Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Delilah
“So…how’s life outside of prison?” My little sister makes herself at home behind the counter where she’s not allowed to be. Ten minutes ago, she waltzed in, snacking on snap peas, and being overly obnoxious about it.
“I wasn’t in prison…” I retort, shoving her toward the front of the checkout.
“You should hear the rumor mill swirlin’. Some chick asked if Wilder was allowed conjugal visits and where she could sign up for one.” Harlow barks out a laugh.
I roll my eyes. “Doesn’t anyone actually read? He’s not in prison either.”
“But it’s hilarious to know that even if he was, chicks would still flock to him. Probably even harder than before.”
“I wouldn’t doubt it. He’d probably have thousands of pen pals too asking for marriage proposals and beggin’ to have his babies.”
I grab the pile of lingerie that needs to be entered into the system and focus on the computer screen.
“Someone sounds jealous…” She chomps on another snap pea.
“I’m not.”
“Really? Your cheeks are flushed and your neck’s all red. Pretty sure there’s a hickey you’re tryin’ to hide with that bad cover-up job.”
“Oh my God,” I snap, slamming down the hangers. “Are you only here to get on my nerves?”
I immediately feel awful for yelling at her when she frowns, but then her mouth shifts into a shit-eating grin. “So the other rumors are true.”
Furrowing my brows, I get back to scanning the items. “Which ones?”
“That you and Wilder hooked up.”
“Who’s sayin’ that?”
“Uh…everyone.”
Great.
“Well, they can fuck off. It’s none of their business anyway.”
“I’m your sister! Tell me.”
“No! You didn’t tell me when you were hookin’ up with my ex-boyfriend…” I remind her. “In fact, I found out by walkin’ in on you two makin’ out in the tack room.”
I mimic a gagging reaction.
“So now you’re gettin’ back at him by sleepin’ with his twin brother? Bold. I like it.” She snickers.
“It has nothin’ to do with Waylon. Or you.”
“You’re really not gonna tell me?” she huffs, leaning against the counter and sticking out her lower lip. That used to work on me once upon a time.
But she’s older now and I’m not buying it.
“Nope, but Wilder and I are just friends. He has enough goin’ on in his life, as do I, so I’m not lookin’ to mess it up even more.”
Which is mostly true.
But I also don’t want to relive the embarrassment by telling her the story because as soon as I tell her we kissed, she’ll want all the details the way Mattie did.
Wilder might have reciprocated the kiss and other stuff, but starting something between us would add a complication neither of us has time for—on top of what people are saying about the whole situation. The timing isn’t right.
“Why would it get messy? I think you’re just makin’ excuses because you’re scared.”
“Okay, Miss Nosy…” I groan, grabbing the hangers of the lingerie pieces and walking out to put them on the racks.
“Tell me I’m wrong, then!”
I can’t because she’s somewhat right.
I’m not scared to be in a relationship, but I’m scared to get hurt. By him, especially. I’m scared that it’d ruin our friendship and then I’d miss what we had.
“I’m workin’, Harlow,” I singsong. “You need to go if you’re not buyin’ anything.”
The store’s been empty for the past hour, and I only have ten minutes left of my shift until Harper arrives.
“Ugh, you’re not fun anymore. Is that what happens when you get into your thirties?” She aggressively chews and it makes my brain twitch.
“Very funny,” I deadpan. She loves cracking jokes about my age since I’m so much older than her.
When the bell above the door goes off, we both look, and my eyes widen when Jonah walks in.
He’s early.
And was supposed to meet me at the café, not here.
I didn’t want to do dinner and drinks since I don’t know him. That way if shit gets awkward, I can leave quickly.
“Hey,” he greets, smiling wide. “I got here sooner than expected because I was worried I wouldn’t find a parkin’ spot. Guess that’s not really an issue in this town.”
“No, not usually.” I smile awkwardly. “I’m almost done.”
“No worries. I don’t mind waitin’.”
“And who are you?” Harlow stands in front of him, shifting her gaze up and down his body.
“I’m Jonah.”
“Nice to meet you.” Harlow holds out her hand. “I’m Delilah’s sister, Harlow.”
Jonah returns the pleasantries and shakes her hand.
“Where’re y’all goin’?” Harlow asks.
“Grabbin’ a coffee down the street. I owed her an apology for spillin’ beer on her shirt.”
“Ah…you’re that guy.”
I mentally smack myself in the face for telling her that part of the story.
“Yes, guilty as charged.”
“So…” Harlow circles him with her arms behind her back like she’s interrogating a suspect. “Is this a date?”
“Harlow!” I hiss, walking over to the counter.
“What? I’m just askin’.”
It’s most definitely not a date.
Sighing, I take my drawer to the backroom. I want to get out of here as soon as Harper arrives.
When I return to the front, Harlow and Jonah are laughing about something. Who knows what embarrassing thing she’s said about me now, but I’m not about to ask in front of her.
Harper arrives, saving me from having to endure this awkwardness any longer, and I tell Harlow to get lost.
“When we see each other for Thanksgiving on Thursday, I’ll teach ya the proper way to hide a hickey!” she calls out when we go outside. “Bye!”
I grind my teeth as she walks to her truck in the other direction.
“I’m so sorry about her…” I shake my head, my cheeks heating with embarrassment.
He leads us toward the café, which is only a few minutes away.
“Nah, it’s fine. I have a little brother who acts the same.”
“She’s ten years younger than me and loves to taunt me as much as possible,” I explain.
“Wow, that’s a large gap. My brother’s only two years younger but has always been a pain in my ass.” He chuckles. “Do you have brothers?”
“Nope, just Harlow and me. One sister is enough.” I giggle. “She’s dating my ex-boyfriend.”
I’m not sure why I blurt that out, but once I do, I can’t take it back.
“Really? Ain’t that awkward?”
“It was at first, but I got over it quickly when he saved her from a couple of guys who kidnapped her on the same day our dad died. So there wasn’t much time to be mad about it.”
His brows shoot toward the sky.
“Oh my God.” I squeeze my eyes, mentally smacking myself in the forehead and realizing just how bad I am at having normal conversations. “I didn’t mean to word vomit all that. I’m clearly not good at this.”
Two dimples appear as he smiles wide.
“It’s fine. I wouldn’t even know how to explain my family drama.”
“Well, if you told me some, I’d feel better about blurtin’ out mine.”
He chuckles and it’s a nice, deep sound. “Once we get our coffees, I’ll tell ya about my sister, who threw up all over her weddin’ dress ten minutes before she walked down the aisle.”
My jaw drops. “Oh my God, my worst nightmare.”
Once we arrive, Jonah opens the door for me and I walk in with him following close behind me. “Yeah…whatever you think about your family, I guarantee you, mine’s ten times worse.”
When we reach the counter, I order a drink and a muffin since I haven’t eaten since noon. If I have coffee on an empty stomach, it’ll make me queasy, and I’ve embarrassed myself enough for one day.
Jonah orders his next, and though I offer to pay for mine, he’s adamant he owes me.
Two of the tables are taken, but the one by the window is empty, so we take it. He starts the conversation by talking about his family and how he moved across the state after college once he found a job.
“When my sister got married, she moved here to be with her husband, so we rarely saw each other. A few months ago, she announced her pregnancy, and I realized I didn’t want to miss watching my nephew grow up. So I looked for a new job and moved here to be closer.”
“Wow…that’s really sweet of you. I’m sure she appreciates that.” I take a bite of my muffin and then swallow it down with my iced latte. Although it’ll probably keep me up later than usual, it’s delicious and worth the insomnia.
“She does…her husband not so much.”
“Oh…is that where some of the drama comes into play?”
He chuckles, taking a sip of his hot coffee. “You could say that. I’m pretty sure he was at the Twisted Bull last weekend spyin’ on me. It was a rough week, so I got stupid drunk. More than I usually would.”
“Wait…” Sitting up straighter in my chair, I think back to Wesley claiming he was there that night to follow a suspected drug dealer.
“What’s your brother-in-law’s name?” I ask hesitantly.
“Wesley Townsend. The deputy. I heard what happened and felt even worse about the incident.”
Oh my God.
If Wesley’s telling the truth, Jonah could be the guy he was watching.
He could be the drug dealer!
But Wesley could also be lying about the whole thing.
Either way, I shouldn’t be sitting here with someone linked to him. Especially after Molly tried to weasel her way into talking to me.
It could be another trap for all I know.
“Sorry…” I stand abruptly with the latte in my hand. “I have to go.”
“Wait, why?” He jumps to his feet, towering over me.
Before I can answer, the door of the café whips open and there stands Wilder looking sexy as fuck in his Stetson hat, dark Wranglers, and cowboy boots.
And the lethal glare he’s shooting toward us tells me he’s pissed as hell.