Page 54 of A Perfect Match
“I didn’t mean to interrupt,” she says, her words slowing as her gaze sweeps over Kru.
My cheeks heat up—I feel caught.
“You’re the chef who opened up the new place next door, right?”she asks excitedly.Bella knows I had a hot hookup with a man in Cleveland a couple months agoandthat my new landlord, who kicked me out of my apartment, was on a reality TV show.She doesn’t know they’re the same person.
“Yeah, proud owner of Ray’s,” he says, extending his hand.“I’m Kru.Nice to meet you.And you are?”
“Bella,” she says with a sly smile, just as Jackson shows up in the back room.“I’m Piper’s cousin.And this is my boyfriend—”
“Holy shit,” Kru says, eyes widening.“You’re Jackson Bedd.”
Jackson grins in an affable way that I can only assume is practiced and holds out his hand.Kru shakes it, looking a little starstruck.
“I am.Nice to meet you…”
“Kru.Short for Krueger.It’s my last name.”
“You can also call him Uncle Lobster,” I point out cheekily, but as soon as the words leave my mouth, I realize I made a critical error.
Bella’s gaze swings my way and hardens into a point.I can practicallyfeelthe pieces clicking into place for her.Shit.
“But you need to get back to lunch service,” I say, shooing him away.“And I need to get Bella and Jackson their marshmallows.”
“Does he always come in through the backdoor?”Bella asks before Kru is fully out of earshot.
Kru calls over his shoulder, “Shared storage space.Fire code shit.”
“That sounded really inappropriate,” I inform her.“But yes, he enters through the rear.Of the building.Through the door in a building which is not my butt.We don’t have butt sex.Or any sex for that matter.”
Bella and Jackson are shaking with silent laughter.
“Whatever!You know what I mean.”
I stomp behind the counter, intent on leaving the almost-discovery behind me.It’s not like I was doing anything wrong.I simply…hugged a gorgeous man when he was in my storage room.Is that a crime?
Bella leans over the display case as I return to the half-finished drinks.“So when were you going to tell me that Cleveland Hookup is also Jerk Landlord?”
I sigh testily.“Never, because if I ignore it, it’s not real.”
“Do your brothers know?”
“No.And that’s how it’s going to stay.”
She dips her chin.“They’re going to find out.”
“No they aren’t.Because there’s nothing to find out about.There’s nothing going on between me and Kru.”
Bella starts laughing, low and staccato.“Sure.That looked like nothing back there.”
I finish decorating their drinks with a variety of marshmallows and push them their way on the countertop.“Order’s up.”
But Bella isn’t fazed.“When you're ready to confess that Jerk Landlord is actually Hot Hookup Landlord, I'm all ears."
"Thanks, I'll put that on my calendar," I say dryly."Right after 'recover from family emergency' and 'win food competition against said Hot Landlord.'”When I see Bella’s smile grow sly, I hurry to add, “I mean Jerk Landlord.I mean—ugh.Nevermind."
“What’s his first name?”Jackson asks.
“I have no idea,” I tell him, then turn to Bella.“See?That’s how much this isn’t a thing.If it were a thing, I’d know his first name, and I don’t.”
