Chapter 4
CHAPTER 4
“T ony mentioned you this morning.”
Sky almost rolled her eyes. There were so many ways she could respond to her dad’s comment. But her coffee was good, The Tea House was busy—there was no reason to start an argument with either of her parents. “And what did he say?”
“That he was looking forward to the next date.”
Her fingers tightened around her mug.
Sometimes she needed to remind herself that her father meant well. He loved his church, and in his mind, if she ended up with someone who shared the same faith as him, she was in good hands.
What he failed to realize was that she was a grown-ass woman who could make her own decisions. Granted, not all those decisions were good ones, but they were hers.
She sipped her coffee, taking a second to find some calm. “And did you tell him there won’t be another date?”
She knew she was setting herself up for disappointment. She shouldn’t be disappointed. Because she also knew what was coming.
Her mother quietly sipped her coffee while her father leaned forward, his bushy white brows creasing. “I told him that you were thinking about it, because that would be the smart thing for you to do.”
Smart? Had her father used that word just to push her buttons? “I am quite capable of making my own smart decisions. Thank you, Dad.”
Her father opened his mouth to respond, but her mom touched his arm and got in first. “Darling, we just love Tony.”
“I know that.”
“And we think you could love Tony, too, if you gave him a chance.”
“I have given him a chance. I’m not interested.”
Her father’s frown deepened while her mother kept pushing. “But, honey—”
“Mom…Dad. I came to have coffee with you both. I know that Tony is staying with you, but I would prefer to talk about how you’re doing. We can talk about food or health or how your fishing trip went yesterday, Dad. I could tell you what I’m wearing to the fundraiser, and you can tell me why I should wear something else.”
“Skylar—”
Her mother grabbed her dad’s hand to once again silence him before she spoke. “We’re doing well. Your father caught three brown trout yesterday. We’re glad you invited us here. We love the coffee and the company, although it’s still odd to me that we come to a tea house for coffee and pie.”
Sky had thought the same. But word had gotten around town about how good both the food and drinks were, and Lord, oh Lord, they were right. The coffee. The sweet tea and the pie. Even the turkey sandwiches were to die for.
“Now, what are you wearing to your fundraiser?” her mom asked.
Her father still looked unhappy, but that was Roger Williams. He liked to talk about what he liked to talk about, and it wasn’t what he was wearing to her fundraiser.
“Well, seeing as you asked.” Sky cleared her throat. “I have this floor-length red dress—”
“I thought you’d wear yellow,” her mother interrupted. “Yellow suits you.”
Lord, give her patience. “I rented a—”
“You rented your dress?” Her father interrupted this time. “Skylar, if you’re struggling with money—”
“I’m not struggling with money. I just don’t need to buy a ball gown for one event when I can rent one.”
Her mother shook her head. “Sky—”
“You’re going to love it.” And if they didn’t, she didn’t really care. The event was about raising money for a dog charity, not pleasing her parents…which seemed to be an impossible task anyway. “What are you both wearing?”
Her mother straightened. “Oh, I have this gorgeous knee-length brown dress. It’s got tulle and lace and it’s just beautiful.”
“I’m excited to see it.” She looked at her father. “What about you, Dad?”
“I wanted to wear my black suit, but your mother—”
“Thinks we should match,” her mother finished. “So he’s wearing his brown suit.”
She laughed. At least it wasn’t just her that her parents were trying to control—they did it to each other too.
“I think your photos will look lovely whatever you both wear,” she said, receiving a smile from her mother and a humph from her father.
Then the corners of her mother’s lips turned down.
Sky frowned. “What is it?”
“I was just wondering who you’ll take photos with.”
Oh, man. Not this again. “Mom—”
“Just hear me out. I want you to be happy. All I’ve ever wanted is for you to be happy.”
“I am happy.”
“You’re not lonely when you get home to an empty house? You don’t hate that you have to go to functions by yourself?”
Okay, she needed a break from this. “I’m going to ask Mrs. Gerald if I can leave these fliers on the counter.”
She left the table before either of them could stop her.
She tried to tell herself it wasn’t their fault. They’d both been raised to believe that every woman needed a man to take care of them. They’d met at church over forty years ago and never looked back. They wanted that for her, as well, but often forgot that she was her own person.
Honestly, some days she wondered why she’d moved back home.
Mrs. Gerald, the owner of The Tea House, stood at the front counter. “Hi, Sky. Is your coffee okay?”
“My coffee is great. Phenomenal, actually. I was wondering if it would be okay for me to leave some fliers on your counter for a fundraiser ball I’m organizing.”
Mrs. Gerald’s brows rose. “What are you raising money for?”
“The Humane Society of Western Montana. They do a whole host of great things, like provide shelter for pets and rehome animals. They have a pet food pantry and provide animal education. The ball I’m organizing is almost sold out, but I’d love to get the last few tickets sold in the next week.”
“It sounds wonderful. Of course. Leave them wherever you’d like.”
“Thank you.”
Mrs. Gerald turned, and Sky was just setting the fliers onto the counter when a large hand slipped around her and took one from the top of the pile.
“Join us for an unforgettable evening of elegance at our charity fundraiser.”
Sky’s head whipped up and she looked into a set of deep chocolate eyes.
Becket.
He wore a white T-shirt that made his suntanned skin look even darker, and man, oh, man, his biceps stretched the material.
“Give it back.”
“Aren’t these for people to take?”
“Yes, but—”
“Well, Peaches, I’m people.” His gaze returned to the flier. “Dress in your finest formal wear and enjoy live music and cocktail food. The ticket price will help to raise money for The Humane Society of Western Montana.” His gaze rose. “I didn’t know you were such a do-gooder.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Guess you don’t know me very well.”
“We should change that. I think I’ll attend.”
“You’re not going.”
“Are there still tickets available?”
“Well, yes, but—”
“Then I’m there. Contrary to your beliefs, I do like to support good causes when I can.”
“You’re not serious?”
“I am. I love doing good.”
She shook her head. “No. You’re not actually going, are you?”
“I absolutely am. We’ll drink a margarita together and discuss that tree that’s coming down. Maybe even talk about what to do with the fence you’ve already bought that’s not going up.”
Then he nudged her shoulder and headed across the café to a booth.
She had never in her life met anyone who made her so furious.
* * *
Becket was still smiling as he slid into a booth. He glanced down at the flier in his hand. He wasn’t a ball kind of guy. Anything that involved dressing in a suit or any form of formal attire was usually a hard no.
But a fundraiser run by Sky? Yeah, he could fit that in. And the fact that she told him he couldn’t go was just an added perk to attending.
The door to The Tea House opened, and he looked up to see his sister walk inside.
“So, I can confirm my new roommate does not want to be my friend,” Clara huffed as she dropped into the booth opposite him. “This morning, I made her chocolate chip waffles. Chocolate chip waffles . And do you know what she said? No, you don’t. And you won’t even believe it when I tell you. She said, ‘Thank you, but I don’t like chocolate chips,’ then she walked out .
“First, who the heck doesn’t like chocolate chips? Second, who walks out of the room when someone makes them waffles without even trying one?” She glanced down at the piece of paper in his hand. “What’s that?”
Becket lifted a brow. His sister rarely required much in the form of a response when she got on a rant about something, so he wasn’t surprised she’d moved on so quickly. “It’s a flier.”
“For what? And why are you smiling like that?”
“Like what?”
“Like you did something to piss someone off and it made you happy.”
He chuckled. Damn, his sister knew him well.
She yanked the flier from his fingers. “Oh. I’m going to this.”
“You are?”
“Yeah, with Indie. We’ve got our tickets and bought our dresses yesterday. I think Jesse and Aspen are going too.”
His sister, cousin, brother and brother’s partner were all going, and he didn’t even know about it? “Why didn’t anyone tell me?”
“Because you have to wear a suit, and you’d hate it, and it’s run by Sky, who you also hate.”
“I don’t hate her. She hates me.”
“I’d hate you too if I bought a fence and you blocked it going up.”
“She got the wrong permit. I was doing her a favor.”
She scoffed. “Well, don’t do me any favors.” She eyed the flier again. “Wait, are you just wanting to go because she’s organizing it?”
“Maybe.”
“Beck, don’t ruin her night. Please.”
“Why would I want to ruin her night?”
“Because getting a rise out of Sky seems to be your new favorite hobby.”
It wasn’t new. They’d been neighbors for an entire year, and it had started on the day she moved in.
His gaze went to Sky, and as if she felt his eyes on her, she looked his way and immediately rolled her eyes and looked away.
Clara followed her gaze. “She’s here. Oh, man.”
“Why oh, man?”
She looked back at him. “That explains the I-did-something-bad smile you had on your face.”
“I didn’t do anything bad. I just told her I was going to her fundraiser.”
“Yeah, I’m sure she took that well.” Clara rose from the booth. “I’m going to say hi. Order me a coffee.”
When his sister walked away, he read over the flier again.
Twenty seconds later, his brother Jesse slid into the booth. “I’m going to that.”
“So I heard. Didn’t want to tell me about it?”
“Why would I tell you about a formal event that’s being organized by a person you don’t like and where you have to wear a suit?”
“Why does everyone think I don’t like her? She doesn’t like me .”
Jesse lifted a brow at him.
Becket leaned back in his seat. He needed a change in subject from his siblings’ low opinions. “How’s Aspen doing after everything?”
There was a small tightening of Jesse’s jaw. “She’s doing okay. She’s resilient. More so than me. She keeps asking if I’m okay.”
“ Are you okay?”
“No. I’m a fucking mess. Every time I’m not around her, I feel this crippling need to be back by her side. This morning, she basically kicked me out of the house, claiming the only way for me to be okay being away from her would be to actually leave.”
“But you’ve been leaving her now that you’re back at work, right?”
“Yeah, but only because she won’t come with me.”
“I think she’s right. You need to spend time away from her so you can realize she’s safe without you.”
He scrubbed a hand over his face. “I know. I just don’t like it.”
“How’s Holden?”
Jesse and Holden, his brother’s best friend, had become tight when they were assigned to the same Ghost Ops team. “Yeah, he’s good. Settling into town and getting lots of woodworking jobs.”
“That’s good.”
Clara slid back into the booth beside Jesse. “I saw Mrs. Gerald didn’t come over here, so I ordered us three coffees. Double shot for you, Becket.”
“Thanks.” His gaze shifted to Sky, who was leaning over the table talking to her parents. She always seemed kind of frustrated when she was with them. “How was Sky?”
Clara lifted a brow. “You really want to know?”
“Yeah.”
“She’s good.” Clara lifted a shoulder. “She’s excited for her fundraiser.”
“Did you know she owns a doggy daycare?”
His sister grinned. “Yeah. That must kill you, with your hatred for dogs.”
“I don’t hate dogs any more than I hate Sky. I’m just not a dog person.”
Who the hell wanted to wake up to dog breath in their face? Hell, who wanted to go for a walk and have to pick up dog shit? Fuck no.
“Do you know much about her past?” Becket asked before he could stop himself, remembering the fire in her building.
Clara frowned. “Her past?”
“Where was she before she came to Amber Ridge? And why did she come back?”
“She’s an acupuncture client of mine, and a friend, so I can’t really share anything.”
Becket nodded. “Client-patient confidentiality. Got it.”
“Why do you want to know?” Jesse asked.
“No reason.” That was a damn lie. His mind flicked back to the expression on her face after the oven fire. Most people wouldn’t have been so affected. Her face had lost all color.
He also found it interesting that she owned a daycare for dogs and ran fundraisers for animal shelters, yet, as far as he knew, didn’t have a pet of her own.
One thing he did know was that she intrigued him. He wanted to know more about her. He wanted to know her story.