Chapter Twenty-Four
“So, like, I read online that you’re worth over one hundred million dollars.”
Faith closed her eyes and counted to five before turning to Cassidy. The woman had been a pain in the ass since she’d returned from San Francisco and had been outed by a reporter. The reporter was still lurking around, though she hadn’t seen him since the day before.
“Don’t believe everything you read.”
Cassidy made a face. “I’m just saying that if I was worth that much money, I wouldn’t be slugging beer in some hole in the ground town to a bunch of locals who only care about hockey, baseball and whether or not their favorite domestic is on tap.
” She grabbed some menus from the bar. “And don’t get me started on the handsy tourists who think it’s funny to grab my butt when their wives are in the bathroom.
” She eyed up Faith. “Why are you still working here? I mean, you must have cash squirreled away somewhere.” Her eyebrows rose dramatically.
“Not that I’m saying you stole anything or—”
“Cassidy, drop those menus at six and head to the kitchen. Your order for table four has been up longer than it should be.”
The server opened her mouth but was effectively cut off with a withering look from Samantha.
“Thank you,” Faith mumbled. “She’s a lot sometimes.”
“Sometimes?” Samantha’s kind eyes were concerned. “How are you holding up?”
“I’m okay. I mean, this will blow over.”
The woman gave Faith a quick hug and whispered. “It will and you’ll be fine. You’ve found a home here.”
That stupid lump was back, making it hard to speak, but Faith managed a reply. “I’m finishing up with my last table.”
“I can take their bill over and cash them out if you want to leave early.”
Faith frowned and then turned to follow Samantha’s gaze.
Gus stood near the entrance to the outdoor patio.
Her heart reacted at first sight and pumped blood so damn fast she felt dizzy.
One of the regulars, Bill Daily, had his attention, so Faith was able to take her fill and mouth dry; she did just that.
He was dressed casually in a white T-shirt and jeans, which meant he wasn’t working. His ball cap was turned backward, and he tapped his right leg while nodding his head at whatever the heck it was Bill was saying.
He looked tired and gorgeous and annoyed and . . .
Gus glanced up just then and spied her. He gave Bill a curt nod, moved past the man and didn’t stop until he stood in front of her.
“I just got back to town,” he said quietly.
Faith glanced away. “I see that.”
“Are you nearly done? I’d like to talk if that’s okay. That last night, I . . .”
“You already apologized.” At his look of confusion, she sighed. “The note you left under my door?”
“Right.” He frowned and shuffled his feet. “I’m not exactly good at that kind of thing.”
“Apologizing or writing notes?”
“Both I guess.”
“The note was succinct and to the point, so all good there.” She kept her tone light and hoped like hell she sounded that way because her insides were a whirling dervish of emotion.
“I’d like to talk. Explain some things if I can.”
The last thing Faith wanted to do was talk.
“We’re friends, aren’t we?”
Inwardly, she winced. Being put into the friendzone felt like shit, but how did she get out of this without showing her cards?
Without Gus finding out she’d fallen in love with him?
The only thing more humiliating than being put into the friendzone was if that happened. She needed to make sure it didn’t.
“Sure. Yes.” She smiled widely. “We’re friends. Give me five minutes.”
“Taco?”
“He’s not here. He’s with Candy.”
“I’ll grab your bike and load it in my truck.”
He left, and she hurried to the back to grab her purse and left early with Samantha’s blessing.
She made her way through the bar, hating the lingering glances and hushed words that followed her, and inhaled deeply when she was away from everyone.
It would blow over. She knew that. But still, it wasn’t fun being the object of speculation and gossip.
Not in this town. Fire Lake had been her haven, and she hated that her past and shame had breached its sanctity.
Faith found Gus parked at the far end of the lot.
The radio was on low, and he said nothing when she jumped in.
They headed down the road and the trip back to town was made in silence.
By the time they reached Lawson House, her nerves were strung so tight, she was having trouble breathing.
She hopped out of the truck and practically ran for the house, taking the stairs as if the devil were on her tail.
Her breaths fell in quick, shorts spurts, and she paused in front of her apartment. Gus was right behind her.
He followed her inside, then stood by the door, eyes watchful as she tossed her key onto the counter.
“Can I get you anything? A beer?”
“I’m good.”
I’m not.
Faith grabbed a cold Bud Light and cracked it open, then leaned against the counter. “So, let’s talk.”
“I don’t want things to be weird between us.”
“Of course it’s going to be weird. We’ve been having sex for weeks now. We’ve been hanging out talking about stuff that doesn’t matter because we’re not in a relationship. We’re the kind of pals that get notes under their door that are exactly one sentence long.”
“I knew that fucking note was a mistake.”
“Then why’d you leave it?”
“I felt bad about . . .”
“Leaving?” Faith interrupted. “There’s that lack of a relationship thing to keep you from feeling bad. We knew what this was when we got involved. I knew you weren’t staying in Fire Lake.” Something in his face changed. A subtle shift, and despite herself, Faith felt hope. “You’re not, right?”
Gus slowly shook his head. “No. I’ll be gone by the end of the week. When the job at the lake is done.”
Okay. That was a little sooner than she thought, but maybe it was for the best. “Where were you?” she asked softly.
“DC. Family business.” He wandered over and sat on the edge of the chair. He was so close that she felt his warmth and it took everything in Faith not to melt into a puddle of need and want.
“I saw my mother and brothers.” He glanced away.
“Are you okay?”
“I should be asking you that question.” He turned back to her, and she saw the concern on his face.
“You know then.”
“Walker filled me in. That took some kind of courage to do what you did.”
“It was the right thing.”
“Still, it had to have hurt.”
She nodded but didn’t answer. The emotional lump that had come and gone for days now was back, filling her throat and making it impossible. Long moments passed and she finally managed to remove it.
“I’m sure I’ll be processing it for a long time but being here has helped me navigate things. Fire Lake is special. It’s my home now.”
“I was born here.”
She frowned and inched closer, sensing his turmoil.
“My name is Gus . . .” He swore and rolled his shoulders.
“My real name is August David Boone, and I lived in Fire Lake until I was seven. That’s when my mother took me and my younger brothers, Oliver and Harry, as well as my sister, Iris, and we left.
It was the middle of the night, and I remember that it was raining hard.
I couldn’t see the house as we drove away.
We went to Boston. Mom had some family there and we had nothing to do with my father and older siblings. I never saw them again.”
God. That’s why he reminded her of Ford. She frowned. “Ford is your brother.”
He nodded. “Yes. Sunday is my sister, and I know, the situation is fucked up.”
“Do they know? I mean, they act like they don’t, but I can . . .” She searched his face, her eyes all but caressing the lines she ached to touch. “I see it now. You’re so much like them.”
“Porter does. Ford and Sunday should know soon enough. He’s going to talk to them.”
“So, you came back to Fire Lake to reconnect? To have a relationship with your father?”
“I don’t even know if Porter is my father.” At her shocked expression he shrugged. “I told you; it’s fucked up.” He looked away. “I don’t know why I came exactly.”
“You felt like something was missing.”
“Maybe but I sure as hell didn’t expect to feel anything. It’s easy when the lines are black and white. It’s the gray areas that fuck things up.” His eyes darkened, which in turn made her pulse take off. “Being here with you made things better.”
“I’m glad,” she replied softly. “Will you come back?” Did she sound as pathetic as she felt?
“I’m not sure how things are going to play out with Ford and Sunday. They might not welcome us, and I guess, I don’t blame them if that’s how things go.”
She swallowed thickly and moved closer still until she was practically sitting in Gus’s lap. “So, we have a week?”
“Maybe less.” His voice was husky.
Faith could have asked Gus to leave. Should have if she were thinking straight.
But her heart wouldn’t let her, and instead, she pressed her mouth to his.
If she only had him for a few more days, then she would take them.
All of them. She’d hold them close and tuck them away to remember when she was alone in the dark.
“Well then, let’s make the most of it, shall we?”
With a groan Gus pulled her onto his lap.
They spent the next four hours doing exactly that.