I sent a sideways look at Rule and he just bit his lip ring.
“She’s the new shop manager. We just hired her.”
The big blond man looked like he was going to either pass out or throw up.
“Are you serious?”
Cora nodded solemnly and patted him on the shoulder. “Nash offered her the job. It’s legally binding. Are you going to be okay with that?”
He rubbed one of his sideburns and looked around at all of us like he was kind of lost.
“Do I have a choice?”
“Not really.” I hated to break it to him.
“I think I just need a minute to get over the shock. I haven’t seen her since I was eighteen and getting ready to start college. That was when everything went to shit with Poppy. I can’t believe Salem is here.”
“She’s very beautiful.” Cora’s tone was gentle and placating.
Rowdy’s blond eyebrows shot up and he sarcastically drawled, “I didn’t notice.”
Rule barked out a laugh. “Then you’re blind.”
I cleared my throat and everyone turned to look at me. “Phil wanted her here. He set it all in motion. How much do you want to bet he knew all along your tie to her? He didn’t just pick her name out of a hat.”
Rowdy swore. “Why would he do that to me?”
“He had his reasons.” Love couldn’t be negotiated with, I would remember that forever.
Rowdy frowned at me. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
All I could do was grin. He would find out soon enough.
“You’ll see. Now I want to go home to my girlfriend and love all up on her.” Nothing had ever made me happier than being able to say that anytime I wanted. Saint was the person I was always going to want at the end of the day, I just knew it.
Cora held up R.J., who held her little arms out as she tried to grab on to my nose ring. That damn thing was a tiny hand magnet.
“Be careful, this is what that results in.” She cut a sideways look to Rule, who completely missed it.
“By the way, tell Zeb yes to the fun-house mirrors. That guy is a goddamn genius.” I really was in awe of the contractor’s immense talent.
Rowdy muttered his agreement to pass the news along to his friend as we all made our way out of the shop.
I wanted to feel bad for him, to tell him that it would all be okay, but just like the rest of us, he was going to have to get there on his own. The journey to the one wasn’t always easy. The baggage from the past could be heavy and totally unwieldy, and the drop-offs and curves could make a man ready to get off the road at any second, but there was no better destination, no better end point than the love and the woman offering it that waited at the end.