THREE

Zane grabbed his tool bag off the hall table and heard the rumble of an approaching car. "Please don't let it be well-intentioned town folks or anyone from my family." He looked through the small window that flanked the right side of the door and groaned when he spied his older brother, Asher, emerge from a car.

"Why do they always send the golden boy?" he grumbled, swinging open the door. "Guess no one felt like paying attention to my request to be left alone."

"Brother, you know us Hawkers don't leave one another in peace for long. No matter the consequence, we're genetically predisposed to be in one another's business."

Shaking his head at his sibling, that resembled a Ralph Lauren model, he told himself that a couple of days of brotherly bonding wouldn't kill him. "Just know that I plan on sending the most troublesome family ghosts your way. So, don't think a decent night's sleep is possible while in residence."

Asher pulled a bag out of the back seat along with a cooler. "We both know there isn't a person, alive or dead, who can resist my charms for long. I will have them wrangled before the day on the calendar changes."

"Sure, sure," he replied, trudging down the stairs and taking the red cooler out of his brother's hands. "Did Mama fill this with my favorites, or did you stop at the liquor store and load up on our favorite beer?"

"Both," Asher replied before slapping Zane on the back. "And for the record, I probably need this visit more than you."

"So, the family rumor mill wasn't inaccurate?"

"Nope!"

"Am I gonna get the full download on your fiery departure from the Navy while you're here?"

"Yep, just get me liquored up, and I'll bore you with every gruesome detail."

Taking a minute to study his brother's perfect features, he noted something sad beneath his perpetual shit-eating grin. A thing he never thought possible for the man who never had a bad day or took a wrong turn. "Come inside, and I'll show you the renovations."

"Sounds good."

Before they made it through the front door, he heard the now familiar bark of Bella and glanced over his shoulder. "Guess it's time for her daily visit."

"Who does the mongrel belong to?" Asher asked. "And why does it have a baby blue silk ribbon tied around its collar?"

"Bella is the neighbor's dog; believe it or not, the woman wears a matching ribbon almost daily."

"You mean the hot dish I saw standing next to the mailbox is your neighbor?"

Frowning, he set the cooler down and put out his hands to stop Bella before she skidded into his family jewels. He patted the dog's chest and didn't like the flare of anger his brother's comment produced. "Olivia is not a hot dish. She's a…"

Asher arched his brow. "Note taken and territory successfully marked, brother."

"No, it's not like that. It's just…"

"No need to explain. And for the record, bravo. It's about damn time you stepped into the land of the living."

He picked up the cooler and walked into the house. "There's no step, and I'm not interested in my neighbor. For your information, she's pushy as hell, nosy, and has no respect for personal space."

Asher winked at Bella and then followed the dog into the house. "Methinks he protests too much. What do you say, dog? Does Zane have the hots for your mama?"

A loud bark smacked against the old house"s walls, and he ignored it and headed straight into the kitchen to unpack the food his mother had made.

The moment he stepped inside the room, a large window rattled in its casing, and he knew one of the family spirits was trying to send him a message from the great beyond. "Not interested," he murmured, sliding two six-packs of his favorite brew into the restaurant-grade fridge.

Asher strolled in with Bella on his heel and whistled. "You weren't exaggerating when you said the kitchen would make professional chefs weep."

Looking up, he smirked. "Considering I never oversell anything, it shouldn't be a surprise."

"Point taken," Asher said, leaning against the island. "Should we return the dog before we start on the beer or call fancy pants from down the lane to come and retrieve her beast of burden?"

"I'll take the dog back, and you can get settled."

"No way, man. I'm not gonna miss out on meeting my brother's crush."

"You remember that I'm the one in possession of all the deadly skills, right?"

"All the Hawker men are lethal," Asher replied. "Shove that food in the fridge, and let's go visitin'."

Deciding that any reaction was a bad one, Zane took a couple of long breaths and told himself that Olivia meeting his handsome brother wouldn't be a big deal.

Zane looked up at the sky and noted a distinct lack of storm clouds or anything else that would explain the strange and curious situation.

Perhaps it just needed another minute.

He waited quietly and couldn't understand why Olivia didn't flutter her eyes and start talking a hundred miles a minute in Asher's presence. Perhaps she was coming down with something.

What other explanation could there be for her polite smile? She'd been a chatterbox and stood as close to him as a lover when they had been in one another's company. Why wasn't she doing the same with his brother? "Are you feeling okay?"

Olivia straightened Bella's bow and then did the same to her own. "Of course, why wouldn't I be?"

"No reason," he replied quietly.

"Are you okay?" she asked, lifting her hand to his forehead. "Half the town has come down with the flu." Lifting her eyes, she stroked his skin gently. "You don't feel hot, and since you don't mix with the locals, it would be difficult to catch the latest bug."

Ignoring the pleasure her cool hand produced, he cleared his throat. "I never get sick."

"He doesn't," Asher confirmed with laughter in his voice. "But maybe you should see if I'm running a temperature."

Olivia glanced over her shoulder. "You look fine."

He stepped back and watched the woman move closer, making it impossible for several of their body parts not to collide.

Maybe the apocalypse had begun without him noticing. What other explanation could there be for Olivia ignoring the man so few could?

"I can make you soup, just in case," Olivia said, taking his hand. "Getting sick while your brother is here would be such a bummer."

"Not necessary."

"I like soup," Asher called out.

Olivia ignored the comment, and he bit back a snicker when he noticed Asher's incredulous expression. He'd never been rejected within the continental United States by any female between the ages of eight of eighty, and bearing witness to the first occurrence wasn't…horrible.

He squeezed Olivia's hand and then released it. "We're going to head back to the house."

"Okay." She played with the ends of her hair and smiled. "Thanks for returning my sweet dog. I don't know why she's suddenly become besotted with you."

"Me either." He watched her bite her bottom lip and tried to clear the lust rolling in like a freight train along with several filthy ideas that popped up uninvited. "So, we'll be going..."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Absolutely."

"Because if you two wanted to hang out, I could make sandwiches or something."

Unable to stop himself, he brushed a loose strand of hair away from her cheek. "We've got a ton of food at home."

She let out a sigh. "Alright."

He took another reluctant step back, gave Olivia a nod, and ignored the knowing look on his brother's face. "Take care."

"You, too."

Asher stepped around his brother and headed toward the Hawker homestead. "I can't watch this; it's too damn painful."

He watched confusion color Olivia's face. "Ignore him." Spinning around before he made more of an idiot of himself, he strode toward his house and vowed to keep his distance.

Again.

The birds chirped happily in the jacaranda trees that lined Main Street, and Olivia figured they were singing their hearts out because spring had finally arrived, and mating season was in full swing.

Feeling optimistic, she waved to the town mayor and then pushed through the screen door of her mother's health food shop. "Hi, Mom."

"Hello, Livy bear, what brings you to town? I thought you were under a deadline and chained to your studio."

"I am and should be finishing the drawings as we speak."

Elaine moved around a display case with essential oils and pressed her hand to Olivia's head. "You look flushed; are you feeling okay?"

"Yes, it's just…my neighbor…"

"Did you finally meet Nan's elusive grandson?"

"I did, indeed." Seeing a hundred questions light up her mother's pretty face, she knew an inquisition was imminent.

"Has the man decided to stay in residence and teach those unhappy spirits who's boss?"

"I think so if the renovation he's started on the kitchen is any indication."

Tipping her daughter's chin up, Elaine clucked her tongue. "Bright eyes, rosy cheeks, and a smile that can't be stopped. Does the recluse at the end of Lady Bug Lane have my daughter smitten?"

"Soooooo smitten, Mom." She swung her hands from side to side and let out a little squeak. "Something about him has captivated me, and I'm reluctant to admit how much he's dominated my thoughts since Monday."

"Is he charming, intelligent, and bowled over by your beauty and charm?"

"Uuhhh, not really," she replied quietly. "He's going with a growly thing and probably thinks I'm annoying and pushy."

"So, not a promising start?" Elaine asked.

"No, but it hasn't taken the wind out of my sails for some reason."

The screen door creaked open, and Olivia looked across the store and watched the most glamorous woman in the Southeast sweep in. "Hey, Grams."

"Helloooo, my beauties. What have I missed?"

"Just the opening chapter of Livy's love story, Mama. I will make a pot of Oolong tea and want you both to sit at the lunch counter."

Olivia gave her mom a nod and then inhaled her grandmother's Ms. Dior perfume before embracing her gently. "My neighbor has me all agog, and I might be about to make some very foolish decisions."

"I adore foolish decisions, especially when it comes to men."

"I know, Grams. And I'm expecting you to give me some real pearls of wisdom on how to proceed."

Margret lifted her elegant hand and wiggled a finger with a ruby the size of a marble. "The man who gave me this inspired some of my most imprudent choices, and at the ripe old age of eighty-two, I can say without a doubt I regret none of them. The memories are delicious, and the consequences long forgotten."

"I hope to be half as lucky."

Grams smoothed out her cerulean pantsuit and winked. "Then you'll have to leave your house and kick up your heels a hell of a lot more. Mischief and mayhem cannot be found out in the sticks."

"Never say never," she replied as they walked over to the lunch counter and slid into the bright pink leather chairs.

Elaine set down a sunny yellow teapot and then pulled down three blue polka-dot teacups. "She's besotted with Nan's grandson, so those old woods might finally see some action."

"Mooooom, you can't say that."

Pursing her lips, Elaine poured the tea. "Why, because I'm a widow who hasn't dated much?"

"No! I just don't want to think about either of you giving thought to my sex life."

"Nonsense," Grams said firmly. "Now, tell us about this boy."

"He's not a boy; he"s a grown, sexy beast of a man," Olivia replied. "He's in his thirties and was a Green Beret. He's built like a bull and has this thing that makes my insides jiggly."

"Does he have a kind face?" Elaine asked.

"I think he's handsome, but the scars that litter the right side of his face make him look foreboding, not gentle."

"A warrior," Grams said quietly. "Now, that's something we can work with."

"I'm not sure about that, Mama. Livy just told me he's not interested and finds her exuberant personality a bit challenging."

"In real talk, that means he couldn't find me less appealing," she added before pouring two teaspoons of sugar into her cup and stirring slowly. "Though he didn't seem as repelled when he stopped by earlier with his brother."

"No man could ever be repelled by you or your sisters. You three are the loveliest, funniest, smartest, most charming women east of the Mississippi." She squeezed Olivia's cheek.

"I couldn't agree more," Elaine added. "In fact…"

"Stop, you two. We have to face facts and accept that this crush might have unrequited tragedy written all over it."

"You've had a full helping of misfortune already," Elaine said after setting down her cup. "This is nothing but a bumpy beginning."

"Here's to hoping."

Grams looked over the rim of her cup. "And if that doesn't work, we'll simply will it into existence."

Before she could pretend like she was shocked by the statement, a group of women walked into the store, and she watched her mother push away from the counter.

"We'll discuss this more in-depth later," Elaine remarked.

Olivia blew a kiss to her mother and then turned back to her grandmother. "What's with the beady-eyed stare?"

"I want to meet this man and take his measure."

"That might require an act of God since he seems dead set on the whole hermit thing. It's not like you can accidentally-on-purpose run into him in town."

"Dee, over at the post office, said he gets packages several times a week; doesn't he have to come in to pick them up?"

"I have no idea, but as the town spy and head gossip, you should have the info at your fingertips."

"I'm not a gossip. I merely pass on information that people willingly share with me so that other people can make wise decisions."

"Way to reframe it, Grams."

"Thanks, honey. I've been honing the skill for years."

"Anyway, the chance encounter with Zane will not likely happen anytime soon."

"Guess we'll have to wait and see."

Seeing the glimmer of a devious plan forming in her grandmother's eye was never comfortable, but she welcomed it since it might net some valuable information.