Page 57 of Tattered and Torn

In the kitchen, Betty hands me a box of strawberries. “Look at these,” she says, frowning. “I think they’re past their use-by date. What do you think? Should we use them or not?”

I peer into the box and find a lot of bruised and mushy berries. “I’m afraid you’re right. Where did these come from?”

“I picked them up at the farmers market yesterday. I swear they looked fine then, but now I don’t think we can use them. I was going to make strawberry shortcake for dessert tonight.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll stop by Emerson’s later today and see if I can pick up some more. It’ll be fine.”

Now that Betty’s issue is resolved, I return to the dining room to have breakfast with John, but he’s nowhere to be seen. He’s gone, and so are the box lunches.

I walk over to the table where Hannah and Killian are having breakfast. “Did John leave?”

She finishes chewing a bite of food and swallows. “You just missed him. Why? Do you need him for something?”

“No, it’s just that—oh, well. I’ll catch him later. Thanks. Enjoy your breakfast.”

I leave the restaurant and walk down the stairs to the front desk, where Tammy and Kevin are working. “Did John come this way?”

Nodding, Tammy points toward the main doors. “He flew out of here like a bat out of hell. He didn’t even reply when I told him to have a nice day.”

“Thanks, Tammy.” I jog through the foyer and out the doors, hoping to catch him. It’s only seven-thirty. There’s still time for us to have a quick breakfast together before he has to meet up with his guests.

I glance across the parking lot and spot Nora saddling the horses for today’s ride. I rush over there. “Have you seen John?” I ask, breathless.

Nora points at the barn. “He’s getting the supply packs ready.”

“Thanks.”

As I take a step toward the barn, she says, “I wouldn’t go in there if I were you. He’s fit to be tied. He about bit my head off just now for saying good morning.”

I frown. “I just saw him a few minutes ago, and he seemed fine. What’s he upset about?”

Nora shrugs. “He didn’t say.”

When I step inside the barn, I hear a loud thud, followed by a gruff curse and then some indistinct muttering. I follow the sound until I find John in the tack room, shoving supplies into a large canvas bag. “Hey, I just missed you at the restaurant. I thought we were going to have breakfast.”

When he looks at me, I almost don’t recognize him. His expression is tense, his jaw muscles tight. His face is flushed. He looks angry—no, he’s furious.

Suddenly, there’s a knot in my stomach, and my heart starts hammering. Did I misread what happened between us last night and this morning? My heart starts pounding. Is he having second thoughts? Regrets? “John? What’s wrong?”

He shoves a length of coiled rope into one of the packs. “What’s wrong?” he bellows, looking incredulous. “You have the gall to ask me what’s wrong?”

I take a step back. “Obviously, something’s wrong.”

“I’ll tell you what’s wrong.” When he stalks toward me, I back up until my back hits the wall. He keeps coming until he’s right in my face, glaring down at me. I never realized just how much taller he is.

His teeth are gritted when he grinds out a question that knocks the wind right out of me. “What kind of woman fucks one guy when she’s dating another? Huh? Tell me that.”

My face chills. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about you and Chris.”

“What?”

“You heard me. Don’t act stupid. Hannah told me.”

“Told you what?”

“That you two are dating. I should have realized last night was too good to be true. What was it, Gabrielle? A pity fuck? Or morbid curiosity on your part? Let me guess—the beauty wanted to sleep with the beast?”

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