“Gossip?”
“Yeah.”
“I wouldn’t know.”
“You should get some.” Jonah placed his cup on the table. “You’re right, you know. Everyone thinks you’re after Jake and Julia. I know that my presence is supposed to help assuage that, but it’d be good if you were friends with my sister. Kate also.”
“And why’s that?”
“Because Aiden is not friends with Julia.” He cleared his throat. “And that’s all I’m going to say. I’m not getting anymore involved.”
“What?” She heard herself tease. “Too good for the gossip scene?”
“Exactly.”
His eyes darkened. “Come to the fair. I honestly think my sister would love seeing you again.”
“Are you going to be there?”
His grin deepened. “I might be around, but I have to warn you.” He’d finished eating, and he stood with his plate in hand. He said, before heading inside, “If you don’t agree to come, either my sister or Kate is going to show up to help convince you.” He disappeared beyond the door, but she heard him call back, “Don’t say I didn’t warn you!”
She had been warned.
Jonah stayed to help with the dishes, despite her reassurances she didn’t mind cleaning up. He only shook his head and filled up the sink. He washed. She dried, and he kept asking her questions about her travels. Once he was done, he helped finish with the drying, and then gave a wave as he repeated his warning once again about the fair. He said, “Don’t be surprised if one of them show up tomorrow.”
And it was a day later, after she’d gotten her first good night’s sleep in a long time, when she heard a car honking from the driveway. Dani moved to the front door to see Jake scowling from his squad car. He stayed sitting while the passenger door opened.
“Hey, Dani!” Kate got out and approached, a friendly smile and wave.
Dani was holding a cup of coffee and raised it in the air as a greeting. “Morning. Would you like a cup?”
Kate groaned, closing her eyes a moment and swaying on her feet. “That sounds amazing.” She jerked a thumb over her shoulder. “I’ve been dealing with cranky ass all morning. I need caffeine since I can’t have anything stronger till I get off-duty. And I have to tell you,” Kate began as the door slammed shut behind her. “I swear that Julia is a greyhound. It’s like she can just sniff out whiffs of you on his uniform or something. Whatever she said must’ve been a doozy.”
Dani held out a cup. “I didn’t realize the power of my presence.”
“Are you kidding me?” Kate snorted, taking the cup. “I might have to deal with Crabby out there, but trust me when I say that this is the most fun our town has had in a year.”
“Really?”
“Oh, hell yeah.” Taking a sip, she continued, “And speaking of the town, that’s why I’m here. I know Jonah mentioned the fair, but I don’t think you have a complete understanding of what’s going on.” She raised her cup toward Dani. “I’m here to fill you in.”
Dani hid her smile.
Suddenly a more reserved expression came over Kate’s face. The little spark dimmed in her eyes, and her mouth moved into a serious line. “I’m taking some liberties coming to you and talking about this, but I hope that’s okay with you. Also, I feel like I’m already involved because of my sour-puss partner out there.”
Dani prepared herself. “I’m ready.” She nodded at Kate, folding her hands on her lap. Her own coffee was left on the table. Dani had a feeling she needed to hear this head-on. No distractions.
“Politics. That’s what this town is about. Small. Town. Politics. And you, my dear, just threw yourself smack in the middle of it. You see, most of this town worshipped your little sister, blessed be her name, but…your other sister—she’s been walking around this town like she’s got a crown on that head of hers.” A hardened look entered Kate’s eyes. “Most of us are tired of it. Really tired of it, and that’s where you come in.”
“Me?”
“Yep, because you are going to take Jake back from her. We all know he was rightfully yours in the first place.” She leaned forward. “And when you do—”
Ah. Kate really didn’t like Julia. Dani nodded, filling in the blanks. “Julia will be a puddle.”
“Exactly.” Kate lifted her cup in a salute. “And her group will be knocked out of power. People like Jake in the community, but they don’t like him with Julia.”
“And I’m supposed to be the one to break them up.”
“Exactly.” Kate beamed at her, missing the sarcasm in Dani’s voice.
“Except that I have no intention of getting back together with Jake.”
“Really?” Her eyes rounded, like a sad puppy dog. “You don’t?”
“I don’t.”
“Are you sure? I thought I saw a flirt going on yesterday.”
“No flirt.”
“No?”
Dani shook her head. “No.”
“You sure?” Kate asked again.
“I’m sure.”
“Can I ask why not?”
“I didn’t come home with an agenda for small-town politics or to knock my sister off her throne. I came home…just to come home.”