Page 8 of Chapel Bend

“And another large to go,” Wolfe adds. “I’ll take one to the girls on my way home.”

“I know how they like it.” Harvey winks before walking back to the bar to put in the order.

“I met with June at the chapel today,” I inform the other two. “She’s starting the renovations and wants to be living there by the holidays.”

“That’s fast,” Wolfe says with a frown. “She’ll work herself to death.”

“Isn’t that the same amount of time it took to build your entire, enormous barndominium?” Tanner reminds him.

“Yeah, but I used a big company out of Portland. June plans to do most of it herself. She’ll hire out the electrical and plumbing, but it’s still going to be a lot of work.”

“I’ll make sure it happens,” I mutter, staring into my beer. “If that’s what she wants, she’ll damn well have it.”

Harvey delivers the pizza, and I pull a slice onto my plate. When I go to take a bite, I realize the other two are staring at me, ignoring the pizza altogether.

“What?”

“You’re totally gone over June,” Tanner says.

“Yeah, I’m into the woman who can’t stand the sight of me, insults me every chance she gets, and only barely tolerates me because she’s best friends with my little sister.”

“Youarea masochist, man,” Wolfe replies with a grin. “But, hey, we’re not here to judge.”

“June’s important to Luna, so if she wants her house done, we’ll do it. She busted her ass for the inn, so it’s the least I can do.”

“Uh-huh.” Tanner grins, finally pulling a piece of pizza onto his plate. “Right. You’rerepayingher.”

“Shut the fuck up.”

“You know,” Wolfe says around a bite of food as Tanner chuckles with hilarity, “it’s always amazed me that despite the chippy banter between the two of you, there’s also a shit ton of chemistry. Just fuck her already.”

Been there, done that, and would do it again if she’d let me.

“As much as I appreciate this little trip into my personal life and nonexistent lovesickness for June, can we change the subject now? You two have better things to do than write fairy tales about me.”

“Do you even know why she doesn’t like you?” Tanner asks, semi-seriously.

“Nope.” I sip my beer, thinking about it. “But she’s been like this since she was a kid—probably middle school. I always ignored her back then, but now we all hang out together a lot, and she’s hard to ignore.”

“She’s pretty,” Wolfe says. “Yeah, she has the tomboy thing down with the coveralls and hats, but even that can be sexy.”

“She’s always had the prettiest red hair,” Tanner agrees, and all I do is narrow my eyes at the two of them.

“What are you trying to do?”

“Nothing.” Wolfe polishes off his slice and reaches for another. “Just pointing out that June’s hot. It’s fine if you’re not into her. Someone will snatch her up.”

“She’s a catch.” Tanner nods, looking into his glass.

“Don’t be stupid.” I sit back and wipe my hands on a napkin. “Do you live in the sixties? Women don’t need to be ‘snatched up’. She’s fine and does damn well without any help from anyone else.”

I shake my head, surprised that they’re talking aboutanywoman this way.

“You two idiots are better than that. Luna and Sarah don’tneedyou. Either of you.”

“You’re absolutely right.”

Tanner is grinning. They both are.

---