Page 25 of Keeping You
“Goodnight, Luke.”
I watch him walk away, my lips still tingling, before I turn and head inside to face Nikki’s interrogation. As I shut the door behind me, I catch a glimpse of Mrs. Faraday peering over her fence, phone already in hand.
By tomorrow morning, the whole town will know that Luke Caldwell walked me home and kissed me goodnight. Mission accomplished.
So why does it feel like I'm the one getting played?
Chapter Eight
Luke
It's been a week since that disaster of a date with Callie, and I still can't shake the memory of that kiss in her car. It damn near knocked me sideways. Not exactly what I expected from our arrangement. Every time I shut my eyes, I'm back in that moment, the taste of her lingering like a promise I'm not sure I should be making.
This is pretend, I remind myself for the hundredth time.
So why do I have this sense, I'm lying to myself instead of the town?
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I know without looking that it's Harper, asking where I am. Apparently, I'm late for my shift at the bakery.
Being Sheriff of Cupid's Creek isn’t exactly a demanding job. A few traffic stops, a handful of domestic squabbles, and a fender bender have been the highlights of the last month. Many days, I miss the chaos of working in a big city where every call-out kept me on my toes. But I don’t miss the inherent danger. I don’t have to fear being shot or stabbed every time I leave the station. And I don’t have to worry about a partner’s life being on the line.
But the extra time in my day gives me plenty of opportunity to think about Callie. To take her lunch and walk her homefrom work. Which I’ve done consistently for the past few days. And then I get to kiss her sweetly at her front door for everyone within eyesight to see, when what I really want to do is pick her up, carry her to her bedroom, and make love to her all night long.
I don’t think Nikki would approve that plan, though. She’s been waiting for us at the end of each day. Talk about cock blocking.
That cheery bell above the bakery door jingles as I push my way inside. Each time I do that, it takes me back to my childhood, when Grams ran the place and we'd head straight here after school until Mom finished work. It's not nearly as empty as my first day back. Today, there are actual customers at four of the tables instead of empty chairs. Still not the bustling hub it once was, but if every person that comes through the doors means another bill gets paid without having to dip into savings, maybe our little charade holds promise.
Tom, who works as a general caretaker for the town, is arguing with his widowed sister, Clara, about what kind of pie to order, while their mother, Edna, flips through a magazine. Mr. Henderson is at another table, nibbling on a cookie while reading a book.
Harper glances up from behind the counter, her expression a mix of relief and irritation. “Finally,” she says, wiping her hands on her apron. “I was about to call in the cavalry.”
“Sorry. Got held up at the station. I do have an actual job, you know.”
“I’m sure you do, but you promised to help here, too.” She hands me an apron. “Anna's in the back prepping for tomorrow. She could use some help with the heavy lifting.”
I nod, grateful for the distraction, but before I can escape to the kitchen, the bell jingles again, and Callie saunters in, looking like every fantasy I've ever had. Her hair is down today, andshe's wearing a simple light blue sundress that makes her eyes impossibly bright. When she spots me, she freezes for a second before her professional smile slips into place.
“Hello,” she says, her voice steady as she approaches the counter.
“Hi, Callie,” Harper chirps, way too brightly. “What can I get for you this afternoon?”
I watch as Callie's gaze flicks briefly to me before settling on Harper. “I would like to place an order. For the library. Please. For tomorrow, if it’s not too late.”
“An order?” Harper's eyebrows shoot up. “Like, for pastries or muffins?”
“Yes, Harper. Like pastries and muffins. From a bakery.” Callie's tone is calm, but there's a hint of amusement in her eyes today, something I haven’t seen since the day I arrived back in town. “That is what you sell here, right?”
Harper blinks rapidly, clearly thrown by this development. “Um, of course. Sorry, I’m just surprised you’re here and not in Juniper.”
“It was a last-minute decision.”
I can tell Harper’s a little disappointed, but she puts her smile back in place, obviously eager to help her friend regardless of the reason she came in. I’m still not sure Callie’s plan is supposed to win over Harper. All I know is they need to repair their friendship. The pain in their eyes when they face each other is crushing me.
“Well, thank you for bringing your business to us. What would you like?”
Callie sets her purse on the counter. “I’d like an assortment of cookies, please, and perhaps a few of those little fruit tarts Anna makes. It’s for the reading circle tomorrow. I’ll pick it up at nine in the morning if that’s okay.”
“How many people?” I ask, finding my voice.
