Chapter 22 #2
Brian was a genius! He sent my lawyer an email with all Justin’s financial info, all his secret accounts and illegal deals.
Apparently, it only took Brian one afternoon to find everything.
Once Jean had that, Justin buckled like wet cardboard.
Nary a week later, Gran’s house was mine and I had money in a bank account.
All the legal stuff would still take time to go through, but agreements were made and funds were transferred. I was feeling positively optimistic!
I had my feet under me with the food truck. Customers were coming back and bringing friends. Aiden had been stopping by the truck every afternoon for lunch. I teased him about his questionable dietary habits, but a thrill raced through me every time I looked up and found him waiting for me.
Now that I had some money, I needed a bed, maybe a dresser. A phone! Another pair of jeans. The list spiraled out of control in my head. It was too much.
One thing at a time. I wanted a bed. I needed to focus on that one room.
Bed, dresser, curtains, dog bed. Paint! Yes, I could paint the room any color I wanted.
Once that was decided, I spent the afternoon daydreaming about beds and wall colors while I cooked and served hot dogs. It made for a lovely diversion.
“I’ll take a dog.”
I glanced up at the gravelly voice. Mr. Cavanaugh.
“Please,” he added.
My hands trembled as I rolled a dog onto the grill. “Of course. What would you like on it?” It was the first time I’d seen him since he told me I was nothing and that he’d do a jig when I lost Gran’s house. My stomach twisted.
“Katie, well, I want to say I’m sorry about pushing you like that.”
I met his defiant eyes.
“I’ve never laid an angry hand on a woman in my life.
I’m ashamed my temper got away from me.” He blew out a breath.
“I never should have said all those horrible things. They weren’t true.
” He pulled on his earlobe. “I think I just wanted you to hurt as much as I did. If Nellie were here, she’d kick my behind for it.
You’re a good girl, and you deserve better than the hand you’ve been dealt.
I’ve got no excuses. I was wrong, and I hope you see fit to forgive me in time. ”
Vision blurry, I tried to blink away the tears clinging to my lashes. He didn’t hate me, didn’t think I was rubbish.
“Oh, now, please don’t cry.” His voice shook. “I’m sorry.”
I nodded, my throat constricted.
“What the hell, Pops? You said you were going to apologize.”
At Aiden’s voice, I jumped, quickly wiping at my face. The tears wouldn’t stop, though. I crouched below the counter. I didn’t want them to see me lose it.
The truck tilted and then Aiden was there, pulling me up and crushing me in his arms. I pulled up my hoodie so I could hide.
He chuckled and ran one hand over my head; the other held me firmly against his chest. “We can still see you.”
“He doesn’t hate me.”
“What did she say?” Mr. Cavanaugh asked.
“She said you don’t hate her.” Aiden held me closer, rubbing his hands up and down my back.
Sputtering, Mr. Cavanaugh finally said, “Well, of course I don’t! I never... I didn’t, Katie. I was an ass. I was missing my Nellie and taking it out on you. Please don’t cry.”
I nodded my head against Aiden’s chest, but the tears continued to flow.
“Okay. I’ve got you. Pops, can you get that?” The truck went dark. “Shh. Katie. You’re killing me.”
I tried to push away, to get my emotions under control, but Aiden held firm. I wiped at the tears again. “I’m okay. I’m sorry. I don’t know where that came from.”
Aiden brought his hands up, capturing my face, tipping it back so he could look at me. He kissed my eyelids. “You’ve been holding that in for weeks; probably longer. You’ve been terrorized by giant rodents, harassed and cheated by your husband?—”
“Ex.”
“Thank goodness for that.”
I smiled.
“You’ve been yelled at by a deranged, sauerkraut-loving tourist. You’ve been insulted and pushed by your gran’s boyfriend.
You’ve had no money. No food. You’ve been working in this truck, employed by a loudmouth drunk.
You had your cupcakes stolen by a dog. And let’s not forget interrogated and almost arrested. ”
“When you put it that way.” I gasped a laugh.
“That’s better. I wouldn’t want you to be crying when I...” His mouth took mine, a soft, seductive possession. He pushed down my hood and plunged his hands into my hair, tilting my head, deepening the kiss.
My body went up in flames. I made soft, mewling sounds as I got on my tiptoes, trying to get closer, wanting more. His hand dragged down my back, landing on my butt. He groaned, kneading me and pulling me closer.
He reached farther down, grabbed the backs of my thighs, and picked me up.
He plopped me down on the counter, my legs wrapped around his hips.
He leaned in, his erection rubbing just right.
I gasped. His lips were on my neck. I shivered at the heat of his breath and the scratch of his stubble.
His tongue teased sensitive skin, and my head fell back on a moan.
His lips traveled down my throat while his hands clutched my butt, setting a rhythm with his hip thrusts.
I’d never wanted to be naked more in my entire life.
A loud bang sounded on the side of the truck. “Hey! Why is the window closed? It’s still lunchtime!”
I collapsed back, panting and frustrated. Aiden leaned over me, breathing heavily.
“I’m gonna kill Chuck,” he said under his breath.
“I told you. She was upset.” Mr. Cavanaugh’s gravelly voice tried to reason with my boss. “Leave her alone. She’ll open again when she’s ready.”
“The truck was rocking. That doesn’t say crying to me,” Chuck countered.
“Oh, well.” Poor Mr. Cavanaugh. He sounded flustered as he uttered those two simple words.
“I’m okay now,” I shouted. “I’ll open in just a second.”
Aiden bit my neck. “ I’m not okay. I may not be able to walk properly for the rest of the day,” he whispered.
I pushed him so I could stand up. I grabbed my pole and shoved the side panel up. The truck was flooded with light.
“I could have used another minute over here,” Aiden grumbled.
“Had to be done,” I said, pushing him toward the front of the truck. “I’m trying to work. Go arrest people.”
“This conversation is not over.”
My body thrilled at his words.
When I looked out the window, Chuck was glaring and Mr. Cavanaugh looked distinctly uncomfortable.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Cavanaugh. I burned your dog. I’ll make you another one.”
“What?” Chuck’s face was getting red.
“It’ll be my hot dog. I’m not giving anything away; don’t worry.” I tossed the burned dog in the trash and rolled another one out onto the grill.
“No. You’re going to eat. Chuck, stop being an asshole,” Aiden said and walked around behind Chuck, looking remarkably normal and relaxed.
Whereas I felt like I had I was just getting some tattooed on my forehead.
“She’s working harder and selling more dogs than you ever have in the off months. Stop yelling at her.”
“She’s my employee. I’ll treat her any way I want,” Chuck sneered.
Aiden leaned in and took a sniff. “It’s one o’clock. You’re drunk at one o’clock?”
“That’s none of your concern! I don’t answer to you.” He turned to me. “You’re fired! I don’t need this shit.”
I stood stunned. I needed this job. It was literally the only job available in Bar Harbor during the off months. “I’m sorry, sir. He didn’t mean anything. I can pay for Mr. Cavanaugh’s lunch.” I shoved my hand in my hoodie pocket and pulled out a five-dollar bill. “See? I’ll pay for it.”
“I said get out!”
“Chuck, don’t take it out on her because you’re pissed at me,” Aiden argued.
I turned off the grill, picked up my water bottle, and scanned the truck. Nothing here was mine. I pulled the key from my pocket, climbed out of the truck and handed it back to Chuck. “Thank you for the opportunity.”
Aiden’s grumble echoed in my head.
I walked numbly toward my car. What was I going to do?
“Katie, wait.” Aiden grabbed my arm. “Please, wait. Let Pops and me take you to lunch. We’ll figure something out.”
I shook my head. “I’m not hungry.” Mr. Cavanaugh looked so concerned, I kissed his cheek. “Thank you for coming to see me, for saying what you did. It means the world to me.”
“Katie, I know I’ve behaved horribly, but Nellie—no, it’s not just Nellie. It’s me. I want to be a part of your life, if I can. I want you to think of me like family. I know Nellie would have wanted that.”
Family. It had been so long. My grandfather had died when I was little, Dad when I was fifteen, and Mom hadn’t been the same afterward.
She’d been more of an absentminded roommate than a mom.
It had been Justin for ten years, and now not even him.
I hugged Mr. Cavanaugh tightly and nodded.
I had to get out of here before I broke down again.
Waving to both men, I turned and walked to my car.
Chaucer and I needed to put our heads together.
I’d really been looking forward to sleeping in a bed. Damn.