Everybody knew about Harry’s transformation from bachelor to devoted husband and father, and they knew the woman behind it.“Your wife’s a special woman.You’re a lucky man.”He used to think partnerships only referred to business arrangements…but then he learned the truth…
“Damn straight I am and don’t think I don’t know that.So, I’m wondering about you and how you landed in our town, working at a bar.Why would you do that?And—” he pointed to the tattoos on Ian’s arm, the ponytail and full beard, “—what’s all this?If it’s really you, great.I support being yourself, but if it’s not, and it’s just another way to hide, then cut the hair and stop with the tattoos.”He jabbed a finger at his chest, his expression full of emotion.“Because behind it all, we’re all we’ve got.We’re still just us.”
Why was Harry talking to him as though he thought Ian had a truckload of secrets?He only had one secret, andshewas the reason he’d returned to this town.Shewas behind all of it, and if he didn’t square things with her, no matter the fallout, he’d never be able to move on.Ian knew that, had known it for a long time, even if he hated to admit it.
And Harry?The guy had figured out a woman was involved in Ian’s “situation” even if he didn’t know her name.
“Anyway, enough about that.I’m just a hopeless fool who believes the right woman can make a messed-up guy a better person.”He slid Ian a look, nodded at the menu.“Are you having the shrimp puttanesca tonight with a side of calamari, extra sauce?”
“Of course.Can you add garlic bread to that…and will you ask Jeremy to add a little extra spice to the puttanesca?”
A wink, and a hearty, “You got it.Hope that stomach’s up for it tonight.”He turned to leave, stopped.“Did you hear Katie Layton’s back in town?”A shrug, a curious, “You two knew each other back in the day.That summer you spent here?I seem to remember Dolly saying something about it, though she never did tell Jack.Huh.”He rubbed his jaw, slid him a look that said “not so fast” and “no way are you fooling me”.“I’ll tell Jeremy to put an extra kick in that puttanesca.See you in a few.”
Harry Blacksworth was as smooth as they came.The man could smile and compliment all while he was assessing, calculating, and deducing.What did he know about that summer?Ian took another long pull of beer, thought about Harry’s words.Katie Layton’s back in town.
Finally.
Ava Ventori wasone of Katie’s Soups’ biggest fans.She sampled, offered suggestions, and convinced customers to buy not one but two or three jars of soup.There’s nothing like this, except maybe your mother’s minestrone.Orthis mushroom barley soup is unforgettable.
Katie and Ava had been friends for years, and Katie even babysat Ava and Law’s baby on occasion.Of course, the child was beautiful, happy, a true pleasure.A twinge of something close to longing settled in her gut, made her wonder if she’d ever find a partner who cared about her, brought her flowers and sweet treatsjust because…
Maybe she’d be relegated to the role of aunt since her sister claimed sheknewhow to find the perfect man,andthe perfect life, one that included a boy and a girl, in that order.Maybe a dog.She even knew the dog would be a Yorkshire Terrier, a female she’d name Fiona.Norah still didn’t understand life was not that simple, and plans didn’t always work out like you thought they would.
When Ava asked Katie to join her at O’Reilly’s for chicken avocado sliders and a chat regarding the holiday display she and Law wanted to create for her soups, Katie couldn’t resist.Who didn’t love those sliders?And the hot chicken wings?Tasty with just the right amount of spice.Mouthwatering.Must have.The wine was very good as well, and while newcomers wondered how a bar could offer such quality, the residents knew all about Nick and Delilah Borado.Delilah might be from Magdalena, but she’d made a name in the entertainment industry while Nick was heir to a men’s clothing dynasty.They’d met years ago, were torn apart but found their way back to each other…and now they were expecting their first child.Thatwas pure love.Thatwas destiny and meant-to-be.It really did exist for some people…just not everyone.
Katie pulled into O’Reilly’s and spotted Ava getting out of her SUV.The woman wasn’t always the most punctual, and there’d been a few occasions where Katie adjusted meeting times with a fifteen-minute cushion, but Avawasgetting better.Seemed like that always-fifteen-minutes-early husband of hers had worn off on her.Katie parked the car, stepped out, and waved.“Perfect timing.”
Ava’s laugh reached her from across the parking lot.“How about that?On time and not a minute late!”Another laugh.“I hope you’re hungry because I told Delilah we were coming.”
“Starved!”Katie had a lot of friends in this town, people who really cared about her and wanted to see Katie’s Soups succeed.Since she’d landed the national contract, they’d all been so supportive.The men enjoyed sampling the different varieties of soups as well as new recipes, while the women liked to chat and get more personal.They wanted to find a meant-to-be for Katie even though she’d told them she wasn’t interested.There’d been dates, short-term boyfriends, and a nanosecond fiancé who’d been a huge mistake.
How could she marry a man who didn’t own her heart?
“Thanks for getting away tonight.”Ava gave Katie a quick hug, her dark eyes sparkling.“Just because I’m a wife and mother doesn’t mean I can’t meet up with my friends.Besides, Law’s got it all under control.”Her voice spilled emotion.“You should hear him at bedtime.The first time I caught him singing, he was so embarrassed.But then I told him how beautiful it was to watch him with our baby.Now he sings all the time.”She paused, her voice dipping as though she might be overheard.“Please don’t tell anybody about the singing.He wouldn’t like it.”A faint smile, a whisper.“He’s got that tough-guy image to protect.”
Law Carlisle, reformed bad boy.If a person weren’t watching them together, they might consider Law and Ava an odd couple.Ava, with her girl-next-door looks, and Law, with his tattoos and long hair, werenotan obvious matchup.However, once you saw them together, saw the way they looked at each other, talkedaboutone another?There was no denying it was true love.Soul-deep.Forever.Meant-to-be.
“So…I might have another reason for inviting you to the bar.”
“Like?”This better not be another matchmaker attempt.Ava had tried twice, and both had been disasters.Just because a guy knew how to use a food processorandfollow a recipe did not make him a match.
“It’s not another Andrew Wellington.”An eye roll and then, “How was I to know his mother still did his laundry and screened his dates?”
Ugh, that had been horrible.The woman had actually possessed a page of questions, including her stance on working mothers, fat-free food, and the type of vehicle she considered safest for transporting her grandchildren—even though there were currentlynograndchildren.
There hadn’t been a second date, and Katie vowed she’d never let Ava match her up again.Until her friend approached her one day and insisted, this wastheone.Franklin Blusdell, a cardiologist from Boston who’d moved to Renova.What Ava forgot to mention was the man might be divorced, but he was still in love with his wife.Talk about missing the mark!He’d been a decent guy, and Katie had enjoyed the linguine and clam dinnerandlistening to his plan on how to win the ex-wife back.Stranger things had happened…
But she was not going to sit through an interrogation on children or hear about ex-wives, or anything else.In fact, she’d begun inventing boyfriends so people would leave her alone.She didn’t want a special someone…didn’t need one… “Ava–”
“Just listen for a second, okay?The main purpose of our get-together is to talk about the displays and other options for your soups.However—” she raised a brow, tapped her cheek, “—there’s a new guy in town…not like your oddball fiancé or the two guys I tried to fix you up with that were wrong for you.This one’s not your usual type, but maybe he’s exactly what you need.”
Oh, no.Katie was not interested.She didn’tneeda “new guy”.Jackson had been her fiancé, but that ended five months ago when she realized they were better business associates than life partners.Why hadn’t she been sad about the breakup?Why had she been almost relieved and–
“There’s something mysterious about him.I have to warn you, he’s definitely not your usual type.There’s no suit, tie, or designer clothes.And his hair?It’s longer than yours…and he’s got a full beard and tattoos.”She trailed a hand along her right arm.“Lots of tattoos, but who cares?I’m sure there’s a story behind each one.”
“I see.”But she didn’t see, not even a tiny bit.
“Just keep an open mind and if there’s a spark, why not see if it turns into a fire?”
