It felt strange to be here without her friend. Strange that there were no cooking smells or the sound of classical music.
“I miss you so much,” Branna whispered.
She made it to the sofa she had slept on a few times and fell onto it. Kicking off her sandals, she pulled the blanket off the arm and managed to throw it over herself one handed. She would unpack later; for now, she needed sleep.
Jacob McBride walkedinto The Hoot with only one thing on his mind: chicken pie with a cheesy crust. Jake liked food, but he was downright dedicated to this pie, and that was why he only allowed himself to come here twice a week, three tops.
“Hey there, Jake, what’s happening?”
“Penny,” Jake gave the shapely brunette a nod. “How’s it hanging?”
“I’m a woman, Jake. Things don’t hang, and we get real pissed off if they do.”
He and Penny had been friends since high school, and he’d been teasing her for at least that long. She didn’t give him too much angst, and that was reason enough to continue their friendship, considering he wasn’t big on talking or, for that matter, building any more friendships these days.
“Got it. Don’t mention things hanging to women,” he added, standing at the counter as Buster bagged up his order without him even drawing a breath. That was one of the pluses in a whole heap of negatives that was good about living in your hometown again; everyone knew what you liked.
“I have news.” Penny drew out the S for dramatic effect.
“Hurry it up there, Buster. A man’s starving here,” Jake said, with one eye on his pie and the other on Penny, hoping she’d just leave so he could eat in peace, or he could leave before she started in on her news.
“When aren’t you starving?” the man behind the counter asked. He had cropped dark hair, a thick neck, and linebacker’s shoulders, but Buster Griffin was saved from being downright intimidating by soft green eyes and long girly lashes that had got him into plenty of fights during high school. There was also the apron he wore continually as proprietor of The Hoot.
“You remember how I told you Georgie Brown left her place to Branna O’Donnell?” Penny said.
Jake was pretty sure she hadn’t, but nodded anyway as he took his first bite. He thought about Branna Rose O’Donnell as the pastry melted in his mouth. Her soft pale skin, thick black hair, and pretty green eyes—he remembered she’d intrigued him. Rosebud, he’d nicknamed her just to get a reaction, which he had; she’d fired up every time he’d used it.
“Bet that pissed Brian Reynolds off. He’s been at Georgie for years to sell it to him,” Buster said before Penny could speak.
“He’s a real estate man, Buster, and knows a good deal when he sees one,” Jake added.
“Well, anyway”—Penny waved a hand about to get their attention—“she just arrived back in Howling today to pick up the keys. She gets the Mustang too.” The last was said with a sneer, which made Jake roll his eyes.
“I offered Georgie good money for it two years ago, Penny, and she turned me down. Let it go already. I have.”
“Anyway”—she waved her hand about again—“she looked tired and scruffy, but still has those endless legs and that pretty face. I was always jealous of her for looking beautiful in those hideous clothes she always wore, without a scrap of makeup, while the rest of us spent hours getting ready for school. Wasn’t real chatty either.”
“Can imagine that didn’t endear her to you none, Penny,” Buster muttered from behind the counter, which made Jake salute him with his pie.
“You saying I’m a gossip, Buster?”
“I’m sure you were going somewhere with this O’Donnell story, Pen. How about getting there before we retire?” Jake interrupted before they got into it, as they often did.
“I don’t remember much about Branna O’Donnell, but I do remember she was not real loose with her tongue, that’s for sure,” Buster added. “Being that way myself, you tend to notice it in other people.”
“I remember her, and she was belligerent in high school. Can’t imagine that much has changed over the ensuing years,” Jake said, and then took a larger bite for his second. He tried to make it last, but usually failed.
“Get you with the big words,” Buster said.
“Belligerent or ensuing?” Jake questioned.
“When she left the office,” Penny said, ignoring their conversation, “she looked a bit preoccupied after talking with Mr. Cooper and learning what Georgie’s legacy entailed.”
“Strange how she got everything, don’t you think?” Buster said.
“Not so strange when you realize that she and Georgie talked every week on the phone, and she was always sending her gifts. Georgie went up to visit Branna too, once a year since she left Howling.”
“How do you know this stuff?” Buster said, looking at Penny.
