The bell over the door chimed and Mae glanced up, her expression shifted into something softer.
"Well, speak of the devil."
I turned as Knox walked in, followed by a guy I didn't recognize. Tall, muscled, freckled, with the kind of easy smile that made you want to smile back. He was saying something to Knox, laughing, and Knox was shaking his head with the ghost of a grin on his face.
Then Knox saw me and the grin vanished.
Our eyes locked. The café shrank to the size of a pinhole and everything else fading to static.
He looked good. That was the infuriating thing. Gray t-shirt stretched across his chest, jeans that fit too well, hair still damp like he'd showered recently. He looked like a man who'd grown into himself, all the rough edges smoothed without losing the sharpness underneath.
I hated that I noticed. I hated even more that my body still responded to him like a reflex I couldn't control.
"Daisy." The freckled guy broke the silence, stepping forward with his hand extended. "I'm Mason. Mason Hale. I don't think we've met, but I've heard a lot about you."
I tore my gaze away from Knox and shook Mason's hand. His grip was warm and friendly. "Good things, I hope."
"Little of both." Mason grinned. He had golden retriever energy, the kind of guy who was impossible to dislike. "You working at Lila's clinic now?"
"Started today."
"She's great. Fixed my shoulder last year after I did something stupid on a ladder. Didn't even lecture me that much."
"She lectured you for twenty minutes," Knox said.
"That's not that much," Mason said. "For Lila? That's practically a compliment."
Mae set two coffees on the counter. "Your usual, boys. And Knox, I put aside a slice of that apple pie you like. It's in the back."
"Thanks, Mae."
He didn't look at me again as he grabbed his coffee and nodded at Mason, then headed for a booth in the corner like I wasn't even there.
It stung. Which was stupid. I'd told him we didn't need to be anything. I'd made my position clear. Why did it bother me that he was respecting it?
Mason lingered at the counter, coffee in hand. "Hey, if you need anything while you're in town, let me know. I do woodworking, handyman stuff, whatever. And I know everyone, so if you're looking for recommendations, I'm your guy."
"Thanks," I said. "I appreciate that."
"Also, fair warning." He leaned in, voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Mae's going to try to set you up with someone before the week's out. She does it to everyone. My advice? Smile, nod, and suddenly remember you have somewhere to be."
"Noted."
Mason grinned and headed for the booth where Knox was sitting. I watched him slide into the seat across from Knox, watched them fall into easy conversation, watched Knox's shoulders relax in a way they hadn't when I was in his line of sight.
They were friends. Close ones, from the look of it.
Eight years. Knox had built a whole life here. Friends, work, a place in this town. He wasn't the reckless troublemaker I remembered. He was something else now. Something I didn't recognize.
Mae appeared at my elbow. "More coffee?"
"I should go." I stood, pulling out my wallet.
Mae waved me off. "I told you, on the house. Come back tomorrow. I'll have fresh muffins."
"You don't have to."
"I know I don't have to. I want to." She patted my hand. "It's good to have you back, sweetheart. This town missed you."