Chapter 15
Jessica
The sun is out and shining, the day warm and mild. It’s one of those perfect, pre-fall days we sometimes get in September. I’m standing in our kitchen in my workout gear, arms crossed. “I’m sorry, but I insist. It’s for your own good.”
Hailey’s hair is in a messy bun. She glowers at me, her hands wrapped around her favorite coffee mug that reads: the blood of my enemies. “I don’t want to. I have stuff to do.”
I’m prepared for her refusal. I think she’d disappear into her computer if it weren’t for me. I sigh. “It can wait a few hours. You’ve holed up all week, and it’s time to get out there and move your body before it atrophies.”
“I moved my body plenty,” she grumbles, looking disgruntled and adorable.
“When I’ve made you, yes, you have. And I’m making you today. We’re going to take a nice bike ride and enjoy the fresh air. Then we’ll head into town and get treats at the bakery. Deal?”
She rises from the table. “Fine. But I’m only going because you’re making me.”
“I can live with that.” I flash her a smile. “I won’t even expect a thank-you.”
Fifteen minutes later, we’re on our bikes, riding down our tree-lined street.
We ride past the residential section of the river, stop and check out the land designated for the tourist project, before riding into the wooded forest preserve and picking up the trail.
When we come to a very cool wooden bridge, we cross over and circle back into town, where we stop at Gracie’s Bakery for the promised reward of pastries to make up for the calories we expended.
Luckily, we’re on the tail end of the morning rush, so when Gracie Donovan brings over an assortment of breakfast fare, she plops down in the open seat, making herself right at home.
“Thank you for sitting in the window.” She props her chin on her open palm, and her curls bounce. “You two are like a celebrity sighting, and that’s bound to be good for business.”
I laugh. “I’d love to say it’s been an entire week and I’m sure we’re old news, but since we grew up in a small town, I’ll settle for, I hope you take advantage of your additional profits.”
She shifts to look at Hailey and puffs out her bottom lip. “My husband is trying to make me jealous because he finally found a hot blonde who actually wants to read his work.”
A flush creeps up Hailey’s neck, and it blushes her cheeks. “Oh, um…” She glances at me, her expression helpless.
“Hailey’s not used to being a femme fatale. It’s more of a fiction-only type of thing,” I explain.
Hailey offers a polite smile. “Although I admit, I’ve found his publications incredibly useful. He has a great way of making dense scientific information accessible.”
Gracie gives us a bawdy wink. “And he’s hot, so everyone’s always hanging on his every word.”
We both laugh. She’s not wrong.
“I’m happy he’ll have someone to talk shop with while we’re here.” Gracie flutters her lashes in my direction. “How’s city hall treating you?”
“So far, so good. I love a challenge.” I wave my hand to encompass the bright, airy room decorated in distressed whites and pinks. It’s gorgeous and drips Paris patisserie. “This place is amazing, very old-world French.”
“Thanks, I modeled it off my place in the city. My Chicago manager insisted it was good for branding.” She chuckles, shrugging one shoulder. “That’s a sentence I never thought I’d say, but here we are.”
“Did you grow up in Revival?” Hailey asks, taking a sip of her coffee.
“Yeah, we live next door to Mitch and Maddie. My brother and I inherited the house when our mom died. He lives there, and James and I live there when we’re not in Chicago.”
“Sounds like a full house,” I say.
She shrugs. “Sam and I have always lived together, so it’s normal to me. I’m up early as a baker, he’s out late as a bartender, and James is low-maintenance. He has his own private space to work in the apartment over our garage, so it works out in the end.”
The last customer files out, and Harmony emerges from behind the counter and sits down, completing our four-top. She reclines in the white wooden chair with a sigh. “What are we talking about?”
“I was explaining our living arrangements.” Gracie turns back to Hailey and me. “Before the store opened, the bakery was out of our kitchen. So now that we’ve moved in here, the house is practically empty.”
“I’m still in the honeymoon stage of having elbow room.” Harmony’s voice is light and lyrical, having an almost musical quality to it. “We’ve only been open for about six weeks.”
“How’s it going?” I ask.
“Fantastic.” Gracie beams, her pride in her accomplishments clear in her expression.
“One of my best friends, Cecilia—she’s Mitch’s sister and is married to Maddie’s brother, Shane—owns a PR firm in Chicago.
She normally does damage-control stuff, but since we’re besties and they are investors in the bakery, she worked her magic, and now we can barely keep up.
It’s an excellent problem to have, but I think that’s why I always love coming home to the comfort of baking and the people I’ve known my whole life. ”
“Isn’t it hard to go back and forth all the time?” Hailey asks, her nose wrinkling. “It must be exhausting.”
“Like most things, it has its pros and cons. But I have good people working for me, and technology makes it easier. But I’ll admit, with James on sabbatical until after the first of the year, I’m loving the happy comfort of home where I have the space to experiment and get those creative juices flowing again. ”
A customer comes in and Harmony moves to stand, but Gracie pats her hand. “No, you opened, so I’ll get it.”
She excuses herself to take care of the customer, and I shift my attention to Harmony. “Did you grow up in Revival too?”
“Nope. I grew up in Missouri, about thirty minutes out of St. Louis. I’ve only been in town a couple years. I’m over on Second Street,” she says.
“What made you pick Revival? Do you have family here?” Hailey asks.
Harmony’s expression turns a little wistful. “I don’t and I wanted a new start, threw a dart at the map, and liked the name.”
“That’s brave of you,” Hailey says.
Gracie rejoins us, but before she sits down, she puts a doughnut on my plate and then does the same with Hailey. “Sorry, I can’t stand to see an empty plate. It’s a sickness.”
I pick up the vanilla-glazed fried concoction and take a bite. A delicious lemon and raspberry cream floods my taste buds. I moan and lick my lips. “Oh my god, this is fucking amazing.”
Harmony and Gracie both squeal in delight.
Hailey’s eyes close as she savors the taste. “It’s like a gourmet doughnut.”
We eat and chat while Gracie and Harmony each take turns going to the counter to help the customers who wander in.
Gracie waves to an older woman with pink hair. “Have a good one, Dorris.”
The older woman waves back. “Kiss that handsome husband of yours for me.”
“Will do.” Gracie sits back down. “What are you guys doing tonight?”
“Nothing,” I say, not sure if I’m looking forward to it or if it will give me too much time to obsess about Charlie.
Whom I absolutely must stop thinking about.
Only, this is not a problem I’ve had before, so I’m having a hard time figuring out how to go about it.
“You should come hang with us tonight at our house. Very low-key and casual,” Gracie says.
“I can’t. I need like twelve hours of silence.” Hailey is in that part of the book-writing process where she’s obsessed with getting back to her computer.
I smile and explain the quirks of living with a writer. “She’s in the honeymoon phase. I had to drag her out this morning for her own good.”
“Well, how about you?” Gracie points at me. “Since you’re on your own tonight.”
Will Charlie be there?
All my instincts are tingling, but maybe it’s better to play it safe since every time I see him, it ends in disaster. “It’s been a long week.”
“Sam said you should come.” Gracie’s wearing a sly grin.
My head snaps up from the surprise. I hadn’t gotten that vibe from him at all. I stutter. “What? Oh, um…yeah, maybe another time.”
Gracie giggles. “Oops, sorry. I did make it sound like it was a personal request for your presence, but no, it’s not for him. He didn’t say why. He just said when you came into the shop today, I should encourage you to come over tonight.”
Confused, I ask slowly, “How did he know I’d show up here?”
She shrugs one shoulder like it’s not a big deal. “That’s just how he is. So when he says something, we listen because he tends to be right.”
I glance at Harmony, trying to gauge her reaction.
She finishes a bite of cinnamon coffee cake. “What can I say? It’s true. Before you say no, it will just be a few of us. Super casual. Just dinner and drinks and relaxing.”
I glance around the room and lean in. “Can I be honest with you?”
Hailey’s brow furrows, but Harmony and Gracie lean forward in unison, expressions alight with the expectation of two women on the cusp of juicy gossip. “I’d love to go, but I need a break from my boss and my brother.”
The pressure of being on my best behavior is wearing on me.
Gracie claps her hands like she’s an excited six-year-old in a bakery full of cupcakes. “You’re in luck, because they won’t be there.”
“No?” My heart starts to speed up again.
She shakes her head. “Ryder is on duty tonight. Sophie has a dinner with potential investors, and Griffin and Darcy are going to a charity event. You will have no chaperones.”
Harmony grins. “And we promise, our lips will be sealed.”
I glance at Hailey, who adds, “If you leave me alone in an empty house, you will be my favorite sister.”
“All right, I’m in.”
If Charlie is there, I won’t have to play it safe.
I could just…be myself.
Charlie
I ring the bell to the Robertses’ house then walk in, ignoring the heat of excitement that’s plagued me since I talked to Sam this afternoon.
I’d said no, instinct warning me that Jessica would be there, and I’m not up for another round with her.
Every time I’ve seen her has left me more frustrated than the last.
But Sam insisted, and I’ve learned not to ignore him, so here I am.
I walk down the hallway and into the lemon-and-white kitchen, filled with industrial appliances from when the bakery was run out of the house. It’s empty except for Gracie standing at the large island.
“Hey.” I place the wine and the bottle of whiskey I brought on the table.
“Hey! You came.” She gives me a dazzling smile and puts down her knife, coming over to hug me. “I thought you were going to pussy out.”
Unfortunately, Gracie knows me entirely too well, but I pretend I have no idea what she’s talking about. Not that she’ll buy it.
“Now why would I be scared to see you?” I kiss her cheek then let her go. “Your brother wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
She rests her hip against the counter, batting her baby blues at me. “And why do you think that is?”
I smile. I’m not that easy. Again, I deliberately misinterpret. “I thought we agreed a long time ago, understanding Sam is a lost cause.”
She tilts her head toward the back door. “It’s nice out, so we’re outside.”
I nod. “Need anything? Before I go.”
“Nope, just finishing up.” She waves at the counter, where she has a few more cupcakes to ice. “I expect a thank-you later.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I walk toward the door.
“Then you’re the only person in Revival who doesn’t.” Her laughter follows me out.
To think I gave up a life where I didn’t even know my neighbor’s names for this.
But when I spot Jessica, my aggravation is forgotten.
Other people are at the large teak outdoor table, but I don’t see anyone but her. Her hair is down, tumbling over her shoulders.
I remember the way the strands felt wrapped around my fingers.
The chair where she sits is oversized, and she has one bare knee raised, her foot resting on the edge, the other crossed under her. Dressed in a slouchy, sleeveless white cotton top that shows glimpses of her stomach and a pair of ragged jean shorts, she’s hotter than ever.
All I can think about is ripping off her fucking clothes.
She zeroes in on me.
Our eyes lock.
The air pulses between us.
I pull myself away before I get lost in her.
James stands, and as we shake hands, he slaps me on the back.
I swallow a cough from the force of it. The guy is a workout fanatic and is built like a brick wall. “Please don’t kill me.”
His green eyes dance in amusement behind his wired frames. “What are you drinking?”
“I’ll grab it.” I nod at Sam and Harmony before turning to Mitch and his family. Maddie has Lily on her lap, bouncing on her knee. I go over to the toddler, give Maddie a kiss on the cheek before stroking my hand over the redheaded little girl’s silky head. “Hey there, Lily.”
Maddie jiggles the small bundle of yellow. “Can you say hi to Uncle Charlie?”
Lily’s bottom lip trembles before she lets out an ear-piercing scream. “No!”
I chuckle. “I’m still public enemy number one, huh?”
Maddie laughs. “It’s almost time for bed.”
“No!” Lily screams again.
I chuck the baby under the chin. “Now you be sure to remember that word when you’re older.”
“No. No. No. No.” She babbles before putting her fist in her mouth.
I pat her head. “Good girl.”
All of a sudden, there’s coughing, and my attention snaps up to see Jessica choking on her wine. Harmony’s patting her on the back as she sputters out, “Wrong pipe.”
I slide a glance at Mitch, who cocks a brow and grins.
Luckily, Gracie walks out, saving any more awkwardness. I head to the cooler and grab myself a beer, then sit down at the table opposite Jessica.
Gracie passes out shot glasses.
Unable to help it, I meet Jessica’s gaze and smirk, because I sure as hell know why she swallowed wrong.
But unlike the rest of this week, she doesn’t shy away. Instead, she smirks back, tipping her glass in my direction.
Gracie hands out shots, and when we each have one, she raises hers in the air. “Okay, I think we can all agree it’s time to let off some steam, so I’m invoking vault rules.”
Jessica nibbles on her lower lip. “What are vault rules?”
Gracie beams at her. “It means anything goes, and no one is allowed to talk about it.”
“That includes brothers and bosses, right?” Jessica asks.
Gracie giggles, leaning against James, who slides his arm around her hips. “The rule is made especially for them.”
“Fabulous.” Her eyes meet mine.
Sam scrubs a hand over his blond-stubbled jaw. “Does that mean I have to leave?”
James lifts his shot in the air. “You’ve already seen too much.”
Sam laughs. “And heard too much.”
Jessica’s gaze collides with mine.
There’s no one to watch us.
Well, that’s not true. They are watching, but as my core, long-term friends, they understand I’m not a fan of being on display.
Once upon a time, it was just Gracie, Sam, Mitch, and me.
I have their loyalty, and they have my trust.
Everyone clinks their glass in the center of the table, and we all drink.
Suddenly, I’m feeling much better.