Trinity Falls (Finding Home 1)

Megan switched her gaze from Ean to Doreen. “I’m sorry to interrupt. I’ll leave you to finish catching up.”

Doreen chuckled. “Did you think I was talking to myself?”

Megan gave her friend a crooked smile. “You would have thought the same.”

Ean took a step toward her. “You’ve done a great job with the bookstore. Your grandparents would be proud.”

Megan caught her breath. Doreen was the only other person who’d ever said those words to her. But Doreen was her friend; then again, Ramona was her cousin. However, she’d never given her such praise.

Megan swallowed the lump in her throat. “You said exactly the right thing.” She turned to leave.

Ean’s voice stopped her again. “I have great memories of this store and your grandparents.”

Reluctantly, Megan turned back to him. “I never thanked you for the flowers you sent to their memorial service.” Ramona had, and Megan had convinced herself her cousin’s response was enough.

“My mother told me about the changes you’ve made to modernize the store. You’re a smart businesswoman.”

Megan thought she’d faint at Ean’s feet. “I’d better get back to work. I have a lot to do before we open the store.”

She trembled as she escaped to her office. The store wouldn’t open for another hour. She could have stayed to talk with Doreen. And Ean. No, she couldn’t have. Megan collapsed into the blue executive chair behind her desk. Each minute in Ean’s company had turned back time until she’d regressed to that fourteen-year-old girl confronted by her crush. His praise had taken her breath, and his olive eyes, focused just on her, had melted her insides.

Damn him.

Megan lowered her head into her hands. She couldn’t handle many more encounters like those. But how could she avoid him in a town this small? Her friends were his friends. His mother worked for her. They were bound to see each other. Often. And if Ean and Ramona picked up where they’d left off? Knowing her cousin, Megan was sure Ramona would show him off to her as often as possible.

Family rivalry was hell.

“The prodigal son returns to Trinity Falls.” Darius Knight’s voice came from just behind Ean.

A smile stretched Ean’s lips. He set his coffee mug on the counter and rose to greet his childhood friend. His smile broadened to a grin when he saw Quincy standing with Darius.

He shook both men’s hands and patted their shoulders. “I needed a break from you jokers.”

Darius snorted. “Then you came running back when you realized you couldn’t function without us.”

Ean stepped back to get a better look at the two men he hadn’t seen in almost a year. Not since his father’s funeral. He swallowed back that sad memory and focused on the pair’s annual visits to New York.

He’d been thick as thieves with Darius and Quincy since their days in the Pee Wee Football League. Darius had been the team’s prime-time tight end. Quincy had been its powerful running back. Now Darius was an intrepid reporter with the town’s daily newspaper, though he looked like he belonged on the nightly news. Quincy still looked more like a football player than a university history professor.

“I heard it was the other way around.” Ean waved a hand between the two friends. “The two of you couldn’t function without me.”

Darius shook his head in mock pity as he claimed a seat at the counter. “I’d check my sources if I were you, my friend.”

Ean chuckled. It was good to be home. He looked over his shoulder at Quincy. “How’ve you been, Quincy?”

“The same since we last spoke a month ago.” Quincy took a seat on the other side of Darius.

Ean’s smile wavered at the other man’s short tone. “I feel as though I’ve walked into a time warp. You both look the same.”

Darius’s eyes twinkled with evil intent. “You look older.”

Ean broke into laughter. Darius hadn’t changed. It was like being back on his front porch with his friends after school, sharing dreams and swapping insults.

Quincy shifted in his seat, staring down at the gray-and-white–marble countertop. “I’m sorry the town seems so prosaic to you. Maybe you should have stayed in New York.”

Ean frowned. He opened his mouth to respond but was forestalled by his mother’s appearance.

Doreen liberated two mugs from the collection behind the counte