The fact that we knew something Owen didn’t was as much of a surprise as Dorothy and Rich selling the bakery in the first place. Everyone had been devastated when they made the decision. But his health hadn’t been great, and it just made sense. They were disappointed that neither their nephew, Hudson, or even Thayle, who was like an adopted daughter to them, was interested in taking it over. But both already had their hands full at Grado.
On the other hand, Dorothy and Rich were pretty happy with the buyer.
“Well? Who is it?”
I glanced back at Cos one last time. He nodded. This wasn’t public knowledge yet, but it would be soon. And we trusted Owen. It was just a bit...complicated.
Of course, I wasn’t going to abate his curiosity so easily.
“An out-of-towner.”
“Ah, great,” he said. “Someone who has no idea what Devine means to this community.”
“Devine?” Cos clarified. “Or the cinnamon donuts?”
“Both,” Owen reached for an empty glass on the bar, filled it, handed it to the customer, and came back. “Ok, spill.”
“Ahh, not so quick. How about another clue.”
“You are such an asshole,” my brother said. “It’s—”
“Eh eh,” I admonished Cos. “Make him work for it.”
“How about I make you work for your next beer?” Owen nodded to my near-empty glass.
“Just one more hint. Ok two. It’s a woman, and she knows a lot about running a family business.”
“A woman,” Owen said aloud as he cashed out a couple at the end of the bar. “I know Thayle’s not taking over. Is it Min or Brooke? Rae? Seems like they’d all be a bit busy to take on a new business.”
“No, but you’re close.”
“For fuck’s sake,” Cos leaned forward, spoiling my fun. “Lusanne.”
I watched Owen’s face carefully. He was the reason, after all, Lus had almost backed out of the deal. Well, that and not wanting to leave Bridgewater. But with her parents retiring and selling their pizza shop saying they wanted to spend winters in Florida, the decision to move here had been made easier.
Knowing Lusanne always wanted to open her own shop, but not necessarily one like her parents or brother with such late hours, Neo had called her immediately as soon as Thayle told him about Rich and Dorothy’s plans to sell.
It was why Tristano and Lus had come to visit a few months back.
But the other reason she’d hesitated even though Lus loved the idea of a bake shop, especially an established one like Devine in a town reminiscent of Bridgewater, plus having family nearby—well, he was standing in front of us.
“Are you kidding me?” he asked.
Poor Owen looked like he was going to pass out. For such a big guy, it was a strange look on him.
“You ok, man?” Cos asked.
“Yeah. Yeah. I’m ok.”
But clearly, he wasn’t.
No one knew exactly what happened between Owen and Lusanne when she’d come for a visit last spring, but from her dodginess about him, and Owen’s refusal to talk about it, we all knew one thing for sure.Somethinghappened between them, and I had a pretty good idea of what that something was.
“Are you causing trouble over here?”
Rae slid in beside me. Immediately my arm went around her waist. I pulled her to me, kissed her and held on tight when she moved to sit.
“Always,” Cos said. “What can I get you guys?” he asked she and Brooke, who also came back to the bar.