Nash (Marked Men #4)(93)

He lifted his shoulders and shrugged. “I dunno. She’s miserable, though.”

Cora looked speculative, but we were all interrupted by the thud of heavy boots on the stairs that led up from the shop floor. The only other person that had a key was Rowdy, so I wasn’t surprised when his blond pompadour cleared the second floor.

“Hey, Zeb called and had an awesome idea about putting old fun-house mirrors up here when we get around to having the store open. You know to tie everything together …”

His voice trailed off and his ocean-blue eyes popped open so wide they nearly took up his entire face. His jaw unhinged and all he could do was gape at the Spanish beauty standing with us. I looked back and forth between the two of them. She was smiling like a huge secret had been revealed and he looked like he had just seen a ghost.

Salem’s high heels tapped a sexy little beat as she walked toward the stairs. Rowdy was stuck, like he was glued to the spot with industrial adhesive. I saw Cora give Rule a questioning look, and when they both turned to me, all I could do was shrug helplessly. I didn’t have a clue what was happening either.

“Hello, Rowland. It’s been a long time.” She trailed her bloodred fingertip across the bridge of his nose. “You sure did grow up nice.”

Rowdy gulped so loud that it was actually audible and stayed stuck to the floor.

“Who in the hell is Rowland?” It was a valid question but no one seemed in a hurry to answer Rule when he asked it.

Salem stopped in front of Rowdy so they were eye to eye, only because she was clad in some serious heels and he was still down a step. She put a hand on his cheek and gave it a little tap, which had him rearing back and blinking like an owl.

“Salem?” The question sounded strangled and forced out. I had never seen Rowdy so dumbfounded. He was the charmer, the jokester. He always had something to say. What in the hell was happening here? And why did I think this was exactly what my dad had been orchestrating all along?

The brunette looked back over her shoulder, her sleek fall of hair moving like something out of a movie. She winked, actually winked at us, and started down the stairs.

“Strike that, it’s going to be a great time. See you guys at work on Monday. E-mail me whatever forms you need me to fill out.”

Her shoes clicked and tapped on the way down the stairs while the rest of us just stood there in silence. After a long minute, Rowdy shook his head like he was coming out of a daze and walked the rest of the way into the loft.

“Rowland?” He glared at me.

“Like you have room to talk, Nashville.”

Good point, but I was still going to give him shit every chance I got.

Cora’s mix-and-match eyes were practically glowing as she shifted the baby to one arm and grabbed Rowdy’s shirtfront with her free hand.

“Is that her? Is that the one?”

I didn’t know what “the one” meant, but when Rowdy shook his head in the negative, Cora looked super disappointed.

“No, not her … but that is her sister.”

Cora gasped and Rule and I just looked at each other in confusion.

“Someone want to fill us in?”

Rowdy sighed and lifted a hand to rub the back of his neck.

“When I was in foster care growing up in Texas, Salem and her little sister, Poppy, lived next door. Their dad was the minister in the town that we lived in. He was really, really strict with both the girls. They were very different, turned out opposite. Salem got out as soon as she could and Poppy broke my heart when I tried to give it to her. What in the hell is she doing here?”

I sent a sideways look at Rule and he just bit his lip ring.

“She’s the new shop manager. We just hired her.”

The big blond man looked like he was going to either pass out or throw up.

“Are you serious?”

Cora nodded solemnly and patted him on the shoulder. “Nash offered her the job. It’s legally binding. Are you going to be okay with that?”

He rubbed one of his sideburns and looked around at all of us like he was kind of lost.

“Do I have a choice?”

“Not really.” I hated to break it to him.

“I think I just need a minute to get over the shock. I haven’t seen her since I was eighteen and getting ready to start college. That was when everything went to shit with Poppy. I can’t believe Salem is here.”

“She’s very beautiful.” Cora’s tone was gentle and placating.

Rowdy’s blond eyebrows shot up and he sarcastically drawled, “I didn’t notice.”

Rule barked out a laugh. “Then you’re blind.”

I cleared my throat and everyone turned to look at me. “Phil wanted her here. He set it all in motion. How much do you want to bet he knew all along your tie to her? He didn’t just pick her name out of a hat.”

Rowdy swore. “Why would he do that to me?”

“He had his reasons.” Love couldn’t be negotiated with, I would remember that forever.

Rowdy frowned at me. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

All I could do was grin. He would find out soon enough.

“You’ll see. Now I want to go home to my girlfriend and love all up on her.” Nothing had ever made me happier than being able to say that anytime I wanted. Saint was the person I was always going to want at the end of the day, I just knew it.