Chapter 58
GEMMA
Carefully closing the pocket door, I make a pot of coffee and decide on a batch of vanilla bean scones for breakfast. While they bake, I run upstairs to get dressed.
I’m pulling a brush through my hair and throwing it up in quick, messy bun when I hear the front door open and close.
A few moments later, I hear Janet start her day.
Gemma
Gemma
Gemma
Relieved she hasn’t forgotten about me after the men in my life have done their best to steal her away, I make my way downstairs.
Rounding the switchback, I see that Colt isn’t drinking his coffee at the kitchen counter like he usually does.
He’s sitting at the table, fresh cup of coffee in front of him, in the same chair he was in the morning after prom.
He’s wearing a similar expression, wary and worried.
Leaving him to stew, I look at my cat. “Did you miss me?”
Janet blinks at me and chooses her answer carefully.
No
“Rude,” I laugh on my way to the oven to pull out my scones. Setting them on the stovetop, I move to the counter to whip up a quick glaze.
Riggs.
“He’s sleeping.”
Riggs… Churu
“I’m sure he’ll be happy to get you a Churu as soon as he wakes up,” I tell her, thinking of the giant box of treats he bought at the store last night for his cat.
Looking up from the bowl of heavy cream and powdered sugar I’m whipping, I have what might be the best idea in the history of ideas. “You should go get him a mouse.”
Janet gives me another slow blink before she stands and disappears through the open dog door.
Plating the scones, I drizzle the glaze on top before carrying them to the table. Setting them down, I take the seat across from him. Colt still hasn’t said a word.
Thinking about yesterday—what he must’ve heard when he came upstairs to check on me—I feel my cheeks warm. “Obviously, you have something to say, so just go ahead and say it.”
“Alright,” he says before lifting his cup to take a drink. Lowering it, he bobs his head. “I’m sorry. About yesterday. If I’d known what?—”
“Don’t.” Shaking my head, I push the plate of scones at him, ashamed of how defensive I’m being. “You didn’t do anything wrong. I…” I won’t apologize. I didn’t do anything wrong either, no matter what his opinion of Riggs might be. “I’m in love with him.”
Colt gives me a crooked, no shit grin. “I know.”
“And he’s in love with me too.”
“He better be.” Giving me another grin, he reaches for the plate of scones. “He tell you he was leaving?”
Instead of admitting that I was sitting on the stairs, listening to their conversation yesterday morning, I tell him the whole truth. “He didn’t have to. I’ve always known he was going to leave.”
Choosing a scone, Colt makes a low, quiet sound in the back of his throat.
“Not much has changed, I guess.” I give him a sigh. Elbow propped on the table, I dump my chin in the palm of my hand. “I’m still stupid.”
“You’re not stupid.” Colt sits back in his chair with a chuckle, taking his scone with him. “You might be a little dumb, but…” He gives me that crooked grin again before it breaks into a sigh. “Life would’ve been a hell of a lot easier for both of us if we’d had the good sense to fall in love.”
I think about our few failed dating attempts. Dinner at June’s. A night out at the Mill. The awkward, closed mouthed kisses at my doorstep. It wasn’t me who pulled the plug. It was Colt.
I’m sorry, Gemma—I don’t think this is gonna work.
“I’ve thought that myself a time or two…” Reaching for a scone of my own, I break it in half. “Think we’d be married?”
“Definitely.” He laughs before lifting his scone to take a bite. “And at least two kids in, by now. Carpools and minivans. You running class bake sales. Me coaching peewee football. Spring breaks in Galveston. Summer trips to Six Flags.”
Thinking about it, I feel my chest tighten and my eyes begin to sting because I wanted those things. I still want them. Just not with a man who can give them to me. “Too bad I’m stupid, huh?”
“We can’t help who we fall in love with,” Colt tells me with a flat smile.
“So, if that makes you stupid, I guess it makes me stupid too.” Before I can ask him what he means, he changes the subject altogether.
“I heard June managed to lure you back. Thirty percent—” He gives me a low whistle. “That must’ve stung her pretty good.”
Thinking about the smug smile on Cheyenne’s face when June fired me, I shrug.
“She deserves it,” I tell him, refusing to feel bad.
“To tell the truth, if I didn’t have Dent’s property taxes to contend with, I would’ve told her no altogether.
” I don’t tell him that June’s groveling is too little too late.
That whatever profits I manage to make from the diner’s dessert case won’t come in time to help save this place.
Colt frowns at me. “Gemma?—”
“No.” I shake my head before he can say it. “I’m not taking your money, Colt.” He’s offered more than once and every time he does, I want to cry. “Just keep your rental open for me, in case I need it.”
“Okay.” Frowning, Colt pushes himself away from the table and stands. “Do you want me to stop coming over in the mornings?”
Looking up at him, I shake my head. “No.” It’s the truth. I don’t. It might be selfish of me, but I’m going to need him more than ever after Riggs leaves me again.
“Alright…” Leaning down, Colt presses a quick, brotherly kiss against my forehead before he heads for the door. “But the first time I walk into this kitchen and see something that makes me blush, I’m gonna buy myself a blindfold.”