“The hell he did?” Joe punched his brother’s shoulder then took the seat next to his wife, who he kissed again.

“They always do that, it’s nauseating,” Luke said, still eating.

“I bet.”

“So, how’s things with you and Ava?” Luke asked quietly.

“Okay.”

“Sure looks it.”

“What is it with you Trainers? I’ve been back in town two days, and you all want to know my business.”

“It’s called being friendly, Dylan. You’ve been in New York too long to understand.”

“And there was me thinking it was called nosey.”

“So how are things going?”

He’d forgotten that too, the personal questions and interactions that a small town community thrived on.

“You see her over here talking to me?”

“That bad, huh.” Luke shook his head. “I blame that dickhead Zander. She’s changed since he appeared.”

“He didn’t seem too bad when I met him.”

“He’s okay, I guess. I just can’t like the guy, and I’ve never been really sure why.”

“Ava’s been back five months, right?”

Luke nodded. “Zander arrived a few weeks after, and they pretty much hooked up right off.”

“I don’t like to think about my little sister hooking up with anyone, Trainer.”

“Sure, but then it’s not like you guys have a relationship, right?”

A direct hit, Dylan thought. He wondered if everyone in Ryker Falls knew about the dysfunctional Howards and how they worked... or in their case, didn’t.

Dylan ate a mouthful of food and watched his sister while he formed his next question for Luke. The asking worked both ways.

“Where’d Zander come from?”

“Don’t know. One day he just drifted into town and never left. Works in the garage, and does a good job from what I hear. Ted told me he performed a miracle on his car, and that apparently Zander’s waiting for an opportunity to work in one of the accounting firms, because that’s what he studied.”

“Ted?”

“Ted Hosking. Owns the lodge.”

“Right, haven’t seen that yet. But I guess a lot of these tourists are because of it?”

Luke nodded, his eyes on Ava. “Thing is, Dylan, I’ve known Ava for years, and I don’t think she’s happy, and she sure as hell is not right.”

“Right?”

Luke shrugged.

“Shrugging is not an answer.”

“It’s not my business to tell tales, and anyway I don’t know everything, so I’d be guessing.”

Which was annoyingly vague.

“But one thing I do know is that she could do with a big brother about now.”

“What are you two whispering about?”

Piper appeared on the other side of the counter, and Dylan found himself smiling for no other reason than he could look at her, which was enough of a reason to drop his eyes and eat the rest of his food as quickly as he could.