“If you insist,” Beverly said with unveiled disappointment. “I only thought with the shortage of available men in town…”
Penny grimaced. She’d hoped to avoid this topic for another few months, at least. After all, it always went the same way.
“I appreciate your concern. Honestly, I do. But you know I’m not interested in dating anyone. Let alone someone as abysmally wrong for me as Colt Davis. The man is a menace.”
Beverly’s brow pinched together as she formulated a response. Finally, she laid a hand gently over Penny’s. “Sweet girl, I love you as though you were my own daughter. And if I meddle, it’s only because I care.”
Penny nodded, tears suddenly pricking the backs of her eyes.
“And because I care,” —Beverly continued softly—“I don’t want to see you miss out on your own happily ever after.”
“Most happily ever afters only exist in here.” Penny flipped the pages of a well-thumbed romance novel. “They’re make-believe.”
Beverly’s pale-blue eyes filled with sadness. “I wish I could change your mind.”
Forcing a more lighthearted tone, Penny said, “I’m rooting for you and Frank. Really, I am. But in my experience, I don’t see that many couples make it all the way tountil death do us part. And I just don’t think the heartache is worth it. At least, not for me.”
With a resigned sigh, Beverly relented. “You always did have a stubborn head on your shoulders.”
Penny flashed a playful grin. “Dad taught me to be a woman who speaks my mind.”
“Yes, and I’m very glad he did. I just wish you’d speak what’s in your heart, too.” Beverly reached out and swept a strand of hair behind Penny’s ear, a tender, motherly gesture that nearly moved her to tears again.
While Beverly usually understood her innermost thoughts, they would forever be at odds on this particular topic.
And even more so when it came to Colt.
* * *
As Colt turned off the main road onto Frank Barrie’s driveway, he eased off the throttle, the engine of his sleek, all-black Triumph Bonneville simmering to a gentle hum. Lifting the visor of his gunmetal racing helmet, he did a double take.
In high school, Old Man Barrie’s place was the stuff of legends. The entrance, shielded by thorny blackberry brambles and sycamore trees choked by mistletoe, frightened away prospective intruders. Colt and his friends would dare each other to sneak onto the property, placing bets to see who could get closest to the dilapidated farmhouse without getting caught.
Once, Colt had made it all the way to the run-down barn behind the house, dumbstruck when he caught sight of Frank roasting coffee in a strange metal contraption with smoke billowing out the top. Tall, five-gallon mason jars filled with dark, velvety beans had lined a wooden table like soldiers keeping guard.
When the crotchety miser spotted him, Colt’s fear surpassed his desire to impress his peers. Pivoting on the spot, he’d sprinted toward the road as though he were carrying the winning touchdown on homecoming night. Until this day, he’d never even considered returning.
Now, more than a decade later, Frank’s property looked unrecognizable. The trees had been eradicated of mistletoe and neatly pruned, while the once wild blackberry brambles were carefully trimmed, ready to be picked at the end of summer.
Skidding to a halt in the driveway, he scattered loose gravel at Luke and Cassie’s feet.
His brother arched an eyebrow, and Colt muffled a groan.
It figured Luke would be waiting to make sure he showed up. When would people realize he wasn’t a foolish, irresponsible kid anymore?
“Fancy meeting you here,” Colt drawled as he peeled off his helmet.
“We thought we’d help you settle in.” Cassie greeted him with a warm smile. “Frank isn’t exactly the most exuberant welcome committee.”
“Why doesn’t that surprise me?” Colt said with a wry grin. Unhooking the safety strap, he hoisted his duffel bag off the back of the bike.
“He really is a lot better than he used to be,” Cassie assured him. “But…” She toyed with a strand of her long dark hair, a tentative expression stretched across her face. “There’s something I should tell you before we go inside.”
Uh-oh.Colt didn’t like the sound of that. “What’s up?”
“Well…” She glanced at Luke before returning her gaze to Colt. “I may have told Frank a tiny fib, so he’d agree to this arrangement. As you might suspect, he’s not great at accepting help. Even when he needs it.”
“What kind of fib?” Colt shifted the duffel to his other shoulder, wondering what he’d gotten himself into.
