Page 5 of Tactically Tied

It was a small thing, but as Jami slid into the back seat, the weight of change pressed down even heavier on her. The gleam of gold and diamond bands on her sisters’ left hands caught her eye, and a pang hit her square in the chest.

So much had changed.

Her sisters were married now. They had new lives, new routines, new... everything. Jami was still drifting from place to place, restaurant to restaurant, chasing reviews and new culinary experiences across the globe. It was exhilarating—most of the time. But right now, it just felt... empty. Like home had moved on without her.

As Jacqui navigated the familiar streets out of the airport, Jami watched the blur of new restaurants and stores. Even the street name of the airport had changed. She hadn’t been gone that long, had she? The sinking feeling deepened as they drove into town.

"Is that a new clothing store?" Jami asked, spotting a shiny sign she didn’t recognize. "And what’s up with that café? Didn’t it used to be the?—"

"Old hardware store," Jules finished for her. "Yeah. They closed up shop last year."

Jami swallowed hard, her eyes scanning the streets that were both familiar and foreign. "Seems like everything’s changed."

Jacqui glanced at her in the rearview mirror, her voice gentle. "It’s not all bad, you know. It’s just... different."

Jami pressed her lips together. Different. Sure. Different, like the fact that both her sisters had lives that were solid, grounded—while she was still hopping from country to country, experience to experience, like a leaf in the wind.

“You okay back there?” Jules asked, turning around to look at her with concern.

“Yeah, fine. Just tired,” Jami lied, glancing out the window again as they made their way through town.

She wasn’t fine. She was far from it. Her inclination was to turn around and get back on a plane. To go and get lost in another culture and its cuisines. But her funds were too low for that.

Her big sister couldn't bankroll her adventures anymore. Not with the restaurant needing her full attention. She had never considered asking her baby sister for a loan when she had achieved her dream of opening a sugar-free bakery.

Just as their dreams were within their grasps, both of her sisters had had disaster strike. It was their marriages that had solved the problems for them both; namely in the form of receiving their inheritances. Their grandfather had put in his will that his six granddaughters could only get their sizable inheritances after they married.

Both Jacqui and Jules had approached their marriages practically… only to later fall madly in love with their husbands. But what if Jami could enter into an actual marriage of convenience like her sisters had planned? Except with her, it would have to remain convenient because she had no plans to stay here and make it anything more.

And she knew just the unlucky guy to propose to.

CHAPTERTHREE

Jed pushed open the door to The Bean Barn, his favorite neighborhood coffee shop. The bell above the door gave a little jingle, and the warmth inside offered a welcome reprieve from the cool morning air. This was his ritual—come in, get his usual black coffee, and try to get through the day without too many interruptions.

As usual, his regularly scheduled program was to be interrupted.

No sooner had he stepped up to the counter than he caught the bright smile of Sarah, the barista. She was leaning on the counter, blinking profusely at him. She always made him think of that scene in Indiana Jones when the student had writtenLove Youon her eyelids when Professor Jones was lecturing.

Sarah didn't bother with the written word. No, she said everything that was on her mind. Out loud. Loud enough for the butcher next door to hear.

“Well, if it isn’t the Culinary Casanova,” she teased, flipping her ponytail over her shoulder. Her voice carried far enough that a coffee-drinker on the way to his car outside looked over his shoulder. “Back for your usual? Or should I surprise you with something sweet today?”

“Just the usual, Sarah. Black coffee. I’ve got enough sweetness in my life.”

She winked, not missing a beat. “You sure about that? I’ve got a couple of new blends you might like—strong but with a little sugar on the side. Just like me.”

Jed tried to hide his pained smile. It was getting harder and harder for him to fake interest. “Appreciate the offer, but I’ll stick to what's on the menu.”

Sarah scribbled his order with a smile that lingered just a second too long. Jed stepped back into the waiting crowd, grateful for a brief moment of solitude. He glanced at the chalkboard near the window. The colorful script displayed specials he'd seen each week. There was nothing new. Which was fine. He liked routine. He took comfort in the familiar scents of the shop—roasted coffee beans, a hint of cinnamon, warm and buttery pastries, probably fresh out of the oven.

The sound of heels clicking on the tile behind him caught his attention. “Jed Winchester, is that you?”

Standing behind him was the mother of a friend from high school. Jed relaxed instantly, his polite smile turning into something more genuine.

“Mrs. Lawson,” he greeted warmly, extending his hand. “How have you been?”

“Divorced, that's how I am.” She waved his hand away and wrapped her arms around his middle. Then moved her hands a bit lower. Too low. A little too familiar. “You’ve grown up so well, Jed. The talk of the town these days with that restaurant of yours.”

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