But Lawson didn’t like to ask for help for any reason. The fact that he was thinking about hiring someone told me that things were not great in his world. I hated to sic our mom on him, but I might have to. She loved spending time with her grandkids, and Lawson needed a break.
“Okay. I need coffee, so I’m heading in.”
Lawson gave me a wave as he moved down the street to the station, and I made a beeline for The Brew. The bell over the door tinkled as I entered, and Aspen looked up from the counter, her red hair gleaming in the morning light.
“Hey, G. You’re in early.”
“I’ve got a kayak trip this morning.”
Aspen smiled. “That sounds heavenly. I need to sign Cady and me up for one of those.”
“You don’t need to sign up. I’ll take you guys whenever you want.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I’d love to. We could bring Charlie, too.” My nephew and Aspen’s daughter were as close as two friends could be.
Aspen chuckled. “You realize they won’t stop chattering the entire day.”
“That just means they’ll keep each other entertained.”
“Then we can have girl talk.”
“Sounds like the perfect day to me.”
Aspen held up her hand for a high five. “All right. What can I get you?”
“The largest black coffee you have and that bran muffin would be great.”
She arched a brow. “Rough night?”
“I haven’t been sleeping the best.”
Worry lines creased Aspen’s creamy complexion. “Everything okay?”
“Just busy.”
A scoff sounded behind me. “Maybe if you stopped wasting time fucking my brother, you’d sleep a little better.”
I whirled around to face Gabe Shaw. I hadn’t even heard the bell. “Charming as always, I see.”
Something about Gabe had always made my skin crawl. His gaze lingered in the wrong places, and he always moved in too close, just like now.
“Just calling it like I see it.” Gabe’s eyes roamed over me. “But I can’t say I blame him. Looking damn good, Grae.”
I fought the shiver that wanted to surface. “Do you want something?”
He grinned. “Just waiting for my coffee.”
“Not here, you’re not,” Aspen said as she rounded the counter. “I’d like you to leave.”
Gabe gaped at her. “You’re kidding me.”
She just met his stare head-on. “I don’t want any of the customers feeling uncomfortable in this establishment. Your behavior is doing just that.”
Gabe scoffed. “I’m joking. We’re old friends. Right, Grae?”
“Just ignore him. He’s not worth it,” I told Aspen.
