Shane turned onto Main Street and Riversong came into view—the painted sign her dad had made, the flower boxes April and Hannah had planted earlier in the spring, the big windows that let morning light flood the whole shop.
Shane pulled into the small parking lot in front of the building.
April's stomach clenched. Her father's truck was already there.
"He's here early," she said, trying to keep her voice light.
Shane cut the engine and looked at her. "You okay?"
Oh, just fine. I'm nervous about what this looks like. The three of us showing up together. You and me and Kevin, like we're...
Like they were a family.
"Yeah, I just—" She glanced back at Kevin, who was already unbuckling. "I wasn't expecting him to be here yet. Usually I open alone on Sundays."
Shane's hand found hers, squeezed once. "If it’s gonna be a problem, Pete and I can pick you guys up later."
April gazed through the window and caught movement as her dad moved back and forth behind the counter.
“No.” She smiled at Shane. “There won’t be a problem at all.”
Kevin bounded out of the SUV before April could overthink it further. "Come on! I wanna tell Grandpapa the news!" He ran around to the back to do his customary job of letting Pete out.
Shane came around to open April's door. Always the gentleman. He grabbed the donuts and she took his offered hand—warm, callused, steady—and let him pull her out.
Together, they walked toward the entrance.
Sonny was at the prep counter, measuring out beans for the first batch of coffee. He looked up when Kevin opened the door, his weathered face breaking into a smile.
"There's my favorite grandson—" He stopped mid-sentence, taking in the whole picture. Kevin, Pete, Shane, April. All together. At seven-thirty in the morning.
April felt her cheeks heat.
"Morning, Mr. Taylor," Shane said evenly.
"Shane." Sonny's tone was carefully neutral, but his eyes—sharp and assessing—flicked between Shane and April like he was adding up a math problem he didn't quite like the answer to.
Kevin, oblivious to any tension, launched himself at his grandfather. "Grandpapa! Guess what?"
"What's that, kiddo?"
"Shane spent the night with us!"
Oh God. April thought ‘the news’ Kevin wanted to share was about the hike today.
The temperature in the room dropped in proportion to how high Sonny's eyebrows climbed toward his hairline. His gaze locked on Shane with the kind of scrutiny that had made April's high school boyfriends—the one or two her father had actually met—never take her out again.
"On the couch," April blurted, her voice coming out higher than intended. "He slept on the couch. Shane was a perfect gentleman and?—"
"I made him," Kevin added helpfully. "Because he's Mom's bodyguard and I was scared he'd leave and something bad would happen."
Sonny's intense expression was replaced by amusement. He crossed his arms, still looking at Shane.
"The couch, huh?"
"Yes, sir." Shane met his gaze steadily. "I gave Kevin my word I'd keep watch."
Sonny studied Shane for another long moment. Then his mouth twitched. "Well. I suppose that's all right then." He ruffled Kevin's hair. "Your mom treating her bodyguard okay?"
