Chapter 11

"I think it needs to be higher, Brody."

"I've moved it three times, Zoe. Make a goddamned decision already. You're as bad as Ryder."

His sister had called him at the cafe to ask if he could drop into her shop. She owned and ran the only home decor store in Lyntacky, and it had needed a major overhaul when she'd purchased it, as it was stuck in the sixties. The only problem with this, as far as Brody could see, was that he was the one doing the overhauling.

"Why didn't you call one of your other brothers?" he groused.

"They're busy," Zoe said.

She was standing to his right, head tilted to one side, studying the shelf he still held against the wall.

"I have a kid, in case you haven't noticed. Where's that asshole you live with then?"

"He'd hammer his hand to the wall," Zoe said.

"Sad but true," a deep voice said from behind them.

"Get over here, pretty boy, and hold this," Brody said as JD walked in .

"Hey, baby," he said, going to his girl first. He then slid an arm around her waist and kissed her.

"No, really, don't worry about me standing here holding this heavy shelf," Brody drawled.

"Stop your bitching." JD reached for the shelf so Brody could step back and study it.

JD was always dressed like he was walking into a fashion shoot. Today's trousers and button-down shirt were a standard uniform for the man who'd been raised in country clubs with money. But the tattoos underneath were a later addition.

"Let yourself go occasionally, bud. Can't be healthy to look like a GQ model every day. Be manly now and again and slum it in jeans and a T-shirt."

JD looked Brody up and down now. "Is that what we're calling that look? Manly?"

"What look? I'm working." Brody glanced down at his jean-clad legs.

"You need a haircut and your face shaved," Zoe said.

"I agree," JD said. "And maybe buy some new clothes and wear cologne occasionally. The lumberjack look only goes so far."

"You say one more word, and I'm scuffing your Versace Greca sneakers," Brody muttered.

"Seriously, though, Brody. How can we marry you off when you don't make an effort?" Zoe said.

"I don't want to get married off, and don't start in on me because you reeled in this pretty boy," Brody said. "Now shut up and tell me where you want that shelf to go, or I'm leaving the Adonis there holding it."

"Exactly where it is, Zoe. It's the best place for a shelf," JD said.

Zoe did that head-tilting thing from side to side again like it would make the decision easier .

"I think a little to the left," Red Heckler said from the doorway, which his large frame filled.

"No offense, Red, but I'm not taking home-decorating advice from you or your wife," Zoe said.

"None taken, and you make a fair point," Red said. "And on the Brody matter, I concur."

"You what?" Brody shot him a hard look, but the man was married to Dee and had been batting away hard looks for years.

"Concur means agree, and I think you need to step up your game. I don't want my son marrying into your family if you can't at least get a haircut and shave. What would our grandkids think?" Red said.

JD hooted with laughter, as did Zoe. Lately Ally had gotten friendly with Red's son, and while she was only ten and Brody knew it was no big deal, he didn't like the reminder that one day a boy would be more important in her life than he was.

"Fuck off" was all he could come up with.

"Where is your kid?" JD asked.

"With Ryder. Apparently she's helping him, but what she's actually doing is eating what he bakes her," Brody said. "So back to the shelf now that you've all had fun at my expense."

"Where JD is holding it," Zoe said.

"Where I said it should be," Brody added. He then began fixing it in place while Red and Zoe insulted each other.

"But seriously, bud, you need a tidy up," JD said, still holding the shelf. "Come to the Gnat, and I'll get you the works, and it's on me. Seeing as I know how tight you Dukes are, that should be enticement enough."

"Fuck you. "

"I heard your old girlfriend is back in town. You want her to see how far you've let yourself go since she left?"

"She's seen me," Brody said, thinking about whacking his hammer on JD's thumb to shut him up.

"How'd that go?"

Brody never thought he'd actually be happy to hear the music start up outside the door of Petticoat Homeware, but he was.

"Sorry, got to go."

"Is the shelf safe to let go of?" JD asked.

"I guess we'll see," Brody said, putting down his hammer. He then walked out to the street with Zoe and Red. Seconds later, JD followed.

"Asshole," he muttered. "You knew it would hold."

Brody just smiled and joined the group closest.

The late Shelly Lyntacky had loved to dance the grapevine twist. In honor of his late aunt, Tripp Lyntacky played the music at random times during the day, and wherever you were in town, you had to drop what you were doing, go outside to the street, park, driveway, wherever, and dance.

He'd hated it as a kid, but as an adult, he thought it was pretty cool. Brody loved that all over town people were talking, dancing, and taking time out of their day to interact with one another. If someone was lonely in Lyntacky, someone knew about it, because everyone knew everyone's business.

"You lead, Red," Zoe said.

"Phoebe, come and join us," Zoe called.

His head spun so fast, Brody thought it would do a 360-degree turn. And there she was. Sexy Phoebe Stanway with her soft curves and pretty face. The jean shorts that didn't seem to have started their life with legs, unlike his, and fitted white tank did amazing things for her body. In fact, even someone who was pretty hopeless about fashion knew that she was a class act like her brother. Okay, so maybe Ally had told him she'd researched the labels on the clothes Ms. Stanway wore if she glimpsed one, and they were really expensive.

"Hi, Zoe," Phoebe said, moving to stand across from Brody.

"This is my partner, JD," Zoe said.

"Nice shoes," JD said. "And we've already met. But I didn't know you were that Phoebe."

"That Phoebe?" she asked.

"Brody's ex. So, did you get those shoes in New York?" JD asked.

Brody didn't react to the ex comment. There were no secrets in Lyntacky, so everyone knew he and Phoebe had been an item years ago.

When had Phoebe met JD?

While they launched into a discussion about shoes with names he'd only ever read about on the internet to annoy JD, Brody watched Phoebe. He saw signs of the girl she'd been as she smiled. It still packed the punch it always had.

"You stand next to Brody, Phoebe," Dr. Hannah said. "That's it, and we're even now—a correct ratio of men to women."

He took Phoebe's hand in his, ignoring the jolt of heat that came with it. It seemed that hadn't changed. He'd wanted her since they were teenagers, and his body told him he likely still would.

"I bet you missed this," he said in her ear.

"Every day."

He laughed at her flat tone as they moved through the other couples. It was like breathing to people in Lyntacky. They were taught these moves in school.

"Did you know that fool Larry Limpet arrived at bridge last week with another raw fish? Still had the head on. We said bring something to eat, and he brings that. Bart told him he was an idiot and then put the fish outside. When Larry went to retrieve it, the neighborhood dogs had run off with it," Brody heard someone in the group closest say. "The man ran a bakery, for pity's sake. Surely he can whip up a batch of something."

"I hear you had to remove another peanut from up Jessie Neeson's son's nose, Dr. Hannah."

Phoebe snuffled as the surrounding conversations carried on, like they did every time Brody danced the grapevine twist.

"So, when did you start writing? I don't remember you doing any of that," Brody said as he led her around the back of JD and Zoe. They were busy discussing feed ratios for their goats with Mr. Ticker, who ran the grain store. He was dancing in bib overalls and work boots with the grace of a prima ballerina.

"A few years ago."

"I read your books." Brody shot her a look and saw the shock. "Why does that surprise you?"

"I didn't have you down as a cozy mystery reader… any reader, actually. I don't think I remember you talking about books."

"A lot changes in ten years. Plus, I have a kid now, so I need to upskill constantly."

"Good for you, and I'm sure there will be a lot of really solid parenting advice in my books seeing as I know about that kind of thing."

"Are you mocking me?" He shot her a fake glare.

"Of course not."

Conversations changed, and people spoke over the top of one another. Red kicked JD in the shin, which had him hissing .

"How is it I wasn't born here and have these moves down?" JD asked. "And you, who were born here, don't?"

"Two left feet," Red said. "I'm great in bed, though."

"Now that's never been substantiated because it's only Dee's word, and you've been together since school," Zoe said.

Red smiled—a big one that filled his face. "Believe me, Zoe, after one night with me, she knew there was no going back."

"I'm telling her you said that."

"Now, Zoe, you don't want to do that." Red looked a bit panicky now.

Brody thought about how to approach Phoebe regarding her coming back to Lyntacky the day Ally was born. Should he even bring that up now with all the years that had passed?

"What?" Zoe poked him hard in the ribs.

"Ouch! What was that for?"

"You've got your Brody frown on. What's put it there?"

"You couldn't have just asked without the long nail you jabbed into my side?"

"Well?" his sister demanded.

"Nothing," Brody said as the music finished. Phoebe was the first to move. Dropping his hand, she said a universal goodbye and walked away. He fought the urge to follow her. Once, they'd talked for hours about everything or just sat together in silence. He felt a deep pull inside him for the friend she'd once been. The girl he'd loved.

"She's changed," Zoe said, moving to Brody's side.

"Which happens with time, so I'm told." She elbowed him in the ribs. "Will you control your woman?" Brody glared at JD, who just raised both hands and backed up a step .

"I bet she doesn't worship you anymore, which made for nauseating watching, let me tell you," Zoe said.

"She didn't worship me," Brody denied, but he knew the words for the truth. Phoebe had adored him and had done pretty much anything he'd asked of her. His ego had loved it. Which, now that he thought about it, wasn't healthy, but at the time, he'd thought it pretty cool.

"She did, and your relationship wasn't good for either of you," Zoe said.

"Are you done?" Brody glared at her.

"Yes. Now go get a haircut. You look feral, Brody. It's embarrassing being seen with you."

After his sister threw that insult at him, she walked away with her man and back into her shop. In the doorway, she turned, and her fingers were in the shape of a square. Brody flipped her the bird.

Where other people in normal towns all over the US did heart shapes with their fingers, Lyntacks did the shape of a square, if you could manage it. His older brother, Sawyer, had never been able to, which was a constant source of amusement to the rest of the family.

Running a hand through his hair, he thought it was a bit long, but his mother could take care of that. No way was he letting anyone else near him with scissors. Besides, he wasn't trying to impress a woman. His eyes went in the direction Phoebe had taken.

Nope, definitely not her.