Page 26 of His Virgin Woman
“Man, I would love to have something like that.Kind of like what you’ve got with Shae.”
Peyton paused and turned to Leah.“I don’t have anything with Shae.”She then wanted the ground to open up and swallow her whole.No one had outright asked her what her deal was with Shae.Most people assumed they were dating, and for a little while, she could pretend that was exactly what they were doing.Dating.Only, they were not dating.
Her sister had legs because of her.Lily-May was no longer around, also because of her.It was messed up, but she dealt with it.What sucked was the fact she didn’t care.Her sister did nothing but cause her so much trouble.
Leah snorted.“Yeah, you don’t have anything with Shae, and the clouds aren’t white in the freaking blue sky.Please, I have eyes, and I know there is something going on with you and him.”
“We’re ...friends.”
“That man is in love with you,” Leah said.
Now, she was frozen to the spot.
Leah turned to look behind her.“Seriously?You cannot see it?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.We’re friends.”It felt like a lie to even say that.
Leah shook her head.“You’re not friends.Okay, you might be putting him in the friend zone, but he is not putting you in any kind of zone.That man is one hundred percent in love with you, and trust me, he has been for a long time.”
They stopped talking to each other as a customer walked in.It was Mrs.Reynolds.She was a much older woman, but she always came through at Halloween with a large decorated cupcake order.
“I’ve got them in the back,” Peyton said.
She got Mrs.Reynolds to park around the back, where she then placed the order for over a hundred cupcakes.
Peyton was aware that the trick-or-treaters absolutely loved going to her house.Not only did she have the entire yard decorated and terrifying, she gave out candy as well as cupcakes.
“The same order tomorrow?”she asked.
“You got it.I’ve already had a lot of trick-or-treaters this year.”Mrs.Reynolds never minded the kids starting early.She had a feeling Mrs.Reynolds’s house was the only one they went to.
Going back into the shop, she saw Leah was busy serving customers.Peyton took a quick inventory check and restocked the front display cases..
She couldn’t help but think about Shae back at the ranch with all the ranchers.She’d already recognized the Marino badge from several workers down the street, going to the diner for lunch.Peyton wondered what it would be like to wake up on that ranch and get straight to work.To start cooking and baking for lunchtime and then for dinner.
It was strange how she felt that yearning deep inside herself.Thinking about working on the ranch was not a good idea.She and Shae were not long-term.
Then, she couldn’t quite help putting her hand on her stomach and wondering if there might be something else.Was she pregnant?They had not been careful.They had had sex so many times, in so many different ways, and she loved every one of them.
She took a deep breath, then Leah turned to look at her.
“So, we were talking about Shae and the fact he is in love with you and has been for a long time.”
This made her laugh and she felt her cheeks start to heat.“I think you have confused me with someone else.”
“Well, I am a keen observer, and I know Shae had been coming out here, and sometimes he’d park his truck close to the shop, maybe even across the road, and he’d sit and watch you.”
“He would?”
Leah nodded.
“Yeah, and I know for a fact he got people to order for him, and I know that because I was one of them.”She shrugged.“He always looks at you.Always.No other woman stands a chance.”
“I, uh, I don’t know what to say.”
“And you are aware of him,” Leah said.“You can hide it all you want, but each time he is here, he makes you blush and you always gravitate to him.And, you always nibble your lip, kind of like you just can’t help it.”
“Okay, I think that is enough talk for today.”
