“Pfft, attractive doesn’t even touch him.G, he’shot.”
“Buf, not helping.”I lower my voice like I half expect to see Toby behind me.“His hotness gets filed away the way I file everything—useful detail, nothing more.I don’t look twice.I’m looking for his soul, not what’s under the fire suit.”
“Look, G, if you find a soul under that fire suit and all those sponsor patches, let me know.I bet the man sweats high-octane.”
“He probably smells like burnt rubber and ego,” I mutter, though I can’t help the small smile tugging at my mouth.
“Exactly.The good kind of ego.”
I press my lips together to suppress my laughter and shake my head.“Uh, Buf?I’m at a restaurant, and my lunch is here.”
“Fine.Call me later.”
“Promise.”
We hang up, and I take the first bite, letting my eyes slide closed as pure comfort hits my tongue.
I’m halfway through my meal when I spot Wren coming in, the tip of her nose flushed pink from the cold, her red waves bouncing with every step.She isn’t alone.Trailing her is the server from Pop’s and a petite blonde with straight hair.
Wren leads her little parade over to my booth.“Grace, hi.”
“Hey, Grace.I’m Percy...from Pop’s Grill, and this one’s sister.”Percy hooks a thumb at Wren, her grin wide and effortless.
“Hiya, Wren.Percy.”I swipe a napkin over my mouth, praying I don’t have a gravy mustache.
The blonde hangs back a step, almost waiting for permission to join the huddle.
“And this is Serena.”Wren gestures between us.“Serena, this is Grace.Our bigshot reporter from California and the official highway hero of the week.”
Serena’s green eyes double in size.“Oh my gosh, you’rethatGrace?The one who handled the bus mess?”
Heat creeps up my neck, stinging my cheeks.“How do you even know about that?It was literally last night.”
Wren smirks, leaning against the edge of the laminate table.“Sissy Beckett.”
“She’s the town’s human newsfeed,” Percy chimes in.“You’ll learn quickly, Grace.Nothing stays secret in Winslow Grove.Not even if you order your eggs over-easy more than twice.”
“It’s true.”Serena nods solemnly.
I lift my mug and take a sip with exaggerated, wide-eyed caution.They all break into a laugh, the sound cutting through the lunch rush hum.I need a change in topic before they ask for more details about the bus.Not going there.
“So, Wren, I heard you were in Helena?”
Her whole face lights up, the kind of glow that usually requires a professional lighting crew.
“Sure was.I pitched an expansion for Bright Horizons—it’s a support program I founded for foster kids aging out of the system who want to go to college.And the city approved the whole thing.”
Percy wraps an arm around her sister’s shoulders and gives a triumphant squeeze.“My sister, the mogul.They want their own branch.”
“Congratulations.”I set my fork down, genuinely caught up in the excitement.
Wren practically vibrates in place.“Thank you.We’re here on a supply run—picking up fuel for the guys working on Maddox’s roof.”
At the mention of his name, Serena’s face turns a shade of red that rivals Wren’s hair.She snaps her gaze toward a napkin dispenser as if fascinated by the chrome finish.
I tap my fork against the rim of my plate, the rhythmicclinkmatching the sudden uptick in my pulse.
Reporter brain engaged.“So… is there a Maddox and Serena story I should know about?”