A Brevia Beginning

by Michelle Major

  But his eyes told her a different story. A tale of loneliness, loss and a need that called to her own secret, lonely heart.

  “Okay,” she said quickly, before she changed her mind. “I mean, since you’re Julia’s brother-in-law, she certainly wouldn’t mind you crashing there, too.”

  He tried to hide the smile that played at the corner of his mouth. “You won’t regret it.”

  “I already do,” she muttered. “You need to get your own bed. By tonight.”

  He nodded. “I can do that.”

  “Would you really have fired me?”

  His grin widened. “You’ll never know. I have to be at the bar for some deliveries. I’ll give you a lift back to your apartment first.”

  “I need to do some things in town, so I can walk back later. It’s not far. I’ll have an extra key made and leave it under the front mat.” She lifted the bag. “Thanks for breakfast. And dinner.”

  She was brushing him off, but Scott didn’t want to push the first good luck he’d had in ages. He reached forward and tapped his finger on the tip of her nose. “Have a good day, Lexi.”

  * * *

  She pushed her hair behind her ears and watched him walk away. Her stomach gurgled and she hoped it was from the food rather than her reaction to Scott.

  Halfway down the sidewalk, she noticed a light on in Julia’s salon. The place was closed until noon, according to the sign in the window. But the front door was unlocked, so she let herself in. Closing the door behind her, she heard the patter of feet, then a dog was in front of her. He was big and gray and barked several times before showing his teeth.

  Lexi pressed her back against the wall of windows at the front of the building. “Good doggie,” she whispered.

  The animal’s lip curled back even more and she could have sworn he snarled at her. Lexi felt her recently eaten breakfast threaten to make a repeat appearance. At least that might distract the dog long enough for her to get away. She concentrated on breathing without passing out.

  “Casper?”

  Lexi heard Julia’s voice from the back of the salon. “Julia,” she called softly. The dog came a step closer to her. “It’s Lexi. I, uh, your dog... Can you come...?”

  “He’s friendly.” Julia walked toward her, hands on her hips.

  “Really?” Lexi’s voice was a high-pitched squeak. “Why is he snarling at me?”

  “He smiles.” The woman placed a hand on the dog’s broad back. “Casper, sit.”

  He plopped to the ground.

  “Pet him,” Julia suggested. “He’ll love you.”

  Lexi swallowed and held out a hand. She ran her palm along the animal’s silky head. He immediately flipped on his back, wriggling in ecstasy as Lexi rubbed him with more enthusiasm. “He’s a sweetie.”

  “Told you so.”

  “How well do you know Sam’s brother?” Lexi asked, keeping her attention focused on the dog.

  “Not very,” Julia admitted. “He and Sam aren’t close. They never have been. Has he been giving you trouble at the bar?”

  Lexi shook her head, straightening. “He’s been okay. It’s just...weird, right? That he bought the bar and is staying in Brevia.”

  “There’s more than one person in Brevia who doesn’t belong right now.”

  Lexi felt herself blush. “I’m sorting things out. This is a little detour, that’s all. Does it bother you that I’m here? I put a lot on you and maybe it didn’t feel like you had a choice but to help.” A thought crossed her mind. “I don’t want to make it uncomfortable for you. Scott said Sam doesn’t like me.”

  “Can you blame him?”

  “No,” Lexi admitted, cringing. She loved her work and the law, but hated some of the things she’d had to do as part of her job. Her father had so many powerful clients and Lexi had spent a lot of her time digging up dirt on their enemies, often people with a lot less money and influence. It made her feel like the stereotypical unethical attorney, and she wished it could be different.

  “Actually, I like thinking I’m getting back at your dad in a way.” Julia smiled at her. “Not that I’m vindictive or anything, but he and the Johnsons made my life difficult. You know what they say about payback.” She absently straightened one of the styling bays. “Don’t worry about Sam. He’s protective of me. But it’s all good.”

  Lexi noticed Julia’s dreamy smile. “You’re lucky to have someone who loves you like that.”

  “Agreed,” Julia said. “How is the apartment? Other than the basics, I didn’t leave a lot of stuff there.”

  “It’s great. Thank you again. I get paid at the end of this week so I should be able to get you more than the deposit, but...”

  “Don’t worry about it,” Julia told her. “I know you’re good for it. It’s not too weird in a strange place by yourself?”

  Lexi thought about Scott sleeping on her couch and shook her head. “I’m fine.” She should tell Julia about their new arrangement, but the words wouldn’t form. “I noticed a few dog toys in the closet.”

  “I found Casper when I was living there.” Julia bent forward to scratch between the dog’s ears. “Or I should say, he found me.”

  “So the building is pet friendly?”

  The stylist studied her. “You don’t seem like a dog person.”

  “I don’t know,” Lexi admitted. “My father never let me have pets. Dogs make me nervous.” She gave a small laugh. “Almost everything makes me nervous. But this adventure is all about trying new things.”

  “An animal is a big commitment. It’s not just something you try out for a little, then dump when you go back to your real life.”

  “I know that.” Lexi’s resolve suddenly got stronger. She’d never experienced unconditional love, but was sure she had it in her to give. She’d always wanted a pet, but had been afraid that even a dog or cat might not think she was good enough. She didn’t know anything about caring for an animal. Suddenly, it was very important to prove it to herself. “What time does the animal shelter your mom runs open?”

  Julia glanced at her watch. “Not for another hour. But I have an in with the owner, if you know what I mean.”

  “You don’t have to help me with this. You’ve done more than enough already. I’m not here to take charity from you.”

  “I’ve got a good instinct for matching dogs with their forever people.” Julia grabbed a leash off the hook on the wall. “But you can return the favor. One of the girls is going through a divorce and she’s feeling uneasy about the filing. Frank Davis is her attorney, the same one I used. He’s not giving her the time she needs. I’ll take you out to the shelter, and in return, you look over the paperwork for her.”

  Lexi had run away from her life and her job, but she still loved the law. Maybe giving legal advice to someone here could start to make up for all the things she’d done as an attorney that weren’t helpful.

  She nodded, loving the sound of the word forever. She wanted to be a forever person, even if only to an animal. Plus, it would be good to have a distraction in the apartment when Scott was there.

  “You’ve got yourself a deal.”

  Chapter Five

  Scott arrived at the bar in the late afternoon, after spending the day in Charlotte buying more supplies and a mattress set to take to the apartment. At this rate, he was going to run through his savings within the month.

  He was tired and, strangely, wanted to return to Lexi’s. The two-bedroom apartment was nothing special and not nearly as stylish or comfortable as his condo in D.C., but he felt more at home there than anyplace he’d been in years.

  He had work to do at the bar first. As soon as he walked into the building, the smell of spices and roasting...something...hit him. He followed his nose to the kitchen and found Jon Riley at the stove with four men sitting aro
und the small table in the corner.

  “Hey, there,” he called to the group.

  All four men jumped up, turning toward him with varying degrees of mistrust in their eyes. “He invited us,” one of them offered.

  “We’re allowed to be here,” another insisted.

  “Who are you, anyway?” a third asked.

  Jon turned from the stove. “It’s okay, guys.” He motioned them to sit back down. “This is Scott Callahan, the bar’s new owner. I told you about him. He’s cool.”

  Scott didn’t feel particularly cool at the moment. “Uh, Jon? What the hell is going on here?”

  “I’m making an early dinner.”

  “You asked if you could use the kitchen to make yourself food. You forgot to mention company.”

  Jon turned the heat down on one of the burners and pointed to the hall. With a wary glance at the strangers sitting at the table, Scott turned and followed him there.

  “I won’t make a habit of it,” he said with a shrug. “But these guys are like me. They don’t have much and they’ve given a helluva lot more to this country than they’ve gotten back.”

  “They’re ex-military?”

  Joe nodded. “They need a break and a decent meal. I didn’t think you’d be here this early. Thought I could get them fed and out before anyone noticed.” He gave Scott a sheepish smile. “Sorry.”

  Scott scrubbed his hand across his face. His life was so far from the norm, he didn’t know which way was up anymore. He was used to action, a mission and constantly moving. He was used to being on his own. Now he’d gotten himself a roommate and had a kitchen full of hungry men waiting for a meal. He shook his head. “Do you have enough for one more?”

  Jon’s grin looked out of place on his somber face. “You bet.”

  Scott walked back into the kitchen and sat down with the men, feeling an odd camaraderie with this misfit band of soldiers. They asked him a few questions about his military career, but mainly enjoyed the meal in a companionable silence he could appreciate. Then he took his first bite from the plate Jon placed in front of him and could barely stop himself from moaning out loud. He looked around at the other men, whose faces reflected the same food rapture he felt.

  He met Jon’s gaze. “This is beyond amazing,” he said, then took another large bite. “I’m talking four-star-restaurant good.”

  “It’s only a chicken potpie,” Jon said with a shrug. “I like simple food that tastes good.”

  “It’s a little bit of heaven,” Scott agreed.

  One of the men shook his fork at Jon. “Everything he makes is like this. I look forward to my weekly Jon fix like I used to crave the bottle.”

  “That’s quite a comparison,” Scott said with an uncomfortable laugh.

  “Denny is in my AA group,” Jon explained. “Like I said, I worked as a chef in New York, but the big-city lifestyle didn’t exactly agree with me.”

  “Didn’t you say Riley’s used to serve food?” Scott asked.

  He nodded. “It’s where I got my start.”

  Scott looked around the large kitchen. “What would you think about putting together a menu?”

  “Are you serious?”

  “Nothing fancy, but a step up from normal bar food. Like you said, simple food that tastes good. If we could tap into part of the lunch and dinner crowd, it would expand the bar’s reach in a great way. Riley’s Bar & Grill. What do you think?”

  “I think it’s the best offer I’ve had in years,” he answered, his voice thick.

  A round of applause and several catcalls went up from the men.

  Scott felt a smile spread across his face. He stood, shook hands with Jon, then grabbed his plate. “I’m glad you agree. Get something to me by end of day tomorrow. I’d like to get the new menu implemented by early next week.”

  “Will do, boss.”

  “I’ve got to put away some boxes out front, so I’m going to take my dinner to go.” He turned to the men. “It was nice meeting you guys.” He paused, then added, “If any of you are looking for work, let me know. There’s a lot of odd jobs to be done around here, painting and the like.”

  “There aren’t a lot of opportunities for guys like us,” Denny answered. A couple of the men nodded in agreement. “Some of us got arrest records, pasts we’re not too proud of.”

  “I know all about that,” Scott answered. He pointed to Jon. “If he vouches for you, that’s enough for me.”

  “Thanks, Mr. Callahan.” Denny stepped forward and shook his hand. “You’re a good man.”

  Scott smiled. “I don’t know about that, but I’m a man in need of good help. Come in tomorrow morning and we’ll talk work.”

  He finished the meal as he unloaded bottles into the cooler. He walked from the back with more beer and heard the front door open. Annoyance crept up his spine at his hope to see Lexi, who was on the schedule tonight, coming in early. He knew his interest in her would lead nowhere for either of them, but couldn’t put a stop to it. Instead, his father and Sam stood inside the entrance.

  “To what do I owe the honor?” he asked, setting the box on top of the bar.

  “Scotty, it’s so good to see you.” His dad came forward and wrapped Scott in a tight hug, ignoring the way he stiffened in response. Joe Callahan had been the consummate Boston cop for years, both before and after his wife died. He’d dedicated his life to the force, even when he’d had two young sons at home grieving the loss of their mother. Joe’s ability to cut off his feelings had been ingrained early in both his boys, which was just fine by Scott. Recently Joe had rediscovered his “emotional intelligence” as he called it, and was on a mission to make sure Sam and Scott came along for the ride.

  Joe had traveled south last spring to reconnect with Sam, and in the process had gotten a second chance at love—with Julia’s mother, Vera. Now both Sam and Joe called Brevia, North Carolina, home. Scott was happy for them, but he had no desire to be part of Joe’s lovefest. He thought Sam had gone soft, and although he liked Julia and her little boy well enough, the thought of being tied down with a wife and kid felt totally foreign to him.

  “Good to see you, old man. Married life is treating you well so far.” He pulled back from Joe’s tight hug. “Jeez, Dad, what’s up with the tears?”

  Joe swiped a hand across his face. “I’m happy to see you, son. Nothing wrong with showing my emotions.”

  “He’s a regular watering pot,” Sam added, clapping a hand on their dad’s broad back. “How’s it going here?”

  “Coming along,” Scott answered, stepping behind the bar and out of Joe’s reach. “Is this a social call or something else?”

  “I’ve got a buddy who’s a local Realtor specializing in commercial property,” Sam said. “I can make a call and get him over here within fifteen minutes.”

  “Why do I need a Realtor?”

  Sam exchanged a look with their father. “We thought he could help.”

  Scott pointed a finger at Joe. “You’re in on this, too?”

  “I want you to be happy, Scotty.” He stepped forward. “You’ve been through a lot. You deserve it.”

  “It was an impulsive decision to buy this place,” Sam said. “We get that. But Mark can help you unload it before things go too far.”

  “You think you know me so well,” Scott muttered, transferring beer bottles into the cooler behind the bar.

  “I know you love being a marshal, the action and adrenaline of it,” his brother countered. “I know life as a bar owner can’t give you that.”

  “I thought the same thing when you left the force in Boston to take the police chief’s job in this Podunk Smoky Mountain town. It’s worked out all right for you. Why not me?”

  Sam shook his head, but Joe stepped between them. “Is this what you want, Scott? This k
ind of life change? Because I’ll support whatever you want to do, whether it’s going back to D.C. or staying in Brevia. Hell, I’ll wipe bar tables for you if it would help.”

  “Dad, he’s not staying in Brevia.”

  Scott felt his temper flare. Why didn’t anyone around him think he could stick? “Is it so hard to believe I could make a life here in your precious town? I get that you don’t want me here.”

  “It’s not that, although could you blame me if it was?” Sam let out a breath. “The last time we were living in the same place, you slept with my fiancée. That’s a hell of a breach of trust.”

  “You know why that happened. She’d already cheated on you and you wouldn’t believe it. I had to prove it to you.”

  “By going after her yourself? That’s not my definition of brotherly love.”

  Scott squeezed shut his eyes to ward off the dull pounding inside his head. When he opened them again, he saw Lexi standing just inside the front door. By the look on her face, she’d heard his conversation with Sam and the awful thing he’d done. He’d wanted to protect his brother, but ended up betraying him in the worst way possible. Sam was right—he’d made a huge alcohol-induced mistake when he’d taken Sam’s former fiancée, Jenny, to bed.

  Buying the bar had also been impulsive and alcohol-induced. Whether it was a mistake remained to be seen. Sam certainly thought it was, and probably their dad, as well. Scott met Lexi’s gaze, surprise in her eyes, but not the judgment he’d come to expect from everyone around him. Maybe that would appear later. He couldn’t say. But the absence of it bolstered his resolve.

  He turned to face his brother and father. “I messed up, Sam. Royally. I’m sorry for what I did, but you have to believe that my intentions were good. Or don’t believe it. It doesn’t matter anymore. I’m here now and I’m staying in Brevia until I decide it’s time to go. I’m not going to make a mess of the bar. I won’t embarrass you in front of your wife or your neighbors. You have a life here. I get that.”

  He expected Sam to argue, but instead his brother gave a curt nod.