Page 29 of Rebel Secrets
Fuck.
I yanked my gaze up and over her shoulder, staring straight ahead.What the fuck was I doing checking out Erin’s ass?Seriously?
When we reached the café, Erin opened the front door and ushered us all in, locking the door behind her.Monday was the one day of the week the bakery and the bookstore were closed.
“I’ll put a couple of pots on,” Erin called over her shoulder as she headed for the kitchen at the back.“Guys, help yourself to anything.”
Rain opened a refrigerated case behind the counter, and Kade and I took out the stacked trays.Muffins, scones, lemon pound cake, banana walnut bread, all sorts of other pastries.
It’d been a running joke when Erin had moved here that she’d burned down the kitchen the first time she’d used it.That wasn’t completely true—yeah, the fire department had to be called—but it hadn’t been all her fault.The ovens had been faulty.
That had been almost five years ago, and now she was providing everything that wasn’t the main meal for the biggest wedding this town had seen in decades.We weren’t the best of friends, but the least I could do was admit that the woman made the cherry almond scones I’d ever eaten.
“Maybe that’ll sweeten you up a little.”Rain elbowed me with a little snort of laughter as I took two scones.
“Then maybe you should have some.”
“Brian thinks I’m sweet enough already.And Mom loves me more.”
I burst out laughing.Only Rain could get me to laugh like this and the grin she got when I did was worth it.Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, I pulled her in tight for a hug.
“Admit it,” she said.“You missed me while you were gone.”
Yeah, goddammit, I had.I missed spending time with my family and friends.Missed having breakfast on a random Monday morning with one of my best friends and my sister.And Erin.
A week ago, just the thought would’ve made me want to run in the opposite direction.
Yeah, and now you’re checking out her ass.
My gaze snapped in her direction as she returned from the kitchen carrying two carafes.
“Ah, the love of my life,” Kade said, making Erin give him a look.
“I know you’re talking about the coffee.”She held out her left hand.“This one’s for you and me.”She set it on the counter in front of Kade.“And this one is for the blackhearts over here.”
She smiled at Rain, who thanked her profusely and poured the two of us steaming mugs of nectar of the gods.
Perfect.Bitter and strong.Just the way I loved it.
“Thanks.”
She blinked, looking almost like a deer in the headlights.
Then her lips curved in a slight smile, and she nodded before turning to talk to Rain.Leaving me to study her profile.How had I never noticed how pretty she was before?And why was I noticing now?
Probably not something I wanted to dwell on.
Except we were going to dinner tonight.Together.Just the two of us.
And I might actually be looking forward to it.
I spentway too long deciding what to wear, and I was already running late.
I’d lost track of time working in the yard after I’d gotten home from breakfast at the café, and now I was fucking around figuring out what I should wear to a dinner that was not a date.
Not even close.More like a working dinner.Yeah, let’s go with that.
“Fuck this,” I grumbled and grabbed a pair of khaki shorts and a plain t-shirt in a color that didn’t clash.
