I slam my hand on the table, but Jase doesn’t even act like he notices. “You didn’t think it was important to tell me?” A year? Why hadn’t he done the same for me? Why did it take his grandmother’s death to make him apologize?

Jase levels me with a look, his dark blue eyes mocking. “Do you tell me about every piece of mail you get?”

“No,” I sputter. “Why would I?” I blow out a breath. “I can’t believe you’re defending him!”

Tipping his face to the sun, Jase closes his eyes. “Look, Ro, like I’ve said a hundred times to you before, you can hold a grudge against a man who went to jail for us when he could have put everything on me, or you can forgive him. It’s been seven years, sis. Let it go.”

I flatten my mouth. “They finally let you watch Frozen, didn’t they?”

“Don’t try to change the subject,” he says as his eyes open. “Why the interest in O’Connor all of a sudden?”

“Because I’m living with the ass until Miss Myrtle’s estate has been taken care of, and I’m teaching him about running the business until he makes up his mind on whether or not to sell it. To me, hopefully.”

Also, I screwed him in one of the empty offices at work. Go me.

Jase gives me a look. “Are you that dense?”

“No.” I make a noise. “About what?”

“Honey, you’re sitting on the key to your future.”

I make a face and punch my brother in the shoulder. “You are disgusting.”

He laughs. “I’m truthful. Men are led around by their dicks, so lead him around by his. You did it easily enough when y’all were kids.”

“It’s not that easy anymore,” I grumble.

“O’Connor grew up on ya, huh?”

He’d more than grew up on me. He’d turned into a man who didn’t put up with my smart mouth and saw right through my bravado. Though he said he loved it. Honestly, he’s the one leading me around, because I’m confused by him and my feelings. But those texts he sent last night…I’d gotten all mushy when he called me his compass.

“Yeah, I hear the military will do that to a person.” I tap my fingers against the metal picnic table in annoyance. “I doubt that sleeping with Seth will get him to see anything my way.”

“It couldn’t hurt, though.”

Actually, it hurt a lot. I had no idea if Seth would come back from base. I only had his promises and his texts. “Clearly, you have issues.”

“I haven’t gotten any in seven years, Rowan,” he says bluntly. “I’m a bit preoccupied with the subject.”

“You haven’t had sex in seven years?” I practically screech. I blush when everyone turns to look at us. “Sorry.”

“I’m not.” He laughs darkly. “Prison sex isn’t an exclusive club I want a membership in, and I told Giselle to stay away.”

And I’m sure she did. God, I hate that girl. “Thanks for oversharing.”

His lips suddenly curve into a smile that I’d kill to see every day. “So…I have news.”

“Stinky Pete isn’t so stinky anymore?”

Jase rolls his eyes at my Toy Story reference. But, this is how we communicate. Once, we had an entire conversation by quoting Spaceballs. “They’re letting me out next week. Friday to be precise.”

I cover my mouth with my hand. “The parole board met? You didn’t tell me! Why didn’t you tell me, Jase?” Grabbing him up in a hug, I squeeze tight. His arms wrap around me, briefly, before letting me go. Tears of joy flood my eyes and I let them fall freely. “This is the most amazing news ever.”

“I didn’t want to get your hopes up.” Jase lets out a thick sigh. “I didn’t want to get my hopes up.”

Giddy, I clap. “I’m going to throw you the biggest homecoming party this town has seen.”

A huge grin covers his face. “You can do whatever the hell you want as long as you invite my buddies and Giselle.” Rolling his head from side to side, he closes his eyes for a moment—as if he’s imagining the party. “God, I don’t know what I want to do first, fu—, er, see Giselle, take a shower, or drink a beer? Hell, maybe I’ll do all three at the same time.”

I make a face. “Seriously?”

Jase gives me an apologetic look. “Sorry, Ro.”

“It’s not that. I mean, of course, ew…but, uh, Giselle’s not the easiest to get up with.” Unless you drive a nice car and have lots of money and a penis, but I’m not going to say that. Jase knows her; he has to know how she is.

“Yeah. That girl is always busy.” Jase sits up, rubbing the back of his neck. He won’t meet my eyes. “Would you do me a favor and make sure you invite Piper? She’s been real good to me, and I’d like to thank her in person.”

I level him with a look. “You want Piper Ross, aka my best friend, to come to one of our parties? The same girl who you said walked around like she was afraid of her own shadow?”

“Piper wrote me when other people didn’t give a damn. Bribe her if you have to,” he almost shouts, then lowers his voice. I think it’s completely insane he wants Piper and Giselle at his coming-home party, or that he wants anything to do with Giselle at all.

Then again, she’s a sure thing and she’s someone Jase has a history with, so I guess I can’t be all that judgmental. After all, I sexed up my ex at work.

“I need Piper there, Ro. Promise me you’ll do whatever it takes to make it happen,” he pleads.

“Don’t I always?”

A slow grin kicks up his lip at the corner. “Thank you. And could you pick me up next Friday? Around three in the afternoon?”

“Yep,” I say cheerfully. My cheeks begin to hurt from smiling so big, but I don’t care. “I’ll even drive your car and then let you drive home.”

He nods, grinning. “Awesome.”

“One more thing,” he adds and my stomach flips. The last time that phrase was uttered, Seth kicked me out of his life.

I raise my eyebrows, not trusting myself to speak.

“Invite O’Connor, too.”

—

Seth shows up at the shop bright and early at seven thirty Monday morning. He looks all clear eyed, despite the drive from Jacksonville this morning that probably had him leaving around four a.m. Honestly, I’m surprised he kept true to his word and came back.

Actually, I’m more than surprised—I’m relieved. I fully expected him to say screw it, and not return until he had paperwork from Shaw to sign.

He hands me a cup of coffee. “I picked this up on the way here. Hope you still like it the same way.”

Another peace offering? I’ll take it, but nothing else. I don’t trust myself around Seth. I don’t trust him. But I do give him a friendly smile. Sometimes it’s better to play nice than to start WWIII. “I do like it the same way. Thank you. We’re shorthanded today, so you’re going to cover for Linda at the front desk.”

He looks at me in confusion. “The front desk?”

“I’m sorry. Did you expect to lounge around and watch everyone work while you collected a paycheck?” I don’t know why I come at him like that. He’s not even collecting a paycheck.

Boyd laughs, and a few of the guys join in.

Oh, crap. First rule of working with men: Don’t make them feel less than a man in front of other men.

A muscle in his jaw ticks. “The front desk is great. I’ll get right on it.” He strides away, his hands clenching into fists.

I blink after him. He was well within his rights to mouth back at me or—worse—fire me, but he didn’t. He showed me respect when I didn’t deserve it.

“Hey, Seth,” I call out, trailing behind him. “Let me show you what to do. Linda’s job is super important, so—”

“You’ll put the new guy up front?” With a wry smile, he moves around the counter, hooking his thumbs into the pocket of his jeans. His shirt slides up a little, giving me a glimpse of hard abs and his happily-ever-after trail that I’d followed many times before.

He clears his throat, and I yank my gaze away, even as heat creeps up my neck. “Everyone will love the new eye candy.” I know I do. Not him…the view. “We have a lot of female customers, and Boyd just isn’t as pretty as he used to be.”