Read Noah's Journey (Sawyer Brothers #3) for Free Online

and manipulative person. I wouldn’t fall for it a second time. I had been there once before, and the road to recovery took too damn long.
    I focused on Austin as I walked toward my truck with a smile. “Hey, bud, whatcha out doing?”
    “We came to see you,” he replied with a toothy grin. “Mommy said we could go to the bakery down the road. They have chocolate chip cookies and brownies.” I couldn’t help but chuckle as his eyes grew wide, and then his words hit me.
    “The bakery?” I looked up at Stacey, and she was staring back at me with a look I didn’t like much. In fact, I was sure she had more than just chocolate chip cookies in mind when she decided to come here. “Why don’t I just take him?”
    She shook her head and took a step closer. “No, Dad wanted me to pick up an apple pie for dessert tonight. Just thought we could take you along for a treat after your long shift.”
    I heard the scuffle of boots against the asphalt and turned to see Ryan standing only a few feet away. “Heading to the bakery, huh?” he asked, staring at Stacey with narrowed eyes. “I was heading there myself to pick up Liv and see my wife.”
    “Your wife, um…” Stacey wrinkled her eyes. “Oh yeah, Amber, right?”
    “Yeah,” he said. “She owns it.”
    “And the other woman that I see there sometimes?” Stacey asked him.
    My heart was beating heavily, and my stomach felt sick.
    “Depends on which one. There are two,” Ryan replied.
    I wasn’t dumb. I knew Stacey was fishing for information.
    “Well, I’ve seen a taller blonde girl there more often than any other. But now that you mentioned it, I have seen a brunette a couple times too.” Stacey then turned the conversation to me. “The brunette is that friend of yours Austin and I saw you with on that first night, right?”
    “Alena,” I added, and the burn that had been filling my chest rose up into my throat.
    “Yeah, Noah’s friend,” Ryan said as he flipped his keys in the air, making them land back into his palm with a jingle. “I guess I’ll see you all there in a bit.”
    He pointed toward Austin, and for the first time since he walked up, Ryan’s lips turned up in a smile. “I’ll have your aunt get a warm brownie ready for you.”
    Austin bounced excitedly and began to stand up on the tailgate. Both Stacey and I reached for him at the same time, and we ended up intertwined with Austin sandwiched in the middle.
    I looked at her, she looked at me, and in that moment my stomach hit the fucking ground. Ryan was right. She was playing me.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Seven
     
     
    Alena
     
    “Oh my God, Hayden, this place looks great,” I said in amazement as I stood in the center of the store, looking around at each colorful wall filled with shelving and fancy little displays.
    Hayden had been my savior over the last four days. He showed up with a small crew, and in less than three days, they had the place painted. One day after that, all the displays were up and ready to be filled.
    “I’m glad you agree, because the shipment truck should be here at noon. It’s time to start stocking this place with all kinds of goodies.” He winked and walked around the edge of the counter toward me. As he stepped up to my side, he wrapped an arm over my shoulder. “That country boy that’s playing with my girl’s emotions will be an afterthought once you open this place. You are going to be amazing, and he is gonna regret not snatching you up.”
    I swallowed past the lump that had formed in my throat from his words.
    Over the last few days, Hayden had heard his fair share of Noah stories. I went from a sappy, lovesick girl, to an angry, bitter bitch, to my current state. And now I was confident and determined to make Sassy Ladies a hit. I also knew my newfound confidence had everything to do with Hayden’s take-no-mercy attitude. My biggest fear was that the confidence he’d brought out in me would leave with him in a few days