Page 8 of Can't Take Moore
“Like I needed much of one,” he muttered.
“Maybe not, but she did.” I jerked my chin toward Skylar and flashed my cousin a smug grin. “And you can’t deny that I helped get your gorgeous wife talking to you by luring her into a meeting with you about this fantastic location for her shop."
“It really is perfect,” Skylar sighed.
My cousin glared at me again, unhappy with the reminder of how hard she’d fought their attraction. Walking over to grab a cup and my favorite tea, he shook his head and grumbled, “I would have gotten her to come around sooner or later.”
“I would’ve denied it back then, but I can’t really argue that he’s wrong now.” Skylar patted her rounded belly before sliding a notepad and pen across the counter toward me.
“What's this for?” I asked.
“I’m setting up a rotation.”
Her answer didn’t tell me much, so I took a wild guess. “Coverage for the shop when you have the baby? Count me in.”
“That's not what she wants it for at all.” Baxter’s frown turned into a smug grin. “One of her customers from earlier today gave my beautiful wife the idea that if she had my cousins stopping in on a regular basis, the ladies of Mooreville would hang around here more often just to get an eyeful.”
Simon crossed his arms over his chest with a laugh. “The part he left out was where he was talking crap about being your wingman.”
My brows drawing together, I echoed, “My wingman?”
Baxter shrugged as he handed me an Earl Grey tea. “Not yours specifically. Any of the cousins will do.”
“Look at you chomping at the bit to fix us all up. Being married with a baby on the way has made you soft,” I teased.
“He got the idea from Vienna,” Simon added, opening a white pastry bag before gesturing toward the display case. “What all do you want today?”
No way in hell was that name a coincidence. “Vienna Frost?”
“Yeah.” The teenager ignored the fact that I hadn’t answered his question and dropped a couple of my favorite muffins into the bag. “How did you know who I was talking about?”
“I sold her a house.”
Simon gaped at my answer. “You know Vienna Frost? And you never told me?”
“I wouldn't say I know her. It's not like we're friends or anything. I just emailed back and forth with her while I represented her on the deal. And sent a few texts. We’ve never met. She had me handle everything and signed all the documents remotely.” I knew I sounded defensive, but I couldn’t seem to stop myself.
“Nobody accused you of being her best friend,” Baxter retorted with a knowing gleam in his eyes.
A change of subject probably would’ve been smart, but I still asked, “What time was she here?”
“Maybe an hour or so after the morning rush,” Skylar answered.
“Is she the one who bought the Miller place?” Baxter wanted to know.
“Yeah, I heard she was moving in today. She must have stopped in on her way through town.” I didn't add that although I’d resisted texting her after she confirmed that she’d received the keys I had mailed her, I’d still kept my ear open for any mention around town of my beautiful client.
Baxter looked at his stepson. “I guess you were wrong about her not sticking around Mooreville for long.”
“Why do I feel as though I stepped into the middle of this conversation?” I complained, not liking the possibility that they knew more about Vienna than I did. Or that she might not stick around now that she was here.
“Because you did.”
When Baxter didn’t say anything else, Skylar took pity on me. “When I chatted with Vienna a little bit while she was here, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I knew her from somewhere. I asked her why she seemed so familiar, but she played it off as though she could pass for anyone because of her brown hair and eyes.”
“Yeah, but I recognized her right away,” Simon boasted.
“From where?” I asked.
