“Like hell you will. Don’t you be touching my cake. I’ll be right back.” I race and put on a new shirt, and then Garrett helps me load the cake into the van. Once we’re on the road, I realize a ten-minute drive can feel like forever if no one speaks.
You just made out with the brother of your deceased wife.
“Aidyn, we should talk about this.”
“We should.” I shoot him a quick glance. He won’t look at me. Is he nervous? Because of what we did? Or his admission?I’m in love with you, Aidyn Christy.“But I’m not sure what there’s to say in ten minutes.”
“How—” He clears his throat. “How are we going to act—people will notice if we aren’t at each other’s throats.”
“I don’t care what people think.”
He sighs. “Lanie. Jane.”
He’s right, and I hate it. “How do you want to handle it?” I ask.
“I can’t…ignore you. Please don’t ask me to.”
“Same.” The word seems bigger than it is. Four letters. But the meaning… I don’t want to ignore this thing between us. I can’t go back to the way things were.
“But freaking everyone out will take away from Jane and Isaac’s day.”
“We can tell them we worked some things out. Now we can be civil to each other.” I try really hard not to grin at the thought of us working things out, but it takes over.
He laughs, and I treasure the moment of happiness in his eyes. It’s like the sun shimmering over Dublin Bay first thing in the morning. I let my right hand rest on my leg, and it lies there feeling useless as my nerves flutter through me. But Garrett takes the hint and my hand.
“We’ve still got things to work out,” he says, but there’s a bit of hope in his voice. I don’t dare look at him.
You can’t get lost in Mule Creek. The damn town has one stoplight. But for a chance at a few minutes more with Garrett Bishop, I might find a way.
I don’t find a way.
Jane calls before I can get us lost, and we arrive at the VFW hall on time because we owe her that much. Garrett helps me bring the cake in with Jane and Zye on our heels like yapping dogs.
“This will go faster if you go away,” I say with a growl. “Garrett and I’ve got this.”
They look at each other and then at us. Right. We caused this mess together. But I can’t say we worked it out without blushing. And there’s still unfinished business between us.
“Christy and I are good. Go take care of your guests.”
And for some reason, from Garrett, they believe it. The kitchen in the VFW hall is basic with only a few appliances, but enough for my needs.
“How can I help?”
I pull the cakes out and reach for the dowels, running into Garrett as he moves toward me. His hand goes to my shoulder, and I’m overwhelmed by his nearness. The smell of him. The heat of his body. The memories of kissing him. I no longer care about the cake…but Jane is depending on us. On me. “Go over there. You’re distracting me.”
He grins and takes a step back, holding his hands out. “Fine. Finish the cake. But for fuck’s sake, Aidyn, hurry.”
I try, I do. But he’s still too close, and I can’t send him away when I desperately want him near. I layer the cake, and when I’m touching up the frosting, his hands grab my hips from behind. “Garrett, what—” I suck in a breath as his hand wraps around my waist and settles on my lower belly, inches from where I need it.
“I got tired of waiting.” His cock is hard between us. My hand slips, leaving a gash in the icing, and I have to redo that part.
“You’re making this take longer than it needs to.” The words come out in a rush and end with a moan as he rocks into me. “Fuck, Garrett.”
“Do you want me to stop?” He kisses my nape. And then the side of my neck above the collar of my shirt, sending sparks through me.
“Yes,” I say, leaning my head back and tilting it to give him better access.
He chuckles in my ear. “I don’t think you do.” His fingers dip lower, and he lightly strokes my cock through my clothes. I’m burning up. I need this man now. “Finish the cake, Aidyn.”
