“And this,” Ben said to Sebastian, “is my friend Leah Montgomery.”

For a terrible, disorienting second, Sebastian’s mind blanked. Then denial filled it—red and loud.

No.

“I’ve told him all about you,” Ben said to Leah.

“I hope you’ve been emphasizing my most sterling qualities.”

“I have,” Ben assured her with a dopey, infatuated look.

No!

Ever since Leah came to Misty River High to teach math more than a year and a half ago, Ben had had a crush on her. Ben was taking his time, content to build a wide base of friendship with Leah, in hopes that it would one day lead to more.

Last fall, Ben had told Sebastian that he loved Leah. Sebastian had given him a hard time for claiming to love a woman he wasn’t even dating. But Ben had stood behind his statement.

Ben believed himself to be in love with her.

Which meant that Sebastian could never ask her out. Ben had found her first, and in the code of brothers, that meant that she was off-limits to Sebastian.

No.

“Small world,” Leah said lightly to Ben. “Last fall I was driving behind Sebastian here when his car went off the side of the road. I kept him company until the ambulance got there.”

“Oh?” Ben said. Then, “Oh.” Understanding was no doubt filling his brain.

Just as Ben had told Sebastian about Leah, Sebastian had told Ben about the woman who’d been in his car with him when he’d regained consciousness. Ben knew about Sebastian’s search for her and just how consumed by her Sebastian had been.

“Sebastian called me the day of the accident.” The usual optimism was draining from Ben’s expression. “He told me about the woman who stopped to help, but I had no idea that woman was you.”

A high schooler approached the stall. “I’m heading out,” he said to Leah. The newcomer was a few inches shorter than Sebastian with a soft, smooth face.

“Hello to you, too,” Leah said to the teen. “I’m in the middle of a conversation.” She indicated him and Ben.

“Cool,” the kid said. “So . . . I’m leaving.”

Leah regarded the boy with scolding affection. “I’m fine with you leaving, my darlingest of darlings, but before you go, I insist you make a stab at politeness by greeting these adults and then introducing yourself.”

“Hello,” the kid said in a monotone. “I’m Dylan.”

“Sebastian.”

“Good to see you, Dylan,” Ben said warmly.

“Yup.” Dylan loped off, flicking the fingers of one hand upward in a parting gesture.

Leah watched him leave, then handed the bouquet to Sebastian.

“How much do I owe you?” His voice sounded rusty. He was cool under pressure. Always. It was one of the things he was known for. At the moment, though, he didn’t feel cool. He felt crushed and angry. The only positive part of this situation was that Ben had joined them before Sebastian had hit on Leah.