“And you know her how?” I questioned as I pulled in behind her.
“We were best friends growing up,” Echo said, tucking her hair behind her ears nervously. “You know, back when I had normal hair, and a mom, and a dad, and a sister, and all that normal shit.”
I glanced at the woman who stood by her car and then looked back to my Echo.
My Echo? Dude, you gotta stop that shit.
Annabelle wore a pressed sheath dress, kitten heels, huge sunglasses, and her brown hair was tamed in forties-style waves. She looked like she’d just stepped out of Good Housekeeping. My girl was more Rolling Stone, and they were best friends?
“It was a long time ago,” Echo said quietly, glancing down at her own outfit. “Losing my Mom and sister, then losing my dad, it changed me. We don’t really have anything in common anymore, but we’re working on getting that back. I really do love her.” She looked worriedly toward her friend, who was scrolling through her phone.
“Okay,” I said softly. Then I leaned across the console and kissed her lightly. “I hate that you’ve been through so much, but I love who you are because of it. I’m sure she feels the same.”
Echo nodded, and after another quick kiss, we both got out of the truck and headed toward Annabelle.
“Why, you must be Sawyer,” Annabelle said with a wide smile and a slow drawl. “I’m so pleased to meet you.”
“Same here.” I shook her hand and was nearly bowled over by something—someone—hitting my back.
“It’s about time you got out here!” Faith practically shouted in my ear as she clung to my back. “For a minute there I thought you were avoiding us!” She smacked a kiss on my cheek and hopped down.
“Ha. As if I could possibly avoid you.” I nudged Faith with my elbow, and swept Echo under my right arm, tucking her close. “All these beautiful women here to help me house shop. I should have done this weeks ago.”
“Faith, this is Annabelle Clarke,” Echo introduced the two ladies. “She’s one of my oldest friends and also happens to be the city clerk for the town of Sweet Water.”
“Well, it’s more like town clerk, since there’s only four thousand of us in our little slice of heaven!” She beamed with pride over the small community.
“Annabelle, this is Faith. She’s one of my closest friends and was my college roommate. Now she works with the Reapers PR team and is married to Lukas Vestergaard.” Man, we’d come a long way since freshman year.
“They let boys and girls room together where you’re from?” Annabelle asked with wide, curious eyes.
“Oh, no! We lived in a house together,” Faith clarified. “Separate rooms and everything.”
“Well, now that makes sense!” The girls shook hands and exchanged those niceties the opposite sex always seemed to remember, and then Annabelle looked at me. “I’m here to shamelessly sell you on Sweet Water, Mr. McCoy. We take great pride in having the Reapers live within our little limits and you, sir, are the lone holdout.”
“Did you hear that? I’m the rebel,” I stage-whispered to Echo.
She laughed, tucking in closer to my side in a way that warmed my chest.
“You are,” Annabelle said with an even bigger smile. “Now, allow me to sell you on our little town as you walk through your available houses!”
“I’ve got the keys!” Faith announced, dangling three sets.
“We’re a small town, but a pretty fabulous one.” Annabelle said as we walked through the first house, which reminded me of an Italian villa. “You’ll find an excellent selection of restaurants in our downtown area, which still has the original cobblestone! No chains, of course, just good local families and amazing food.”
Echo watched me carefully as I took in the details of the house. It was huge, but felt too...stuffy for me.
“What about bars?” I asked Annabelle with a devious grin at Echo.
She hip checked me and then mouthed, “Oops!”
“Well, many of our establishments do serve alcohol, but we don’t have a bar within town limits.” Annabelle looked around the great room with an appraising eye, her brow puckering.
“Did you hear that?” Echo teased, copping a feel of my ass as she walked behind me. “You’ll just have to drink at Scythe. Shame.”
I rolled my eyes, but didn’t let them wander too far from her curves as she followed her friend.
“It feels a little…” Annabelle shook her head, like she couldn’t find the words.
“Not Sawyer,” Faith finished for her. “Come on, let’s check out the one across the street.” She locked up, and we followed her out of the villa. “Hey, guys!” she called to the house on the right where some of the Reapers were gathered on the wide porch. I made out Cannon, Axel, Lukas, Hudson, Ward—shit I could never remember that guy’s first name. He was so fucking quiet. Leo? Liam? Landon...Logan. Right. Logan Ward.