Page 25 of Sweeter Than Honey
“Is it Monday?”
“No.” Wiping his hands on a towel, he placed the tray into the oven. “Why does that matter?”
“I only eat meat on Mondays. You know, the reverse of meatless Monday. I do Meat Monday.”
Snap. Out. Of. It. Cara.
He was so freaking attractive. Her brain was a little hazy like she was getting a drunk-high from sneaking peeks at his body.
“That’s dumb.”
No, dumb was the reaction she was having to him. Turning away from him to cut off the view, she hugged her portfolio to her chest and made a slow walk around the combined kitchen and dining rooms. The space was nicely furnished with a large, faded light blue farmhouse table perched on top of a braided rug in shades of brown, mismatched yet perfect chairs surrounded the table. A buffet table sat against the wall, along with a china cabinet. Both pieces were covered in a very fine layer of dust. Bunches of dried flowers hung on the far wall, tied in ribbons that had long faded in the sun. White and gray gingham curtains were tied back with twine, the fibers also covered in dust. Looking closer, she realized the rug beneath the table was tidy but completely unruffled as if the chairs hadn’t moved from their respective places in a very, very long time.
Her chest squeezed with a tick of dread.
A single photo sat on the buffet table. The frame was shiny and looked like it had been recently dusted, though the buffet itself had not. Cara glanced at Jett, finding him occupied, and then looked closer. A woman had a little girl on her shoulders in a field of lavender, both of them smiling brightly into the camera.
Her heart ached as she remembered his words about his late wife. What about the little girl? Pressing a hand to her chest, Cara studied the child. Sure enough, the young girl had his dark hair and unusual eyes. Oh no… had he lost them both?
Tears stung her eyes. She quickly turned away from the photo and composed herself. Something tragic had happened to this man.
Clearing her throat, she put on a smile. “Can I help with anything?”
"No."
The crisp, curt response was out of the norm of their usual banter. Had he seen her looking at the photo?
“I’m happy to help with whatever.”
He cracked eggs into a bowl. “I don’t need your help, Cara. You’re here to lay low until we can figure out the next step. There’s no need to immerse you into my day-to-day life. You’re a guest and guests don’t help with chores.”
Hot prickles lined her scalp and her cheeks heated with sudden awkwardness.No need to immerse you into my day-to-day life.Nothing like letting her know how he was feeling, huh? At least she knew where she stood.
“Noted. I’m going to see if I can get some cell reception upstairs.”
She turned, sudden nausea lacing her gut.
“Cara, wait, I didn’t mean—"
"Do I smell bacon? I brought sticky buns!" Allie's voice carried through the house, cheerful and pleasant despite the early morning hour.
A moment later she popped into the kitchen carrying a bakery box. “I told you she’d be here, Dax!”
"Yes, love, I can smell her. No need to shout."
A massive blonde man followed a moment later, carrying two large fabric grocery bags.
Allie winked at Cara. “He didn’t believe that Jett would ever let someone stay here.”
Cara attempted to smile, but it fell flat. Maybe Dax had been right about that. His brother was certainly regretting having her here and it had only been a matter of hours. What were her options? Clearly, Jett didn’t want her here, and spending any number of days under the roof of a resentful man was not going to work for her. Protector or not. Maybe Allie would have another suggestion, which meant she’d have to tell her the whole story.
“Won’t lie. I’m surprised,” Dax said as he set down the bags and then held out a hand to Cara. “I promise that I’m nothing like my grump of a brother. Nice to meet you.”
“You, too.”
He had a boyish, rugged charm to go with his golden good looks. No wonder Allie had fallen for this man. Jett and his brother were night and day different. One golden. The other dark. Both stunning.
“I asked you to stop by because we need to talk.” Jett said to his brother as he took the pan of sizzling bacon from the oven.
