Page 62 of Billionaire Lumberjack's Bride

“But what?”

“But I think he’s a good person, underneath it all.”

One of her blond brows rises. “Youthink? Youmarriedthe guy. Don’t youknow?”

Oh, shit.

I’ve said too much.

I shove the cupcake into my mouth to occupy myself and try to cover my mistake while she watches me suspiciously. As soon as I swallow, I take a drink of the coffee, hoping to buy myself more time.

My new friend watches me suspiciously, green eyes narrowed. “How come no one ever saw you around here before the wedding?”

I offer a nonchalant shrug that I hope she buys and then swallow another sip of coffee. “We’re both private people.”

She nods as she drums her fingers on the tabletop. “Uh-huh.”

“Look…”

Crap, I don’t know her name…

She perks up and smiles. “Carrie Ann.”

“Look, Carrie Ann. I really appreciate the delicious cupcake and cup of coffee. You don’t know where I can purchase any of these coffee beans, do you?”

She leaps from the table and rushes into the back, returning with a bag of grounds. “Here.”

“You’re giving it to me?”

Her blond head bobs enthusiastically. “You can’t get it at the store here. I have it shipped in because the coffee they sell here tastes like ass.”

I bark out a laugh. “Yeah, it does.”

“If you like it and you want to get it on the regular, I can start ordering a few extra bags. Just let me know how much you need a month.”

“Really?”

She smiles, almost giddy, bouncing on her feet. “Girl, this has been the biggest excitement to hit Millsburg in fifteen years—since that man first showed up. I’ve learned so much from you.”

Shit.

Exactly what I hadn’t intended.

I take the final bite of the cupcake and hold up my mug. “Can I get the rest of the coffee to go?”

Carrie Ann climbs to her feet. “Of course.”

As she disappears into the back to grab a to-go cup, I release a relieved sigh. If she isn’t here, I can’t inadvertently tell her things I should be keeping to myself.

I may have accidentally revealed too much about Silas, but Carrie Ann has given me a few things to think about, too. Whatever happened to him to make him leave his family and come up here at only eighteen, it must have been something horrible. Coupled with the memory of the scars covering his body, that knowledge makes the delicious cupcake in my stomach roil violently.

Carrie Ann returns and pours my coffee into a travel cup, clamping on the lid and handing it to me. “Here you go.”

I rise from the table and take it from her. “Thanks so much. I suppose I’ll see you next time I’m in town.”

“Stop by anytime.” She offers a wide smile. “I own the place and always love to chat.”

In another life, my life before coming up here, that would have been something I would have avoided. But living like this has made my soul desperate for a friendly face, someone who doesn’t fight me at every turn or seem to hate having me around.

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