Dare you to lie, p.14
Dare You to Lie, page 14
Sid turned toward the door, waiting for Shiloh. He raised his arms above his head and leaned to one side. The muscles in his back rippled, and I drooled. He turned toward me, and my eyes roamed down his chest to his toned abs. A trail of dark hair disappeared into the waistband of his sweats, and a noticeable bulge was getting larger the longer I stared.
He cleared his throat, and I jumped, letting out a yelp. He smirked and took a step toward me.
“Isn’t it a little early to be going somewhere?” he asked. His voice was husky from sleep, and it rolled over me like a wave settling between my thighs. I sighed, and his smirk grew.
I cleared my throat. “Mindy called. She needs food for the guys before the kids get there. Which reminds me, I need to go.”
“Where are you going?”
I tilted my head.
“To get food,” he added.
“Oh. Right. Grateful Cup. I told her I’d bring coffee and donuts.”
He nodded and then let Shiloh in. She darted toward me, but I turned to the side and lifted my leg to block her from jumping.
“Shiloh, food,” Sid commanded. I didn’t know why that tone of voice was so hot, but it was doing things to me I’d never admit out loud. Especially not to Sid.
“Give me a minute to get ready, and I’ll go with you.”
“You don’t have to do that,” I said. My fingers played with the hem of my shirt.
“I’d like to.”
“Okay. I’ll wait for you.”
He nodded and then left the room. While he ran up the stairs, I shot a text to Mindy letting her know I’d be a little longer and then went to the front window to watch the sunrise. If I wasn’t going anywhere, I would have grabbed a cup of coffee and sat on the porch swing.
A few minutes later, Sid came down the stairs dressed in jogging clothes. A black hairband held his hair back from his face. I didn’t hate the look. It highlighted his sharp facial features. He tugged on some running shoes, leashed up Shiloh, and opened the door.
“Mind if we walk?” he asked.
“Not at all. If I wasn’t heading to the farm, I’d join you.”
He looked at me funny.
“What?”
He shook his head. “Nothing. I didn’t expect you to be a runner.”
“Jogger. I’m a newbie jogger. But the park is beautiful, and it’s peaceful early in the morning.”
He grunted, and I couldn’t tell if he was agreeing with me or if my talking irritated him. I was a morning person, always had been, but I would bet money that Mr. Grumpy Pants wasn’t.
The town was quiet. It was so early that almost everyone was still asleep. All the shops, except for the Grateful Cup, opened at eight. Elouise always opened early so shop owners could fill up on coffee and pastries before work.
Sid and I were quiet on the way to the coffee shop. The only sounds were our shoes slapping on the pavement and Shiloh’s tags jingling. I wasn’t sure what to say, but the silence didn’t feel awkward. It felt comfortable. Like we did this all the time.
“How are you feeling today?” Sid asked.
“Good. You?”
He shrugged. “Okay. I wanted to make sure you were doing all right after the weekend with our parents.”
It was really sweet of him to check on me. “I’m good. Even though the night was shitty, I think we sold it.”
He nodded.
There was a slight nip in the air that had me wishing I’d grabbed a coat. The sun was coming up through the trees and casting a warm glow on Main Street and the park. I loved sunny days no matter what the temperature was outside.
Sid opened the door to the coffee shop, and I smiled. The smell of baked goods and coffee filled my nose. Grateful Cup lived up to its name. It was sunshine and warmth in a cup. I loved it so much. The sight of baked goods made my stomach growl, and I put a hand over it. Sid chuckled as he followed me farther inside. Shiloh was at his side.
“She’s allowed in here?” I asked, pointing at the dog.
He smiled and put a finger to his lips. “Shh. Maybe they won’t notice.”
“Sid, you can’t bring a dog into a coffee shop.”
“Why not?” he asked.
“There’s my girl,” Elouise said. “I was wondering when you were going to bring her to me. I have lots of treats for her to try.”
“You spoil her,” Sid said. He let go of the leash, and Shiloh ran around the counter and into Elouise’s waiting arms. She laughed and hugged the black lab.
“Elouise and her husband used to breed their black lab, Bella. She had four litters, and Shiloh was from the last one. Bella passed a few years ago, so I make it a point to bring Shiloh here often so Elouise can love on her.”
A tear trickled out of my eye at the beautiful story and man. Sid had a good heart. The more time we spent together, the more I could see that, but for some reason, he hid it from everyone. My stomach growled again. Sid and I both laughed.
“Sounds like you could use a muffin,” he said. The lazy smile on his face, coupled with the warmth in his brown eyes, had me swooning. He was handsome, but when I got to see the playful, relaxed side to him, he was downright gorgeous. Not to mention when he showed how big his heart was. Oh, man. I was in trouble.
“What are you having?” Elouise asked me.
“I’ll have a cranberry-orange muffin, a box of donuts, and coffee. Lots of coffee.”
She gave me a knowing smile. “Frank?”
I chuckled. “Yes, and Charlie, Mindy, and Skip.”
“Laney and Jacob too?”
I shrugged. “Not sure. They can get their own coffee, though.”
She laughed. “Have a seat and I’ll get it ready. Assortment of donuts okay?”
“As long as there are at least two chocolate glazed.”
I took a seat near the counter so I could hop up when she called my name.
“What’ll you have, Sheriff?”
“A chocolate muffin, an everything bagel with cream cheese on the side, and a large dark roast. Black, please.”
“You got it. Have a seat.”
Sid sat across from me at the small table. Shiloh walked over and lay down at his feet. I looked around the coffee shop and froze. Four pairs of eyes were staring at Sid and me from the corner of the room.
“Shit.”
“What?” Sid asked.
“The gossip hens are here.”
Sid chuckled. “They always are. This is where they hang out every morning.”
“You knew, and you still suggested we come here together?”
“Kat, it’s not a secret that we’re engaged or that you moved in.”
“I haven’t read anything about me moving in. How do you know it’s not still a secret?” I was being ridiculous, and I knew it, but I couldn’t help myself.
Sid pulled out his phone and scrolled around. Meanwhile, I was trying my best to avoid the hens’ stares. He laid his phone on the table facing me and pushed it forward. I looked down and groaned. Another “Daily Happenings” entry.
Daily Happenings
It’s official, folks. Kat was seen moving into Sid’s house last week. They were also spotted together this weekend in Ridge Point visiting Sid’s parents. Will they set a wedding date soon? As soon as we find out, we’ll let you know.
In other news, Mindy is looking for help at her store since Rebecca has opened her new restaurant, Harvest House. If anyone is interested or knows someone who might be interested in working there, please contact Mindy or Laney.
Also, if anyone has the scoop for Tom Tracy’s popcorn machine, please return it. It’s been missing for two weeks, and he needs it for the next movie night in the park.
Well, that’s all for news in Oak Springs. Stay tuned for more.
I snorted. “News? This shit is not news. Well, except for Mindy looking for help.”
“Yeah, that’s the first time I’ve actually seen news in there,” Sid said.
“Who the hell is writing this? Is it the hens?”
Sid shrugged. “No clue. I wanted to show you that people already know what’s going on with us.”
“Great. So now what?”
He shrugged again.
“Stop doing that.”
He huffed. “I don’t know. I think we go on with our lives like we always have.”
“Easier said than done.”
“Kat, you’re up,” Elouise called.
I hurried to the counter and grabbed everything, happy to move on from the awkward conversation and the prying eyes of the townsfolk.
“I was going to talk to Frank today about bringing Shiloh to the farm, so if the offer still stands, I’d love your help,” Sid said from behind me.
“Sure. I’d love to help.” I reached into my pocket to grab my card to pay, but Sid slid his across the counter.
“Put all of this together, Elouise,” he said.
She swiped his card and handed it back.
“Thanks for paying. You didn’t have to.”
“It’s no problem. Let’s take this back to the house and grab the cars.”
“That’s okay. I can go by myself if you wanted to go for a run before work.” I shifted the box of donuts in my arms. He took the drink carrier off the top of the box and held his coffee and muffins in the hand that held Shiloh’s leash.
“I guess we should have thought about this before we left,” he grumbled.
I laughed. “I don’t always think before I do things.”
He groaned, and I bit my lip to keep from laughing again. Sid held the door open for me. The sun was bright, and it warmed my insides despite the cold. I wanted to sip my seasonal latte and read a book on a bench in the park, but that would have to wait.
“We should probably go out on a date,” Sid said, surprising me.
The way he said it made it sound like an obligation. It hurt that he was doing this to keep up the charade and not because he wanted to. I’d caught feelings, and it was clear he didn’t feel the same.
“Kat?”
“Yes. Sorry. That’s a good idea.”
“Great. Simply Cook It has a class tonight. I’ll book a spot.”
Sid helped me get everything in my car before seeing me off. He waved as I pulled out of the driveway, and for a second, it felt like the most natural thing in the world. Like we did it all the time. Warmth spread through my chest, and I quickly tamped it down, reminding myself that this was fake.
We weren’t going on an actual date. It was to sell our relationship to the town. To make sure that the damn gossip hens and whoever was writing the gossip blog didn’t find out we were faking. An overwhelming sadness washed over me, and I had to tamp down the tears.
I was getting too wrapped up in this relationship already, and if I wasn’t careful, I was going to end up hurt. Was it too late? My head and my heart were confused.
There was a lot of commotion in front of the house when I pulled up, and I looked at the time and realized it had been an hour and a half since Mindy had called. I unloaded the car quickly and walked to the door. The screen opened, and Mindy pulled me inside.
“Where the hell have you been?” she asked.
“I’m sorry. I lost track of time.”
“Mm-hmm. I remember those days.”
“What?” I asked and saw the glint in her eye. She wiggled a brow at me, and I cringed. “No. Sid and I walked to Grateful Cup and then realized we had to walk all the way back with our arms full. It took longer than expected.”
“Boo. I thought you guys finally got it on.”
“What do you mean, finally? He’s my fiancé. Don’t you think that’s already happened?”
Mindy narrowed her eyes at me, and I stared right back at her.
“What are you guys doing?” Frank asked. “Give me these. We have to get to the barn.” He took the coffee and donuts from my arms and walked into the kitchen.
Mindy crossed her arms over her chest. I put my hands on my hips. I would not break first. Mindy was feisty and stubborn, and she had yet to meet her match. But that was before I arrived in town.
“Okay. You win,” she said, standing up straight. “You’re either telling the truth, or you’re a damn good liar.”
Mindy walked away toward the stairs. I sighed. That was close.
I walked into the kitchen and laughed. Frank was standing at the island scarfing down a donut while feeding Ava as she sat in her bouncy seat.
“That better not be the chocolate glazed one,” I joked. His wife would kill him.
He looked at it and then lifted it up. “Nope. Glazed.”
I laughed. “How’s it going here?”
“Crazy,” he said.
“Well, I’m here to help, and if you guys need me for some overnights, I can do that too.”
“Sid won’t mind if we steal you away?” Frank asked.
“No.”
“That would be great, but you’ll have to talk to the boss. She might want to keep trying to play super mom.”
“I heard that!” Mindy yelled from around the corner. Frank jumped and shoved the bottle at me. He grabbed his coffee and ran out the back door. I laughed. That man was always getting himself into trouble.
“Thank you for bringing breakfast. I was all set to cook this morning, but after being up all night with the girls and stressing about camp, I gave up.”
“I understand.”
“I read the new ‘Daily Happenings’ post.” Mindy took Ava out of the bouncy seat on the island, shaking her head as she did so and grabbed her coffee and a chocolate glazed donut before she joined me at the breakfast nook. Adaline was asleep in her bouncy seat on the floor.
“What was Frank thinking? These are not places for babies,” I said.
Mindy rolled her eyes. “Don’t get me started. And quit deflecting. Give me the good stuff before I have to read about it in the damn blog.”
“Nothing new is happening. Except…”
“Yes?” She was like a dog with a bone.
“We’re going to Simply Cook It tonight.”
“That sounds like fun. Although you guys should go tomorrow instead and do Kate and Peter’s class. It’s so much fun.”
“That’s actually a great idea. I’ll text Sid.”
Mindy bit into her chocolate glazed donut, and her eyes nearly rolled back in her head. “This is so good. I don’t know what Elouise does to these. I’ve had plenty of donuts from other places, and none compare.”
I laughed. “That’s how I feel about her cranberry-orange muffins.”
She finished chewing and took a sip of her coffee, which elicited another eye roll of pleasure.
“How did the two of you end up together anyway? I’m not talking about how you started dating, I’m talking like personality wise. You’re so different.”
“I know. But it works,” I said with a shrug. “He makes me feel comfortable being myself. Sure, he’s quieter and more reserved than I’m used to, but he’s also funny and kind. His heart is good and he’s loyal, which is admirable.”
Mindy smiled. “He is a really good friend. Loyal to a fault.”
I nodded.
“But how do you deal with his grumpy attitude all the time?”
“It honestly doesn’t bother me. He’s gentle inside, but I have a feeling he’s been hurt in the past, and that’s why he won’t let that softer side show.”
“It sounds like you have him figured out. I know something happened in his past, but he’s never talked about it with me, and Frank won’t tell me. It’s the one thing he’s tight-lipped about, no matter how hard I dig. I also feel bad trying to get it out of him because I know it would hurt Sid. It’s his story to tell, and if he doesn’t want any of us to know, then we should respect that.”
I nodded and looked out the window. The sun was now shining over the pond. It looked peaceful. What had happened to Sid in the past? I wished he would open up about it, but then I’d have to open up about my past, and that wasn’t something I was ready to share. Even though I trusted Sid not to share it, I was still afraid of it getting back to my sister.
“How’s the sex?” Mindy asked.
I choked on the sip of coffee I had taken, and Mindy laughed.
“That bad?”
“Shut up,” I said, tossing a wadded-up napkin at her. “Our chemistry is off the charts, and he’s sexy as hell. Also, his beard is amazing, and I have the burn marks to prove it.” Okay, so the part about his beard causing burn marks was a lie, but the rest had been true. I wanted his beard to rub against my skin, specifically between my thighs, but that would never happen.
“Hell yeah,” Mindy said.
“To answer your earlier question, we got together because we were the only singles in our group. He felt like the odd one out, and I shared that feeling. We forged a friendship that grew.” If I could rewrite our story, that would be how it would start.
Mindy’s hand covered mine. “That’s really sweet, and I’m glad you saw past the cold exterior and gave him a chance.”
Too bad it wasn’t real.
Chapter 18
SID
SIMPLY COOK IT WAS A cool, modern space that was a hot spot for tourists. Tonight, the class was buzzing with energy as Kat and I walked in. Kat’s little black dress and high heels were a little over the top for a cooking class, but she looked gorgeous, and my dick had been hard ever since she came out of her room.
The dress hugged her mouth-watering curves perfectly. I wanted to peel it off her and explore those curves with my hands and tongue. I’d had to adjust myself multiple times on the way here, which wasn’t easy when we were walking in the center of town.
Kat walked toward one of the kitchen stations, and I forced myself not to look at her delectable ass. She had a bubble butt, and I wanted to take a bite out of it or mark it with my hand. I needed to get laid. It had been far too long, which had to explain the wayward thoughts I’d been having about her.
Kat set her small purse down on the table and then perched on the stool to wait. I rummaged around in the kitchen until I found two wineglasses. There was a bottle of wine on the counter with a welcome card beside it. I uncorked the bottle and poured us each a glass of wine, then joined Kat at the small table. She picked up the welcome card and read it out loud.
