Page 47 of Sweet Somethings

"The bulldog?" she asked in surprise. "He put Billy the bulldog in the lake?"

"Yes, right before the big game."

She couldn't help the smile that teased her lips, but she could see Doug didn't appreciate her reaction.

"Okay, maybe that wasn't a big deal," Doug said. "But he caused a lot of people a lot of trouble."

"If you knew he was stealing tests and money, why were you friends with him?" she challenged.

"I didn't know at the time. And Roman was…fun," he said, the word coming with great reluctance. "He shook things up. He was new to the school, and he was from California. He had ideas that I had never had. I was stupid to follow him anywhere. When he turned on me after the fire, I saw what he was really about. I could have lost my admittance to college because of him. And don't think it was just me he tried to take down. Our friend, Travis, also got thrown under the bus by Roman. He had a baseball scholarship that was put into jeopardy by Roman's actions. Roman was the only one who had nothing to lose, but still he pointed the finger at us."

Doug was a completely different person in this moment. He was fired up. He was angry and bitter and there was real emotion behind his eyes. It was almost like seeing a different person. She actually liked this guy better than the one who wore the smooth, charming mask.

"I don't know why we're talking about all this," Doug added, starting to pull himself together. "It was a long time ago."

"What I don't understand is if Roman did it, why wasn't he arrested?"

"There wasn't enough evidence to hold him. My dad had to let him go."

"That's right. Your father was the chief of police."

He frowned. "He did not try to railroad Roman to protect me—if that's what you're thinking. Is that what Roman told you?"

"He actually didn't say that much about it, but I saw his face when Martha Grayson verbally attacked him in front of my bakery. She said some very hateful things."

"Martha doesn't like anyone, and I doubt her opinion mattered to Roman."

"I think it bothered him more than he might admit."

Doug gave her a sharp look. "Am I missing something? Are you two seeing each other?"

"No, we're just friends. We only met the other day." She felt heat run through her at the memory of their kiss in the park the night before, but she didn't plan on telling Doug about that.

"Well, good, because like I said, he is trouble you do not need to have. I'm just hoping he doesn't stay long. I heard he's recuperating from some injury and then going back to the Marines."

"That's what he said," she agreed. "I don't know who's going to finish the house remodel when he leaves."

"I saw the plans for the house when Vincent brought them before the planning commission. I'm interested in buying the place after it's done."

"Really? Why?" she asked in surprise.

"It's going to be a beautiful house."

She frowned. "It was beautiful before."

"And old. It needed massive updating."

The last thing she needed were more practical opinions about her old house. "Well, we liked it—my parents and me."

"It's a great family house," he continued. "I could see having a family there."

"I can, too," she said, not caring at all for the idea of Doug in her house. He'd turn it into some centerpiece for town events and political dinners. "I'd like to buy the place myself. I just have to figure out how to pull some money together to do that."

"Well, let's not get in a bidding war," he said with a smile. "Maybe we can work something out together."

"Maybe," she said vaguely. She put her napkin on the table, relieved to see the waiter bring over their check. She was ready to be done with their date.

Doug paid the bill, then escorted her to the car. They made some small talk on the way back to her apartment, mostly about how cold it was, which just showed how little they had to discuss when at the end of the night all they were talking about was the weather.

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