“Um…”
“Have you found out who the other guy is?” he asked, nodding his head at the door.
“His name’s Carlsson. He’s a property developer from L.A.”
“What’s a property developer doing here?” Carla frowned.
“I’m sorry, who are you?” Lydia asked her, though Griff was perfectly aware that she knew exactly who Carla was.
Carla squared her shoulders. “You know who I am. My dad owns this restaurant. So who’s the property developer? Why is he here? Are they talking about changes to the pier?”
The door opened again, and the three of them looked at it expectantly. But instead of Autumn walking out, it was Josh. He gave Lydia a huge grin. To Griff’s satisfaction, she gave him a scowl in return.
“You want me to point you to the airport?” she asked him.
“Hi, I’m Carla Delmonico.” Carla pushed past Griff and Lydia to offer Josh her hand. “A friend of Autumn’s. I don’t think we’ve been introduced.”
Josh’s eyes lit up. “Hey Carla, it’s good to meet you.”
“And you are?” Carla prompted.
Griff looked at Lydia, and she lifted her shoulders back at him. It was like watching a train wreck. If two exes meet, does the universe implode?
“I’m Josh Garner. Autumn’s husband.”
“Ex-husband,” Lydia corrected him, and Josh turned to look at her.
“Sorry,” he said, that inane grin never wavering. “It’s been such a short time, I forget about that.”
“I didn’t know Autumn was married.” Carla’s gaze slid to Griff. “Did you know?” she asked him. He hated the way her expression was full of compassion.
“Yeah,” he said roughly. “I know all about the divorce.”
“You must be Gruff. The whaleboat captain. Autumn’s dad has told me all about you.”
“It’s Griffin,” He shook the man’s hand, trying not to smile as his grip made Josh wince.
“Of course it is. Though Gruff rhymes with rough, which kind of suits you, right?”
“Sorry, can we get back to the property developer that Autumn’s talking to?” Carla said. “I didn’t know she had plans to develop this place.”
“Oh, she doesn’t,” Josh said casually. “She wants to sell it to him.”
It felt like a punch in Griff’s gut. “She’s selling the pier?” he asked, frowning as he tried to take it in.
“His offer’s too good to refuse,” Josh carried on. “I should know, I’m the one who found him. She’s one lucky son of a gun to find someone willing to pay that much money. Especially since she was completely hammered when she clicked the buy button.”
“She was?” Carla’s mouth dropped open. “As in drunk?”
“To her eyeballs.” Josh grinned. “Didn’t she tell you the story? She woke up to the listing on her browser. Couldn’t even remember sending an offer in, but she did. If it had been me, I’d have rescinded right away, but you know Autumn.” He shook his head, chuckling. “She has this sense of duty and felt she had to do her best for the place.”
The way Josh was talking about Autumn, as though she was still his wife, mad
e Griff’s teeth grind together.
“How do you know all of this?” Lydia asked Josh, her face even redder than when she’d run after Griff.
“Well from you, of course,” Josh said, shaking his head as if she’d just told the funniest joke. “Via your dad. He said you told him it was all a drunken mistake.”