Keane whistled.“So they blamed her and they had power.Theyblackballed her, and the store owners went along with it.”He stopped.“Doesyour daddy know that story?”
“Of course.They weren’t nice to her when she came backtwenty years later.That was when she met my dads,” Olivia explained.“She hadto fight for her right to buy tampons.It’s kind of a legendary story aroundhere.”
“Did your father buy the HEB?”
It was a good guess, though there were things even herfather couldn’t manage.“Nah.He talked to the CEO and said this would be agood place for a store.”She hadn’t thought about it that way.Why would herfather try to talk the largest grocery store in Texas into putting a store intheir tiny town?It had worked out for everyone, but since when had her dadcared about groceries?It all clicked into place.“And he offered them anexcellent deal on our beef.Damn.You’re right.He did that.Dad likesrevenge.”
Keane chuckled.“I’m starting to like your dad.He’s along-term thinker.”
She shouldn’t let them spend too much time alone together.Garrett was her Captain America who would do everything through legal channels.Keane would learn way too much from her dad.He was the one who could hop ontothe revenge train and ride it for the rest of his life.
And he meant what he said.He really was a lot like her dad.Overly protective and unapologetic about it.She’d planned to go down to theoffice and see if the insurance adjuster had come by, but Keane had nixed thatplan.
He wasn’t allowing her to walk around on her own in her owntown.It was obnoxious.When she realized they were serious about not allowingher to be alone, Gigi showed them her never-ending array of bejeweled securitydevices.They were not impressed.As Gabe was working in the garage on the newtable and Garrett had been on the phone with an overseas distributor, Keane hadbeen the one to take her into town.
“Anything in particular you’re looking for, Miss Olivia?”adeep voice asked.
She turned and Stephen Gunderson stood there.Where hisfather had been a larger man, Stephen was all lean and wiry.It gave him aslightly predatory, hungry look.Like a coyote who hadn’t eaten in weeks.
It was that moment that she remembered how much his familyhated hers.She held up the coffee.“I only needed some coffee.”
“I thought you also needed some makeup remover.I need topick up some creamer, too.You know Garrett can’t drink coffee the way we do,”Keane said.“He’s still in his coffee infancy.I don’t suppose you have anyFrench vanilla?”
Stephen’s expression was a careful blank.Or perhaps thatvacant look was simply his face.She couldn’t judge.She’d been told by manypeople she had resting bitch face.
“I think we have some sweet cream, but fancy flavors likethat you would have to go to the grocery at the edge of town,” Stephen said.“We’re more of a convenience store since they brought in that big place.”Hegestured to the back of the store.“Dairy’s in the back left corner.”
Keane glanced down at his watch.“I’ll go grab the creamerand meet you at the front.We need to get back.I don’t trust Tim to make surethe delivery is right.That boy is soft.”
She nodded.“See you in a minute.”
“Personal products are on five.Not that we have many ofthem,” Stephen said.“I’ll check and see if we even have makeup remover.Iwould think a woman like you would buy your products in Dallas.”
“I buy some there.”She wished he wasn’t leading the way,but she really was out, and she couldn’t ask Gigi and Miranda when she couldget her own.“But I like to support local businesses.I live here, too, youknow.I grew up here.”
“Did you?”Stephen asked, not looking back.“You didn’t goto school with the rest of us.All your friends were from Dallas.”
“That’s not true.I have a lot of friends from here.”
“All imported.That’s what your daddy did.He importedpeople in.People he could control.”
“It wasn’t about control.It was about how the town treatedus,” she replied.She wasn’t even sure why she was arguing with this man.She’dnever had a problem with him, but it was clear he didn’t feel the same.Sheheard the doors at the front swish open and then close again.“Maybe I made amistake.I can go out later and get what I need.”
Stephen turned, his expression softening.“Olivia, kids canbe mean.So can adults.Sorry.It’s been rough lately.It’s hard to realizeyou’re in charge of a sinking ship because of something your father did yearsago.”
She felt for the man.It wasn’t like he’d done the damage.“I’m sorry to hear that.I know the store has been a part of this town forgenerations.”
“And it probably ends with me.”Stephen moved toward theright corner of the store where the small aisle of personal products were kept.He stopped and looked down with a sigh.“And I can’t find decent help.I swearthat girl is the laziest thing in the world.I know I have what you’re lookingfor.I’ll run to the back and grab it.It seems my employee didn’t restock theway she should.”
Before she could tell him it wasn’t a big deal, hedisappeared behind the employee door.
Damn it.She should have stolen some from her mom, but no,she was rather excited since they were moving back into her house tomorrow.Gigi’s tenure at the lodge was finishing up, and Miranda was heading to Blissin a few days.Gabe was going to move into one of the guest rooms in the mainhouse, and she and her men were going to settle in.So she wanted her ownthings.She wanted to be a big girl, and this was what she got.
“Olivia,” a deep voice said.
She glanced up and Scott stood there, looking worse for thewear.He was in slacks and a button-down that needed to be washed and ironed.His normally perfect hair was rumpled and his eyes shot through with red.
Olivia took a step back on instinct.
