Page 90 of The Haunting Plot

“Want me to help clean up?” he asks, right as the front door swings open and Bella’s head pops out.

“All clear?” she asks, shooting me a toothy grin.

I take a step back from Sawyer. “Yup.”

“Well, don’t stop on my account. I was just letting you know that we’re heading out. Summer’s taking McKenna to hang out with Lana, and Lucy said that Jonah was having a blast and doesn’t want to come home yet. So if you two have some painting you want to do…” The way she emphasizes the word “painting,” along with the eyebrow wiggling, makes me roll my eyes at her complete lack of subtlety.

Sawyer comes up behind me, wrapping an arm around my clavicle. “I definitely have a project I need her expertise on.”

Bella’s eyes bounce between us. “I’m loving this look on both of you. Oh! That reminds me—” She steps out onto the porch, closing the door behind her as she pulls something from behind her back and shoves it toward Sawyer. “Here, I saved a cookie for you.”

I eye the cockie in his hand as a dopey grin lights up Sawyer’s face. He has no clue what he’s holding, and I shake my head. “This isn’t the time, Bella.”

“This is the perfect time. If I’m not mistaken, I do believe I just won a bet, and what better way to celebrate than with a sweet treat?”

“What’s this?” Sawyer stares down at the cookie suspiciously.

“It’s a cookie, duh,” Bella says. “Aren’t they fun? They’re holiday-themed. See the little pumpkins and the scary ghost?”

“I can see that. But why are you two acting like this is important? What am I missing?” Sawyer asks as he bites into one of the pumpkins.

“It’s a dick and balls,” I say dryly. “The icing on the front may have masked the shape, but if you flip it over, you’ll see the outline.”

Sawyer nearly chokes as he pounds on his chest, turning the cookie over. “Dammit, this is one of those dick cookies that keep showing up at the firehouse. The guys have been trying to get me to eat one for months.”

“I call them cockies, patent pending.”

“You can’t patent a common sugar cookie recipe cut into a dick shape.”

Bella grins. “Trademark?”

I shake my head. “Not a recipe. A name, maybe.”

“See, this is why we’re friends. You’re so much smarter than me, and together we make a great team.”

“Thanks for the cookie… uhh, cockie,” Sawyer says, shaking it in the air.

“You two kids have fun. I’m off to collect my winnings,” Bella says, turning toward the door.

I narrow my eyes at her. Did she hear our conversation? “What winnings?”

“Since your birthday is still a week away and a certain L word was recently uttered, I just won the bet,” Bella says, then closes the door behind her.

Sawyer stares at me, a hurt look on his face.

Bella’s head pops back out. “Sorry, I realize how that sounded. This isn’t a She’s All That situation. Raven wasn’t betting. You’re not a stupid bet. We were betting on her falling in love before she turned forty at the end of the month. She had nothing to do with this. It was all me. And Lucy. And Summer. And⁠—”

“You can stop talking now. We got it,” I hiss.

“Sorry, I’ll get outta your hair.” Bella disappears as Sawyer pulls me into his arms.

“You didn’t tell me your birthday was coming up.”

“It’s not a big deal. I don’t want anyone to make a fuss.”

“Well, I can think of a few ways I’d like to celebrate you,” he says as he pulls me into another kiss, and I fantasize about all the things I want to do to this man as soon as everyone leaves.

CHAPTER 22