Page 69 of Rebel Secrets
The kitchen had filled up pretty quickly after Ian walked in.Surprisingly, by seven-thirty, there were at least fifteen people having breakfast.
I’d made more than enough baked goods for everyone who’d stayed overnight, including the tray I’d made for the newlyweds and delivered to their home yesterday.This week had been the busiest of my life and also the most fulfilling.I’d gotten it all done.Everything I’d needed to do.I’d had a schedule, and I’d stuck to it, and everything had gone to plan.Everything.
Except last night.Sleeping with Rebel had not been part of the plan.
I slid a quick glance at Rain, who’d plopped into the seat next to mine at the breakfast nook in the corner of the kitchen.Everyone else had gathered around the island where I’d laid out the food and the coffee, talking and laughing and talking about the wedding and the reception.
So far, no one had asked why I’d left before the end of the party.Or where Rebel had been.
I glanced at Rain, who’d sat beside me with a glass of orange juice and a croissant, which she was dipping straight into a Nutella jar.
“Yeah, I’m fine.Why?”
“You’re kinda quiet.”
Yeah, because I’d been holding a silent conversation with myself for much of the morning while I made sure the trays stayed full and the coffee was made, though Rain and Rebel made sure they pitched in.
“Guess I just don’t have a lot to say this morning.”
“Hmm.You didn’t seem to have a lot to say yesterday either.Or last night.Something’s definitely going on with you.”
“You’re seeing things that aren’t there.Honestly, I’m just busy.”
I didn’t think Rain was going to let me off the hook.She had that look in her eyes.Yesterday had been all about the wedding.About making sure everything went off perfectly.Or at least as perfect as it could.We’d all been working toward a common goal, which was to make Rowdy and Tressy’s wedding day the best it could possibly be.
“You don’t need to be this busy.The tough part is over.Take a break.Especially since you’ve got so much on your plate in the coming weeks.Camp.Book club.And that wedding.”
“You’re doing another wedding?”
I jumped a little to hear Rebel’s voice so close.I hadn’t heard him come up behind him, but now he slid into the chair next to Rain.He had a glass of milk and a cherry almond scone.I made those specifically because he always ordered them.His hair looked rumpled but not messy.And damn it, it just made him look sexier.
I dragged my gaze to somewhere over his shoulder and forced a smile that I hoped looked real enough.
“No, I’m not doing another wedding.My cousin’s getting married in August, and I’ve got to make a command performance.”
“Where’s the wedding?”
Was he really interested?And why would he be?But he kept staring at me with those intense brown eyes, as if I was the only person in the room.My lungs got tight, and my gaze dropped to his lips.And I thought about last night again.
My body flamed all over, heat rushing beneath my skin and making me want to fan my cheeks.I’m pretty sure they’d just turned bright red.If Rain had been looking at me, she’d definitely know something had happened between me and her brother.
But she was staring at Rebel, her brows arched.
“You know, you should go with Erin.”
My head whipped around, my mouth dropping open.Was she insane?What was she doing?
I thought for sure Rebel would immediately tell her off, tell her she was crazy.Why would she ever think he would want to go with me to a family wedding?
But all he said was, “And why should I do that?”
Now my head snapped to look at him.I was going to get whiplash.
“Because you won’t take any shit and, if you’re with her, they won’t say stupid shit to her.They’ll take one look at you and run screaming in the other direction.”
When she put it like that, I could see the reasoning.She was right.Most of my family would take one look at Rebel and decide giving me grief for my life choices would be a bad idea at that moment.Just to see the look on my mom’s face if I showed up with him might be worth it.But there was no way he’d agree.I was insane to think he’d agree.I mean, it was stupid insane to think Rebel would go with me to my cousin’s wedding.Why would he even consider it?
“Does your family say stupid shit to you a lot?”
