His brothers were laughing so hard, they had to hold on to each other for support. Clearly they had both forgotten that he had sworn off women courtesy of his ex-fiancée.
“Very funny,” Xavier said. “Let’s get outta here before she hears you. We’ve got things to do, places to go, and a long-lost grandmother to meet.”
Jacques Chaplin, their grandmother’s driver, was waiting for them outside Northern Exposure. The older man jumped out of the cream-colored Cadillac El Dorado at the sight of them, opening the back door with a flourish. With his cap of gray hair, wire-rimmed glasses, and handlebar mustache, Jacques resembled someone who had time traveled from the late 1800s. With a complexion the color of sand, he resembled the actor Sam Elliott. So far, he was proving himself to be a cool dude as far as Xavier was concerned. Jacques had picked Xavier up earlier from the marina and transported him to the tavern so he could get something to eat while he waited for his brothers to arrive.
Xavier took a quick glance behind him before sliding into the vehicle. Through the window he could just make out the sight of True. She was different from most women in his orbit, leaving him with a desire to know more about her.
The woman had given him mixed vibes, but he couldn’t ignore the sparks flying between them. At first she’d seemed a bit wary of him. If he didn’t know any better, he might think she was one of the many women he’d hooked up with during his early days in the league. Xavier had been a bit of a player back then, emboldened by his NFL status and feeling like a man on a mission to pursue every attractive woman in his path. Then he’d met Heather, and everything had changed. He had been so smitten with the stunning model that he’d never looked elsewhere. What a cliché. The football player and the model. Yet he’d never felt a false note about their relationship until she’d blindsided him and trampled over his heart.
So much for his killer instincts!
True was the very first woman who’d given him butterflies since his ex-fiancée walked out of his life and left him for dead. This feeling fluttering around inside of him wasn’t one he’d expected to experience on his first day in town, but he couldn’t deny that it gave him a little spring in his step. At the moment he felt more alive than he had in a very long time.
CHAPTER THREE
For a moment there True had forgotten all about her dislike for Xavier Stone. That’s what she found scary about men like him. They possessed so much charm that you ended up sucked in until you couldn’t see straight. Smiling. Grinning. Flirting. She let out a sigh. Xavier probably thought he had her wrapped around his little finger.
“Xavier seems really nice, plus he’s a good tipper,” Bonnie said to True as she tucked her hefty tip into her apron pocket. A satisfied smile lit up her face. “And he’s easy on the eyes. Hubba-hubba. I wish we had more customers like Hattie’s grandsons.”
True let out an indelicate snort and rolled her eyes. “Seemsbeing the operative word. It’s really easy to put on a nice grin and say all the right things, isn’t it? Especially when you’re being handed a literal fortune for no reason at all other than you share the same bloodline.”
Bonnie reached out and patted True on the arm. “Maybe it’s time you let this go. Some things are not in your control.” She held her fingers up in the air and said, “Just breathe.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t always accept people at face value,” True said in a chirpy voice. “That’s when you get blindsided.”And I’m not going down that road. Never again!
Bonnie made a tutting sound. “Oh, True. Not everyone is like Garrett. You can’t take your anger out on every man you come across.”
True felt her cheeks getting flushed. “This has nothing to do withhim,” she huffed. “I don’t want Hattie to get bamboozled by her grandsons, that’s all. I see nothing but red flags with this entire situation. She hasn’t seen or heard from these dudes in almost twenty years.”
Bonnie pursed her lips. “Honestly, it’s not for us to judge,” she said, folding her arms across her chest. “Didn’t you hear Hattie when she said that her wildest dreams were coming true with the return of her grandsons? She wants this reunion more than anything else in the world.”
True chewed her lip. “That’s what worries me. Her expectations are sky-high. She’s wearing her heart on her sleeve, which means it can easily be broken. I want the last moments of Hattie’s life to be filled with joy, not sorrow.” She teared up at the thought of Hattie’s terminal illness. The notion of losing her dear friend caused a twisting sensation in her stomach.
Bonnie threw her hands in the air. “And hopefully they will be. Stop being such a pessimist. I’ve known Hattie Stone my entire life, and if there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that she’s as savvy as they come. She’s not going to fall for any schemes.”
True nodded. Bonnie was right. Hattie was highly intelligent, but she was also steeped in nostalgia about the past. How many times had Hattie spoken about what might have been if her grandsons had stayed in Moose Falls? Sometimes emotions got in the way of pragmatic thinking. And ifXavier, Caleb, and Landon were hustlers, they might know how to manipulate their grandmother. The very idea of her sweet friend being played for a fool gutted True.
“And if I were you, I’d be extra nice to the Stone brothers,” Bonnie said in a warning tone. “They’re going to own Northern Exposure… and become our bosses.” Bonnie widened her eyes and arched her brows for emphasis.
“Or sell it to the highest bidder,” True drawled. Just saying the words out loud hurt like stepping on cut glass. If only she had the money to buy the place. Owning Northern Exposure was her dream, but she wasn’t even close to saving up the funds for such a monumental purchase. Maybe Bonnie was right. Her mother used to always tell her that a person could catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. Perhaps it was time for her to turn on the charm with Xavier rather than shower him with saltiness. Getting on his good side would be a smart move on her part, she realized. Down the road it might work in her favor.
The thought of schmoozing with the attractive former football player caused heat to flow through her. Xavier was the hottest man she’d ever laid eyes on in her life. He was a little bit out of her league if she was being honest. Her research on him before his arrival in town revealed a dating history full of models, video vixens, and socialites.How typical, she thought. Not a cashier or teacher or librarian in the bunch. Somewhere in the mix was a former fiancée who was a dead ringer for Beyoncé.
His brothers were attractive as well, but Xavier stood out from the pack. He looked as if he’d been sculpted by Michelangelo himself. Xavier was the sort of man people would break their necks trying to look at as he passed them by on the street. And if he happened to return the stare, it would feel like you had been struck by lightning.
Stop it!she chided herself. Yes, Hattie’s grandson was certified eye candy, but that didn’t mean True had to drool over him or lose her head. There would be plenty of that type of pandemonium in the weeks and months to come from the residents of Moose Falls. She had a feeling that they were going to be celebrating the arrival of the Stone brothers as if it were Christmas morning, Easter, and the Fourth of July all wrapped up in a single moment.
A hushed silence enveloped the Cadillac as Jacques drove the Stone brothers to Hattie’s house for their reunion.Granny? Hattie?Xavier still wasn’t sure what he should call the woman he barely remembered. Perhaps he would leave that in her court to decide. He looked out the window during the ride and absorbed the lush Alaskan scenery. Everything was pristine, like a picture-perfect postcard. He couldn’t help but gasp as the mountains rose right before his eyes. They seemed so close, almost as if he could reach out with his hand and touch the jagged rocks. Snow blanketed the ground, and the fluffy white stuff covered what looked like pine and Sitka trees. He’d done a little research over the past few weeks to familiarize himself with Alaska, and those types of trees were abundant in Moose Falls. Even though he wasn’t exactly stoked about relocating here for an entire year, he had to admit that this town—and Alaska in general—was visually spectacular.
The picturesque surroundings served as a great distraction from the upcoming meeting. He was battling an onslaught of nerves. He didn’t know why his palms were suddenly moist and his heart was beating at a rapid pace.This, he thought,is a first step toward a better future. There was absolutelynothing to feel stressed about. As always, he needed to set the tone for his younger brothers and stay strong. Of the three of them, Xavier had been the one pushing the most for them to accept Hattie’s offer. He intended to see this thing through until they could figure out whether to stick around or sell Yukon Cider.
Approximately ten minutes after leaving Northern Exposure, Jacques pulled up in front of a large sky-blue Victorian home. The house was magnificent, an architectural masterpiece in Xavier’s opinion. The impressive structure reminded him of grand homes he’d seen over the years in California and Martha’s Vineyard.
Once he stepped outside the vehicle, Xavier craned his neck so he could capture the full scope of the structure. It was three stories high with a pitched roof and cylindrical turrets. A wraparound porch with lattice work and tomato-red Adirondack chairs lent the home an inviting air. A niggling feeling of déjà vu washed over him. He couldn’t shake off the feeling that this place had been important to him.
Caleb let out a low whistle. “I’m guessing the Victorian style is pretty unique for Alaska.”
“Very unusual,” Jacques said. “Hattie’s father—your great-grandfather—came to Moose Falls from Oregon. He had his mind set on a sweet Victorian the color of a robin’s egg.” Jacques let out a chuckle. “I’ll let Hattie tell you the rest. You hail from a very interesting family.”
