my life in general all the time.

It pisses me off. But when I evaluated the brewery on my own, I saw all this chance for future revenue potential. Private parties are a huge market. That room is just sitting there, empty. Not completely empty, it's got all the junk the boys toss in there when they can't be bothered to find a proper home for the stuff.

"Dinner's almost ready," my mother's voice rings from downstairs, and I put on a bright pink lip gloss, fluff my brown curls in the mirror, and head downstairs.

Callum stops me at the bottom step. "Fine," he says in a gruff voice.

"Fine what?"

"Fine, I'm giving you six months to increase revenue with your private parties idea. You'll work hand-in-hand with Griffin. He knows, and he's ready to design menus for the parties."

I blink at my brother. He's gotten so tall since I've been away at college, and I wrap my arms around him. "You won't regret it," I tell him, happiness clear in my tone.

Griffin steps from around the corner, and I rush into his arms, squeezing him close to me. "Thank you," I tell him, even though he probably had nothing to do with making my brother see sense. I'm sure it was Paxton who finally convinced him.

Either way, I'm just so happy, and I don't think I've ever hugged Griffin before.

I step back, and his dark eyes bore into mine. "Um, you're welcome."

"I just told her she has been given carte blanche to do whatever she wants."

I spin around to smile at Callum. "I won't let you both down." I'm so excited. I skip away from my older brother and his best friend.

There's a knock at the door, and I swing it open and spot my best friend on the other side.

"Willow, I'm so glad you're here." I pull her inside. "Callum is letting me do private parties for Atta Boy."

Willow smiles, her long brown hair falling in waves down her back. "I'm happy for you, although I have told you a million times we'd love to have you over at Moore's."

Willow's family has owned Moore's Restaurant for as long as I can remember. Her grandfather started the fine dining steakhouse, and she works there as a front-of-the-house manager. She comes from a big family and is the only girl with five brothers to contend with. So, it's only normal that her and I would find each other and relate.

She's the sister I've always wanted.

We move through the house, and when she spots Griffin and Callum she stops.

"He really is so good-looking," Willow says, pushing me up the stairs. "Have you even noticed him since you've been back? He's single."

"Are you talking about Griffin?"

We move down the hallway and end up in my childhood bedroom. Willow and I spent many days and nights here, talking about boys, playing dolls, and trying on clothes.

"Do you like him?" I ask her, a feeling of jealousy washing over me momentarily. I don't even know where the jealousy comes from, but it's there, growing the more and more I think about Willow and Griffin together.

She makes a face of disgust. "Um no, I was thinking of him for you."

My eyes widen. "Griffin Cole and me?" The idea is planted, and I can't make heads or tails of it. Griffin Cole? I've never really thought of him in that way. I mean, sure, he's gorgeous, and there was a time when I saw him my freshman year of college that I thought maybe, but I haven't seen him since, and now it's just…I don't know.

Something I've never thought about.

"He's the head chef of Atta Boy, right?"

I blink. "You know he is."

Willow laughs. "You're going to be working with him a lot. A whole lot."

"Working. Nothing else."

Willow shrugs. "Fine. Is there anyone else you like? You've been home for nearly six months now. You have to have your sights set on somebody."

I shake my head. "Honestly, I haven't even thought about it. I've been so focused on getting my brother to see me as a serious contender to work at Atta Boy that I haven't even thought about dating."

Willow laughs. "I've got my eyes on like five different guys right now."

"Like who?"

"Well, I've been sort of talking to Lake Spriggs."

"Lake? As in one of Paxton's best friends?" I've known Lake Spriggs for years. He's been best friends with one of my brothers growing up. I haven't seen him in years either. I remember him though, blond hair, blue eyes.

I think about Willow and Lake together.

"Yes, him."

I smile. "I actually think you two would be perfect for each other. Well, from what I remember of him. He is so nice."

Willow has stars in her eyes as she smiles at me. "And so charming. I think he might be the one."

"Wow, the one, huh?"

"Dinner," my mother calls from downstairs, and Willow and I rise from my bed.

When we get downstairs there's only two chairs at the table left. Me sitting between Callum and Griffin, and Willow sitting between Brock and Tripp.

"Willow, nice to see you again," Brock says, passing the rolls her way.

"Thanks. I thought I should come and celebrate with Anya." Willow plops a roll onto her plate.

"Celebrate what?" Brock asks her.

"She just got a new job."

Brock's eyebrows raise, and he glances my way. "Oh yeah?"

Griffin clears his throat. "She's Atta Boy's newest event coordinator."

The table erupts into congratulatory praises as I blush.

"I knew Callum would come to his senses," Paxton says, and I give him a funny look.

"Aren't you the one who convinced him to give me a shot?"

Paxton shakes his head. "I mean, yeah I talked to him, but…"

His words are cut off from Griffin next to me who nudges me with his elbow. "I was the one. I thought it would be a good thing for the business."

I gaze up into Griffin's eyes as the rest of everyone chatters around the table. Only now it feels like just us two are sitting here. I'm nervous as I stare at him.

Maybe it's because of what Willow just said. Maybe it's because I never noticed how light-brown his eyes are with specks of green near the pupil. Maybe it's because I've never noticed just how good-looking Griffin is. Or how he looks at me like he wants to devour me. I'm not going to lie, it kind of turns me into a puddle of want.

"Thank you," I whisper so only he can hear me. And just like that the moment is broken when Willow and Brock start bickering back and forth over which restaurant has a better burger.