Pete Marsh had warned him—the old plumbing that ran between their kitchens was a disaster waiting to happen. His side had been updated in part, but the sections they shared? A cracked pipe away from catastrophe. From what Pete had said, Daphne’s side was hanging on by a thread and a prayer.
“How much do I owe you?” Jack reached for his wallet. “For Daphne’s part of the repairs.”
“Nothing.” Finn waved him away. “It needed to be done anyway.”
With Wisteria’s Womanly Welcome—and Daphne’s very public matchmaking stunt—his shop had seen a healthy uptick in interest. Hopefully the costs would even out quickly.
Jack’s expression didn’t budge. “Finn, the main leak came from her side.”
“I know.” Finn nodded as warmth flushed through his chest. “But now my side’s fixed and hers is patched well enough to get her through a few more months. There’s no reason to make more of it than that, Jack. I’ve got a restaurant to open in two days—and I need a working kitchen to do it.”
He could tell that explanation didn’t quite convince Jack. He gave Finn a long, assessing look.
“I’m part of this community now,” Finn added, keeping his tone even. “And you’re the one who said neighbors help each other, remember?” He lifted a brow. “Would you have done the same?”
Jack didn’t answer.
But the silence was enough.
“Then let it go.” Finn’s voice softened. And still, even with the price tag and the lingering doubt, it had been the right call. A good one. One his younger, less-jaded self would have made without question—back before fear of being used or let down had carved him into someone more cautious. “Save your money for when she needs a full replacement. Because she will.” He exhaled. “And despite my blunders... I do want to be her friend.”
Or something more?The question sliced through him with the pain of a knife.
The very fact he was even asking the question said enough.
He was starting to care about Daphne Austen.
And that scared him more than the plumbing bill.
“Friend?” Jack breathed out a sigh and leaned back against the fridge, arms folded. “Look, I don’t usually play the protective brother card. But—”
Here we go.
Finn braced.
Jack hesitated, eyes flicking to the sink before meeting Finn’s squarely again. “Daphne’s known a lot of hurt.”
Finn studied Jack, his thoughts spiraling back to the tea shop. No doubt Jack had heard Finn’s horrible attempt at a coded apology... and had come to his own conclusions.
Finn’s defenses twitched. “Do you think I’m the sort who would wish to hurt her?”
Even though he had.
And he hated it.
Jack didn’t flinch. “Are you?”
The words hit like a punch to the ribs—sharp and deserved. Similar to the one he’d been giving himself for the past two days.
“IknowI don’t want to hurt her again.” He hesitated. “Beyond that? I thought I had a plan. Thought I knew what I was doing. What I wanted.” His eyes drifted toward the wall that separated their shops. “But now I’m not so certain.”
Something subtle shifted in Jack’s stance—like a hinge opening—and he leaned back against the fridge. “Our dad left when Daphne was eight.” Jack swallowed. “Couldn’t handle our mom’s cancer diagnosis.”
Finn stilled.
“The three of us moved in with our grandmother—the one who started Tea Thyme. Mom passed not long after we came here. From that point on, it was just Granny. She held us together.”
A pause.
