All the stuff Granny said about Simon didn’t help either. It wasn’t like I thought I could just switch brothers. But I also couldn’t deny that had I met Simon under different circumstances . . . I squashed the thought before I let it go anywhere. There was no undoing his very legitimate brotherly connection to my current boyfriend or his very legitimate relationship with Karen. For that reason, it was a nonissue, and Granny was right. I just needed to stay away from him. An easier prospect now that his work with the inn was mostly finished.

Thinking about the inn brought up a new wave of emotion. Sadness, regret, disappointment. Simon had gone straight to Ida after he’d left my office on Friday afternoon. Ida had called down and invited me to join them, but I hadn’t had it in me to listen to his explanations again. I’d made some excuse about the wedding and needing to take care of something and made my escape—to my garage apartment and forty thousand Kit Kats. So healthy.

In hindsight, I wished I’d gone so I could know how Ida had taken the news. I’d looked for her at work Monday morning, but she’d stayed in her rooms all day and asked not to be bothered. For sure I could ask Simon. He’d tell me. But the last time we’d talked, I’d insulted him. Which meant the next time we talked, I needed to apologize. Mix that with all the feelings Granny’s suggestion stirred up and talking to him suddenly felt like a much bigger hill to climb.

“You okay over there?” Jamie asked.

I turned, startled by his voice. “What?”

“You’ve been silent for twenty minutes. I thought you might stare a hole in the dashboard.”

“Sorry. Thinking about the inn.”

He slowed the jeep and exited the highway. “I am sorry about the inn.” I’d given him the rundown earlier in our conversation. “I know you love it there. But maybe change wouldn’t be a bad thing. There are a lot of great hotels that would be lucky to have you on staff. Hotels everywhere, you know? All over the country.” He gave me this knowing look that made my stomach tighten and my heart skitter all over my chest. We might not be having the conversation about California, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t thinking about it.

“So,” he said. “Ready to get some lunch?”

“Where on earth are we?” I asked.

“Blacksburg, VA,” he answered. “Home of Virginia Tech, the famous Cabo Fish Taco, and Carol’s donuts, both of which are on today’s menu. And home to your birthday surprise.”

I shook my head. “I am so confused.”

“You’ll have answers soon enough,” he said with a grin.