While Wolf Enterprises had built Pepper and Stone’s home on his brother’s property, they continued to share a two-bedroom apartment with him in the old Victorian Rafael had renovated into six apartments. When the house was complete, they would move, and Trey would be alone. They were days away from completion. He sighed, feeling sorry for himself.
“Hey, seriously, bro, you all right?” Nico asked. “You’re like on another planet.”
He met his friend’s gaze. Although opposite in personality, Nico was his oldest friend. He was talkative and outgoing; Trey was quiet and reserved. They’d met in college in San Diego and had bonded over their controlling fathers and the expectations that they would follow them into the family business. In Nico’s case, he was supposed to join the family law firm like his older brother, Zander. Trey’s family had assumed he would follow his dad into the pharmaceutical business. His father was CEO of the company that made drugs for people with autoimmune diseases. As the major shareholder, his father had gotten very rich.
On a beach in San Diego, he and Nico had decided together to rebel against their fathers’ wishes. Trey changed his major to design; Nico changed his to botany. Their families both withdrew their tuition money, and the boys were on their own. They’d graduated and both gone on to graduate school, funded by loans and more loans. At the end, though, they’d chosen what they each felt was their calling.
When Nico’s fiancée had decided she preferred her bridesmaid, he’d been devastated. At loose ends, he’d gladly accepted Trey and the other Wolves’ offer to join the firm as their landscape architect.
Sophie, The Oar’s co-owner, approached with a bottle of wine. “Hey, boys. Who wants to taste my latest find from my trip to Napa? Nico?” She held the bottle against her chest. Tall and tanned, with masses of blond hair, Sophie Woods was like a piece of lemon pie: sweet, zesty, and bright.
Nico smiled stiffly, then looked down at his plate. “Not today. Drinking beer with the guys.”
Sophie’s blue eyes flashed as she backed up a few inches from the table. “Is that how we’re playing this?”
Everyone at the table seemed to freeze. Nico glanced up at her, his usual playful expression tense. “We talked about it. You know the deal.”
Her eyes filled with tears. “You’re an ass, you know that, Nico Bentley?”
“I’m trying not to be. That’s the whole point,” Nico said.
“Well, you’re completely misguided.” Sophie turned so quickly her tennis shoes squeaked against the wood floor. Seconds later, she stomped through the door to the back office.
“What just happened?” Stone asked.
“She was about to cry,” Rafael said. “What did you do to her?”
“It’s what I didn’t do,” Nico said before burying his face in his hands. He spoke through his fingers. “I had to put a stop to this thing. Before I did something we both regretted.”
Everyone knew, including Nico, that Sophie had it bad for him. However, she was only twenty-two and a virgin. Nico was twelve years older and definitely not a virgin. Since his fiancée had left him for a woman, Nico seemed to be on a mission to prove that at least part of the female population of California found him attractive.
“What do you mean, put a stop to this thing?” Rafael asked. His dark eyes looked wary, as if afraid of what Nico was about to admit.
“Dude, I find her impossible to stay away from,” Nico said. “It’s like we’re magnets or something. The attraction between us is off the charts. The other night I gave in and kissed her, even though we’d agreed to be just friends.”
“She does not want to be just your friend,” David said with his usual serious countenance. “That’s been obvious for as long as I’ve been in town.”
“I know, that’s the problem,” Nico said. “When she throws that luscious body at me, I’m powerless. Anyway, I told her after our kiss that I couldn’t hang out with her anymore. It wasn’t right, and she needs to find someone her own age. I mean, it’s obscene.”
“You’re not that old,” Stone said.
“It’s not that I’m old; it’s that she’s so young,” Nico said. “And innocent. It’s not for me to take that from her. Plus, there’s the problem of her brother.”
“Zane?” Stone asked.
“Yeah. He pretty much told me he’d run me out of town if I so much as touched her.” Nico took a long slug of beer from his pint and grimaced, as if he really wished he’d said yes to that glass of wine.
“Was he serious?” Rafael asked.
Nico nodded. “I think so. He’s protective of her, as he should be.”
Zane Shaw owned both The Oar and Dog’s Brewery. Although they were half siblings and had discovered the other’s existence only a few years ago, Zane had given Sophie part ownership in both businesses. As far as Trey could tell, the siblings were close. In fact, Sophie had been Zane and Honor’s surrogate. You couldn’t get closer than giving your brother a baby.
Nico ran a hand through his light brown hair. “Anyway, I guess she didn’t take me seriously or she wouldn’t have come over here all human-sunshine-like and offered me wine.”
“You’re right not to lead her on,” Stone said. “But I don’t see why the age difference should matter. Love is love.”
“True. Look at Lisa and me,” Rafael said. “Beauty and the beast.”
“But you two are soul mates,” Nico said. “Sophie’s soul mate is out there probably working an entry-level job at some company and going clubbing at night. I’m home and in bed by ten after looking in on Mrs. Coventry. Just because there’s a physical attraction between us doesn’t mean we’re right for each other. If she were older, she’d know that.”
Before anyone could answer, Autumn walked into the restaurant and made a beeline toward them.
Trey sucked in his breath at the sight of her. She had her hair down and teased into waves around her shoulders and wore tight white jeans and a flowy, pale green blouse. She was without her cane. She must be feeling strong and rested. When she was fatigued, she sometimes used a cane for support, which she’d once confessed to him made her feel like a lonely old maid.
She flashed a smile around the table as she lowered herself carefully into the only empty chair. “Hey, guys.”
“You look extra pretty,” Stone said. “I don’t know if I should let my little sister out of the house looking so good.”
“I have a date,” she said. “I’m meeting someone for a drink.”
Trey’s stomach clenched with a sudden rage. He blamed Nico for this. He was the one who had the bright idea about online dating. Then, in an attempt to squelch his jealousy, Trey had offered to help Autumn answer emails from these jerks. That hadn’t lasted long. He’d had to recuse himself or risk giving himself away. What he’d really wanted to type as responses would not have been met with enthusiasm on the other end.
“Which one is this?” Nico asked.
“I haven’t told you about him yet,” Autumn said. “We exchanged an email just yesterday for the first time and he asked if I wanted to get a drink. He said he was trying to be more aggressive, rather than send a thousand emails back and forth.”
“One email?” Trey asked. “Is that enough time to assess his character? He could be a total player.”
“Player?” Autumn asked. “No. I didn’t get that vibe. He seemed forthright.”
She was so cute with her innocence and those wide-set green eyes and the way her brow furrowed in confusion when he said something stupid. “Well, goody for him,” he muttered under his breath. “Just be careful. You’re not letting him pick you up, are you?”
Her small mouth turned up in an indulgent smile. “No, of course not. I’m meeting him over at the Dog’s Brewery.”
“Is he local?” Stone asked.
“He lives up in Stowaway,” Autumn said.
“That’s almost an hour away,” Trey said. “Way too far for him to be able to come see you much.”
“It’s only a
drink.” Rafael tilted his head, peering at him with a little too much curiosity. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
“Regardless, don’t forget what I told you,” Nico said. “No compromises. You find a guy willing to give up everything to be with you.”
Autumn lowered her eyes. “He probably won’t ask for a second date once I tell him how bad my scars are.” She’d written into her profile a sentence about her legs being scarred and maimed from her accident. He and Nico had thought it best to leave it out, but she’d insisted. “It’s a good way to weed out the guys who would care about something like that,” she’d said at the time.
“Then he’s not worthy of you,” Nico said. “The right guy won’t care.”
Trey couldn’t tear his eyes from her. The sage-green blouse really brought out her almond-shaped eyes. Her complexion reminded him of apple blossoms, white with a tinge of pink. The scattering of freckles over her nose made him want to count every one of them and give her the same number of kisses.
She touched the faint scar on her right cheekbone and looked up at Nico. “This might be a deterrent as well.”
“You can’t even see it,” David said softly.
Trey turned to him, surprised. Other than to his sister, David rarely spoke to a woman unless spoken to directly. He had a shield a mile thick over his heart, which translated into a reserve that could be interpreted as aloofness. But Trey knew better. David was too fragile to put himself out there with most people, but especially women. Finding out your wife was dealing drugs from the back of her minivan with two little kids in the back seat could really mess with a man’s mind. Betrayal ate away at you until your only desire was to hide behind whatever wall you could find.
“Maybe not in a dim room,” Autumn said. “Which is why I suggested we meet at the brewery.” In the right light, the scar on her right cheek was visible, even under her carefully applied makeup. He often saw her conceal the area with her fingers in what seemed like an unconscious habit. To him, her imperfections made her even more lovely. She was like a piece of artwork, imperfectly exquisite.
“Don’t even think of it,” David said. “Be yourself.”
“He won’t be able to stop himself from falling in love with you,” Trey said. Had he said that out loud?
Other than Autumn, who looked back down at her lap, the entire table turned to him. Well, that answered his question. He had spoken out loud. Four pairs of eyes scrutinized him. He went hot, embarrassed. Why had he said it with such emotion, so emphatic? God, he was an idiot. They knew. The knowing glimmer in Rafael’s and Stone’s eyes told him everything he needed to understand. They could all see he was in love with her now.
“Well, I should go.” Autumn stood so abruptly she knocked a knife off the table. “I should just get this over with. You guys have a good afternoon.” She waggled her fingers, then headed across the restaurant and out the door. Trey watched through the window as she walked with a slight hitch to her gait toward her car.
When he shifted his gaze back to the table, all four of the guys were watching him. Watching him watching Autumn.
He grabbed his beer and guzzled from the glass.
“What is going on here?” Nico asked. “I’ve missed something, obviously.”
Trey shrugged and took another drink from his glass.
“Trey, do you have feelings for Autumn?” Stone asked.
He looked back out the window just as Autumn’s car passed by, headed east toward the end of town. She was hunched over with both hands wrapped around the steering wheel. Even from this distance he recognized the tension in her shoulders and the way she clenched her mouth when she was nervous or upset. His heart broke in two at the sight of her, so vulnerable, so brave for putting herself out there, for hoping that love might be waiting at the other end of the day. If she only knew that it was right here. Right here with him.
Stone nudged him with one of his giant shoulders. “Did you hear what I said?”
Suddenly it was too much. Keeping his feelings bottled up inside himself all these months was like holding on to the stern of a boat in a storm. Any loosening and he’d fall right into the ocean. Tears pricked his eyes. Horrified, he brought his beer back to his mouth, but he couldn’t drink. He set aside the glass and swallowed.
“Dude, you’re in love with her, aren’t you?” Nico asked.
Across from him, Rafael shifted slightly and leaned over the table to pat his shoulder. “It’s all right. We’ve got your back. You can talk to us.”
“Are you?” Stone asked, with a tone as soft and compassionate as Trey had always wished his father to be.
Trey looked at his hands, helpless to think of any way to explain other than to come right out with the truth. “I’m in love with her and have been for a long time now.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Stone asked.
“Because I’m scared that she doesn’t feel the same,” Trey said. “I’ve been humiliated enough by my ex-wife to last a lifetime. I don’t think Autumn could ever feel the same way about me.”
Stone muttered an expletive under his breath. “That’s just her fear talking. It’s about her legs.” He cursed again. “I can’t believe it. I hoped you felt this way, but I didn’t think you did.”
“I shouldn’t,” Trey said. “But I do.”
“You were helping her with the online dating stuff.” Nico was staring at him as if he’d never seen him before, despite their knowing each other for almost fifteen years. “Like a buddy does.”
“I had to. I want her to be happy, even if it’s not with me,” Trey said. “Even though I feel like a truck is driving over my chest just thinking about her with anyone else.”
“She’s told me repeatedly that you guys are just friends,” Stone said.
“I’m afraid that’s all it will ever be between us,” Trey said, feeling more miserable by the minute. “I wasn’t ready when we first met. My feelings came slowly…and maybe I was in denial because I was afraid to get hurt again. But they’re here now and not going away anytime soon.”
“It’s natural to feel reticent after having your heart broken,” Nico said.
“And bitter,” David said. “If only we could go back in time and make different choices, right?” He took a sorrowful drink from his beer glass.
“The ending of my marriage destroyed me,” Trey said. “Autumn thinks she’s the only one with scars.”
David nodded. “It’s like the person you used to be vanished with the betrayal, and now all you are is the pain and distrust.”
“I keep thinking if I could just start over with Autumn, maybe I could be different, more open, less vocal about my vow to never marry again. That was so stupid. She took all that to heart.”
“She doesn’t want to get hurt,” Rafael said. “That’s clear as anything.”
“And lose you as a friend and a boyfriend,” Nico said. “It makes sense that she’s kept a distance.”
“A guy in Denver hurt her really bad,” Stone said.
“I’d like to kill that guy,” Trey said.
Stone raised his eyebrows, clearly surprised. Trey wasn’t usually the type of man interested in violence. He spent his days figuring out how to arrange beautiful pieces into pleasing living spaces, not contemplating beating some guy’s face in with his fists.
“Did she tell you about him?” Stone asked.
“She mentioned him just once,” Trey said. “After a few glasses of wine one night.” The story she’d told him had ripped a hole in his heart.
“What did he do to her?” Nico asked.
Trey winced, remembering how Autumn’s voice had sounded when she told him the story. “She waited a long time to go to bed with him because of her scarring. When she finally did, he told her it was no problem, but he turned out the lights.”
“Then bailed on her in the middle of the night,” Stone said. “After…you know, with her first. I can’t say that word in relation to my sister.”
“What
a total douche,” David said.
No one spoke for a few seconds. Trey was vaguely aware of voices coming from the bar and the clatter of dishes and silverware, but they didn’t penetrate the Wolves’ vortex. Men rarely talked like this. Certainly not this group, anyway. It was as if they’d created a temporary space where they could put aside their male egos and talk, the way women did. They were so much smarter than men.
Stone bowed his head, then turned slowly to look at Trey. “I have an idea. It’s probably a really bad one, but here goes. You said you wanted a chance to start over with her, right?”
“Yes, but that’s impossible,” Trey said.
“You guys ever see that chick flick, You’ve Got Mail?” Stone asked.
“Sure. Everyone’s seen that one,” Rafael said. “At least anyone raised by Mama.”
“That’s the one where they’re writing to each other without realizing they know each other in real life, right?” David asked.
“That’s right,” Stone said. “What if we set up a fake profile on that dating site? You could start fresh. Show her you’re ready for a relationship. Open up to her.”
The conversation came to an abrupt halt, as if a time continuum glitch in the universe had skipped them forward without any idea of what just happened.
“A fake profile?” Rafael asked. “What good would that do? You’d just be lying to her and once she found out it was you—she’d be really mad.”
“But what if they fell in love over letters like in the movie?” Stone asked. “I could totally see my sister doing that.”
Nico was rocking back and forth the way he did when he was thinking through a problem. “But those two were both in the dark, weren’t they? This isn’t fair if Trey knows and she doesn’t.”
David picked up a knife and tapped the flat side against the palm of his hand. “Yes, but it’s true what Stone says. It would be a great way to show her a different side. We all find it easier to express ourselves in almost any other way than verbally. I mean, we’re all work-with-our-hands type of guys.”
Rafael crossed his arms over his chest, a deep furrow between his brows. “Won’t she guess it’s him? I mean, if you’re really going to get to know her and show her the true you, won’t you have to tell her things about yourself? Things she probably already knows?”
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