Page 24 of No Love Lost

They looked at each other, and happiness lit up both their faces. Then they started making goofy faces that the other one copied.

Addison laughed along with everyone while she tried to shove away the guilt for not having recognized that before. She’d been so hurt by Heath’s departure that she hadn’t looked for physical similarities beyond the obvious. Nina took after Addison physically, but there were lots of Heath tells now that she thought of it.

They both tilted their heads the same way before a particularly mischievous comment. They drummed their fingers on their thighs. Neither of them liked cereal, but both loved blueberry pancakes.

How many more things had she not noticed? She’d focus on that. And she’d tell them both what she spotted. Maybe, in a little way, she could give them back some of what they’d lost.

And repair all of their hearts just a little bit more.

CHAPTER 8

Lost In Thought

Heath hadn’t had such a fun Saturday since he’d been a teen playing sports in high school. Which his parents had always said was a waste of time. He should have been working. As if he hadn’t had a job as well. And Addy.

It had been a busy time, but also his favorite time of his life.

This was even better because he had Addy and Nina. The three of them had walked the streets of Phail and met dozens of people. Everyone had known his girls, and they’d all sent speculative glances his way.

Addy introduced him as their friend, and it warmed him at the same time as it made him crave more. More than friends with both of them. He wanted to shout to the world that this amazing girl was his daughter. And he wanted back in Addy’s life as far more than a friend.

The more time they spent together, the more he wanted.

Exploring the town showed him signs of new growth. Troy had always wanted more for his town, and it looked like he and Piper were making it happen. Over lunch, he’d heard more about Piper’s vision for helping Phail grow.

Leaning into their weird name was working. Phail Phoods. No Fail Diner. Phail Way Park. Phail Fire Hall with I-Phail Tower painted on the water tower.

The tour had given him a few ideas. He’d always loved working with entrepreneurs who thought outside the box. And Phail was pretty far outside the box.

Even if Addy and Nina weren’t part of the mix, he figured he might have fallen for the town. Gramps and Grams would have loved it, too. It had a similar feel to those places they’d taken him on their walks. Friendly, hard-working people who always had time for each other.

For the first time in a while, Heath was feeling excited about his life. And he still hadn’t found out what secret project his buddies were working on.

“Do you guys know what Troy and the others are working on? I haven’t even asked them yet and I’m hoping I don’t hate the idea of what they’re trying to rope me into.”

Nina and Addy shared a look, telling him they knew exactly what was going on. “Okay, ladies. Spill.”

Addy batted her eyelashes. “I don’t know if we should. It’s not our project to share.”

Nina laughed. “But I know how to find out.” She looked at her mom. “I know we already ate out once today, but maybe today is a good day to visit the Saloon.”

He watched as they silently communicated with smiles and raised eyebrows. In unison, they nodded. Nina grabbed one of his hands, and Addy took the other.

Feeling like the luckiest man in the world, he let them tug him down the sidewalk until they stopped in front of the Saloon. Sean had told him a bit about Branna’s history and how she’d run an Irish pub down in Miami. There’d been some trouble, and now she was running the Saloon here in Phail.

His girls shared another grin and then pulled him inside. Like most of the ones in town, this building had to be at least a century old. When they stepped inside, it was like stepping back into that century.

A huge bar stretched across the back of the room. Glass shelves in front of a huge mirror held all kinds of bottles. Tables and chairs were scattered around the front room and two doors led behind the bar. A staircase ran up the right-hand wall to a balcony overlooking the room. Several doors led to rooms off the balcony. “It’s like a movie set.”

Branna looked up from behind the bar and grinned. “That’s what I like to hear. Nice to see you all again.”

There were a few occupied tables, but lots of room for more people. They took a table near the bar. Branna pointed to a chalkboard menu propped on the bar. “We’re saving the environment one menu at a time. It’s just me today, so the choices are limited to things I like to cook. I’ll give you a minute.”

Heath looked around with interest. “Does this have anything to do with the secret project?”

Nina giggled, but neither answered him. He knew Sean helped at the Saloon occasionally, but he also knew it was Branna’s gig. This couldn’t be the project.

He drummed his fingers on the table and studied Nina. She was the easier target. Attempting to pry a secret from Addy was like trying to put a basketball in a golf hole. “Give me a hint.”

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