Chapter 4 #2
“Let me welcome you to town and show you that there are good people here. The McBrides have been part of Clover Lake for generations, and my husband used to work with Sharp actually.”
“Used to?” I asked, and Livvy gave me a look. And I knew that look. It was all because as soon as Sharp’s name came up, I was like a prairie dog sticking their head out of the packed earth to see what was going on.
I was ridiculous, and I had no idea how I felt about Sharp. Not that I needed to feel anything about him at all.
He was just a guy I had picked up on the side of the road.
The one who made me catch my breath the moment I had seen him, even though it was exactly the wrong time.
The guy who I spoke to far too often. I had been lying to myself when I said once a week. It was once a day. Once a day we spoke. And now here I was, in a town that apparently hated me, at least part of its occupants did.
“He and his brothers went in on a piece of land outside of the McBrides’.
I knew he was sorry to leave the ranch, but the McBrides help us out too.
” She went on to explain the type of ranch her family now owned, and I listened hard, trying to catch anything I could about regular operations.
I never knew how much went into running a business like this and it was fascinating.
Because it was new and exciting.
Not that it had anything to do with Sharp.
I followed Livvy, Amanda, and the kids into the cute little coffee shop with bright pink and purple and Easter colored walls and smiled.
It looked as if somebody had taken a watercolor painting and tossed it everywhere, so each thing was slightly unique, and soft and airy.
Honestly, it looked more like a candy shop than a coffee shop, and when I saw the pastries, I realized, maybe that was for a reason.
“Oh, Livvy, Amanda, it’s so good that you’re here. Having a coffee fix is always the best way to go. And who’s this?” an older woman asked as she set her glasses on top of her head.
I had a few family members who worked in the coffee industry or even had their own businesses.
So I went into those places often enough that the people working there knew my name.
But it wasn’t that here. This woman would want to know who I was because I was with Livvy and Amanda. People that this woman knew.
I loved this small town feeling, as long as I ignored the odd look that a woman in a corner was giving me.
“This is my cousin, Jamie,” Livvy said.
“Hi,” I said, giving an awkward wave.
“Jamie, it’s so good to see you. I am Clarissa, and I own The Roasted Bean. Not exactly the most unique name out there, but we love our coffee here. What can I get you?”
I looked through the menu, my mouth practically salivating at all the lovely options, and we each gave our orders. When I tried to slide my credit card in, Amanda was far too quick and waved us all off.
“This is my treat. You can get the next time.”
The next time, because she assumed I would be around for it.
I loved the idea, even though I was so confused.
I had kissed Sharp and hadn’t told Livvy.
Oh, she probably had an idea something was going on, but she didn’t know the thing that could change everything.
Not that it should be that serious. I would walk away and nothing would happen.
The woman in the corner huffed as she grabbed her bags and stomped away, glaring at us, and Amanda surprised me by flipping her off, and Livvy just waved.
“Oh, I love you,” Clarissa said as she set our coffees down.
“That is Miss Hannah B. She enjoys gossip like no other and does everything that she can in life to be a complete pill. She’s never been happy ever since she lost out on Miss Clover back in high school, and she hates the fact that it’s been so many years since that high school debacle of hers. ”
I blinked, once again in awe of all the information these people had at their fingertips. Yes, you could say the Montgomerys were a small town of their own when it came to all of their intersecting lives, but it was nothing like this.
“Anyway, it’s wonderful to have you here. And, if I hear anybody spreading any gossip that I don’t like, they get kicked out. So if you want good caffeine in this town, you have to not be a dick.” Clarissa winced. “Sorry about the language.”
“She gets more than enough of that from her dad,” Livvy said as she swept Amelia’s hair back from her face.
My heart clutched at that sight, because Ewan was Amelia’s dad. They were the cutest little family, and it wasn’t that I was jealous, just confused as to what I wanted, and that was probably a problem.
I took a sip of my caramel latte with coconut chips and groaned. “This is stunning.”
“Well, thank you. I’ll be sure to get you addicted before you head out in a month. And next time if you come in alone, you can tell me all about your birth, your life, and all those gorgeous Montgomerys that I see coming in and out of here so often.”
I threw my head back and laughed, grateful for this woman. I hadn’t been able to visit the downtown last time. What with the whole runaway groom and canceled wedding, my trip had been cut short. But now I was being immersed in it—gossip and all—and I loved it.
“I’m sure I can bring up a few cousins next time,” I added dryly.
“Don’t. Clarissa will break all of their hearts, and then we’ll have to deal with moping Montgomery men.”
“The horror,” Amanda teased.
We sat with our coffees, and I relaxed as they each told me a little bit more about town life, and I realized that Livvy was truly in her home and happy. This was the life that she had always wanted, as she had spent the first years of Amelia’s life as a single mom.
Now things were different, and I was happy for her.
And she was probably never going to trust me again when she realized I kissed Sharp. And as if my thoughts had conjured him from thin air, a man with dark hair that I didn’t recognize walked in with two McBrides right behind him.
When Amanda sighed at my side, I realized that that must be her husband. Livvy waved at Ewan, who came forward, picked Amelia up, then kissed his wife soundly on the mouth.
That left Sharp there, giving me an odd look, and I had no idea what to do with my hands.
“We were out and about and thought we’d kidnap you,” Ewan said then he blew raspberries on Amelia’s neck.
Those little girl giggles made me grin, and I just smiled.
“I’m kidnapping my wife and kid because we are off to dinner. We’ll see you this weekend?” Amanda’s husband said before he turned to me. “I’m Jason, by the way. It’s nice to meet you.”
“It’s nice to meet you too,” I said. “I’m Jamie.”
“Oh, I’ve heard all about you.” He winked as he said it, and I turned to Sharp, who stared anywhere but me, but the tips of his ears were sure red.
Well, interesting.
“I’m kidnapping my wife, too,” Ewan said, as he pulled Livvy to a standing position. “We have a date night.” He turned to Sharp. “Do you mind taking Jamie home?”
I sputtered and gestured between all of them, wondering exactly who had thought of this plan. But when I glanced at Sharp, I realized that he looked just as confused as I did. Apparently, neither one of us had been hiding whatever connection we had been feeling very well.
Oops.
“I can do that,” Sharp said softly, and between all of the goodbyes, the rustling of bags and people, I somehow found myself outside of the coffee shop standing in front of Sharp, wondering what the hell I was supposed to say.
Then I remembered the glaring women and knew exactly what I needed to say.
“Why didn’t you tell me I was the town pariah?” I asked.
Sharp winced. “I’m the pariah. You are just—”
“The cheater. The home wrecker.”
“But you’re not. Everybody who knows us and actually likes us understands that. They’ll get over whatever issues they’re having later. I promise. Or I’ll beat it out of Jo’s brothers.”
My lips twitched despite myself. “You did a fine enough job of it at the wedding.”
“I could only beat up one brother. My cousin got the other. I’ll have to change that next time.”
He moved forward and brushed my hair back from my face. Anybody in town could be looking in that moment, but I didn’t care. I was in so much trouble.
“Sharp,” I began, my voice breathy.
“I know. Let me take you to dinner?” he asked.
We both paused, the unsaid words between us palpable. There could be no future in this. We both knew it.
“I’m a Montgomery.”
“And I’m a McBride.”
“And I live in Denver.”
“And I live in Wyoming.”
Our truths and lines in the sand. Everything that told us that stepping any closer to the precipice of whatever this was would be a mistake. But instead he took my hand, squeezed, and led me towards the diner.
This was a mistake. I knew it. But it was one I was going to willingly make. A single dinner, a casual caress, that didn’t mean a future, it didn’t make a promise.
But I couldn’t say no.