Next, she turned to Antwan, her smile turning a little sad as she hugged him. “Hey. I know it was a while ago, but I’m so sorry about Hollie.”
He embraced her a little tighter. “Thanks, Callie.” He pulled away but kept hold of her upper arms. “It’s good to see you.”
“You too.” She tilted her head. “Have you seen Lock yet?”
“Nope. But I heard he’s somewhere called Sugar and Spice, so that’s where we’re headed.”
“So no more notes orseeing people in her backyard?” Eastern asked.
Lock lifted his mug. Eastern’s partner, Sadie, had made the coffee, and it was damn good. No surprise. She was also the granddaughter of Mrs. Sandler, who owned the bakery.
“No more notes,” Lock finally answered, “but she hasn’t been home the entire time toseeanyone in her yard.”
One side of Eastern’s mouth lifted. “Is that right? And where has she been staying?”
“With me.”
The smile widened. “You two back together then?”
He hadn’t told his brothers yet. He hadn’t seen much of them over the last week, but even if he had, it felt good keeping the news to themselves for a few days. Intimate.
“We are.”
Eastern closed his fingers around Lock’s shoulders. “I’m happy for you, brother.”
“Thanks. I’m glad she’s taken my sorry ass back. It also means I can be around to protect her.”
Eastern frowned. “What about her roommate, Aspen? She seen anyone suspicious around the house?”
“I don’t know. She and Callie haven’t seen a lot of each other this week. Callie hasn’t said anything, but I’ll ask her again today.”
“It’s hard to think someone who’s stalking her would have just backed off.”
Lock’s fingers tightened around the mug. “I know. I want to find the person responsible, and I want to find them fast.”
“We will.”
Lock needed a change of subject before the frustration ate into his mood. “How’s Avery?”
Eastern’s features softened at the mention of his eight-year-old daughter. “Amazing.” His gaze lifted to Sadie behind the counter. “And watching Sadie and Avery together is just…shit, I don’t know how to describe it. It’s magic. She’s Avery’s mother, even if it’s not by blood.”
Sadie had been Avery’s nanny for most of the girl’s life, and she’d always loved her like she was her own…while Avery’s biological mother had never treated her the way she should have.
“You’re a family.”
“We are, and it feels good.” Eastern’s gaze lifted to the counter. “Looks like Sadie has a break in customers. I might go talk to her.”
And by talk, of course his brother meant do a lot more than that.
Eastern stepped behind the counter and pulled Sadie into his arms to kiss her.
Yep, there it was.
Lock was just turning away when he noticed Callie climbing out of a blue Ford outside.
He rose to his feet. What the hell? What was she doing here…and whose car was that? He was supposed to be picking her up in half an hour, after she did her own Pilates session.
Then the front doors opened and two men climbed out. A smile cracked Lock’s mouth.
