Chapter 9

 

Ever since Kate brought the peace offering in the form of pork, things had been good. Neither of them spent their days avoiding each other, and they finally came to an agreement on the parking lot. She might have been blocking his storefront, but it’s not like he was all that visible from the street anyway. The dope finally realized that Kate’s demonstrations weren’t hurting his business, but helping him by drawing more people to an area they may have never discovered.

Though, if she were honest with herself, she did miss their heated arguments. She liked playing nice, but when it came to Caleb, she preferred to be naughty. There was something about the way his eyes darkened and his lip curled when they argued that turned her on. She missed it, and what she missed even more was the feel of his mouth on hers. He hadn’t kissed her since that morning a couple weeks ago, and she felt like an addict in need of a fix.

She ignored the temptation to wander over to his shop and continued on her way to Sweet Dreams Bakery. She had a lunch date with Shay that she wasn’t about to cancel. Since Shay and Matt had gotten married, she’d been harder and harder to pin down. Not that Kate could blame her. If she was a newlywed, she’d probably spend all her free time with her husband, too.

The bakery was only a short walk down Main Street, and Kate took her time, breathing in the late July air. It was a little more humid than she liked, but one thought of the long white winters they had up in the White Mountains and she welcomed the hot, sticky heat with open arms.

Kate walked into the bakery decorated in shades of pink and white and closed her eyes to take in all the mouth-watering scents. She was set on getting her favorite Death by Chocolate cupcake with a decadent chocolate cake and a chocolate fudge ganache, but the delicious scent of coconut and pineapple lingered in the air, changing Kate’s mind.

Shay’s back was to the counter as Kate approached, hands resting on the stainless-steel surface. It looked as if she was taking deep breaths.

“You okay?” Kate asked and Shay spun around, her long brown braid moving with her.

“Hey. I didn’t even hear you come in.”

Shay always had a big smile on her face, but today it was lacking its usual luster. Her hazel eyes were dull, and her face that usually had a healthy glow was an ugly shade of gray.

“What’s the matter?”

Shay waved her hand. “Your brother insisted on eating at the new restaurant in Berlin, and it’s just not sitting right.”

“Oh no, that’s not cool. You want me to go get you something from the pharmacy?”

“I’ll be fine. It comes in waves.”

“You sure?”

“I am. Now what do you want today? Your usual?” Shay straightened and plastered a smile on her face. She still looked unwell, but something like a little upset stomach wouldn’t stop Shay.

Kate smiled back, pointing at the glass case that held an assortment of specialty cupcakes. “I did until I walked in here and the pina colada cupcake started to call my name.”

“Good choice. Louise actually made these, and I have to say they’re almost as good as mine.”

“I heard that,” Louise, Shay’s assistant said from the back. She poked her head through the doorway, her dark hair pulled back in a high ponytail. “Hi, Kate.”

“Hey,” Kate said with a wave.

“Would you mind keeping an eye out here so I can—” Shay started, but Louise held her hand up.

“Go sit down. I got this.”

Shay laughed, but it wasn’t as vibrant as she made her way around the counter with Kate’s pina colada cupcake. Kate took the treat from her friend and let her lead the way. They usually sat outside on a beautiful day like today, but Kate wasn’t so sure the heat would be good for Shay.

Shay ignored the door and walked to the table in the far-left corner that sat beneath a wooden sign that said, Be a beautiful cupcake in a world full of muffins, and took a seat.

Kate followed and took a bite of her cupcake, savoring each new burst of flavor as she settled into the chair.

“How’s married life?” Kate asked.

Shay’s face lit up, a sparkle glimmering in her eyes and washing away the dullness. “It’s pretty amazing.”

“Have you figured out what you’re going to do with your grandparents’ house?” Shay’s grandparents had bought a house in Florida with the intention of staying only for the winters, but as the years passed, they came home less frequently. Shay had been living in the house up until she made the move into Matt’s log cabin.

“They don’t want to sell it, and I don’t want them to either. That house has so many memories, and I can’t imagine selling it, so we’re going to rent it. It’s paid off so any money that comes in will help my grandparents pay off their condo. Do you know of anyone looking for a place?”

Kate thought about it for a moment. She knew just about everyone in Red Maple Falls, but she couldn’t think of anyone who was in need of a house. “Not off the top of my head, but I’ll spread the word around. Maybe put it up on Craigslist.”

“I mentioned that to your brother, but he went all Sheriff on me saying how ads like that are just asking for trouble.”

Kate’s gaze flicked upward. She loved Matt to death, but there were times when his protective nature made him completely unreasonable. “He’s an idiot,” Kate said and Shay laughed.

“You said it not me.”

“I can talk to him if you want. I’ve had thirty plus years of arguing with him. I’ve gotten pretty good at it.”

“I appreciate it, but I can handle him.” A mischievous smirk played at the edges of Shay’s mouth.

“You’re going to post the ad anyway, aren’t you?”

“You’re damn right I am.”

Kate raised her hand to Shay over the table, and Shay slapped it five. “My brother has met his match with you and I love it.”

“So… What’s going on with you?”

“Nothing,” Kate blurted out a little too hastily.

“Want to try that again?”

Kate shoved the rest of the cupcake in her mouth. Anything to avoid talking about the pretty boy who was haunting her dreams and making her tremble with memories every time she saw him.

“Nice try, but you’ll have to swallow eventually.”

Kate sighed and continued to chew the cupcake until she had nothing left. “Really there’s nothing going.”

Shay tilted her head, her eyebrow rising to new heights. “I’ve known you since you were twelve, you can’t lie to me. Besides, I see the way you look at Caleb.”

“And what way is that exactly?”

“Like a dog in heat.”

“I do not!”

“Mmm hmm.”

“I don’t,” Kate reiterated, but her tone lacked the assurance it needed to make a convincing argument.

“One minute you hate him, the next minute you’re sharing food with him at my wedding. Just curious how you feel about him today.”

“I’d feel a lot better if he stopped treating me like his friend and kissed me again.”

“Again?” Shay exclaimed.

“Oh, I didn’t tell you about that?”

“No!”

“Guess with the craziness of the wedding and Cooper and Daze being home I forgot.”

“Stop stalling and give me details.”

Kate didn’t know how much she wanted to share, but in the end, she realized that she needed to share it with someone. Get an outside opinion of the whole situation because she was going crazy analyzing every little thing.

Shay crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back in her chair as Kate finished telling her about that morning in Caleb’s office.

“He just walked out?” Shay asked.

Kate nodded. “He later told me he regretted it. Not the… you know… but the walking away part.”

“Wow.”

She studied Shay’s face, which was usually so easy for her to read, but right now she hadn’t a clue what was going on in Shay’s head. “I’m having a hard time deciphering that ‘wow.’ Care to elaborate?”

“I had no idea things escalated the way it had between you two. I’m a little surprised and trying to let it all sink in.”

“That makes two of us,” Kate mumbled, swiping her finger across the cupcake paper to get the last of the frosting.

“Do you like him?”

“Sometimes.”

Shay’s eyebrow arched.

“Most of the time.”

“Then go for it. What do you have to lose?”

“My mind.”

“Shay laughed. “That’s going to happen no matter what. I think you’re more afraid about losing your heart.”

Kate wished there was another cupcake she could shove in her mouth. She was great at discussing other people’s problems, but when it came to her own, she preferred to keep it out of conversation. It was easier to pretend that she wasn’t scared of the connection she felt between Caleb when she didn’t talk about it.

She shrugged. “Maybe.”

Shay reached across the table and took Kate’s hand in hers, giving it a comforting squeeze. “Don’t think about that. Think about what a waste it would be to never give your heart away.”

“Says the girl who gave hers away at seventeen.”

“Yes, but also says the girl that endured years of heartache because of it. But you know what? I would do it all over again—every ache and pang, because I’ve never been happier.” Tears filled Shay’s eyes and she quickly reached in her apron for a tissue. “Sorry I’m PMS-ing; everything is making me emotional.”

Kate laughed happy for the detour from all the heaviness of their conversation.

The door opened, and Matt walked in donned in his tan Sheriff’s uniform. He looked over at them, and his eyes narrowed in concern as he took in Shay wiping at her eyes.

“Why are you crying?” Matt asked, hurrying over to Shay’s side. He took her chin in his hands and ran his thumb beneath her lid.

“It’s nothing. I’m fine.”

“It’s my fault,” Kate said. “I told her Louise’s cupcakes are better than hers.”

Matt turned and his eyes widened with disbelief. “Why the hell would you do that?”

Kate stood from her chair, grabbing her garbage. “The fact that you believe me is hilarious. Nobody’s cupcakes are better than Shay’s.”

“I heard that,” Louise said from the counter.

“No offense.”

Louise gave Kate a wink. “None taken.”

“Sorry to make you cry and run, but I need to get back to the studio.”

“Don’t worry about it. Just think about what I said.”

“I will.”

“What did you say?” Matt asked.

“Sorry big brother. Girl code. Which means she can’t tell you.” Kate patted Matt on the chest and gave Shay a wave before walking to the door and laughing because she knew damn well that was going to drive her nosy brother absolutely insane.