“Sharon and Danny made up,” Ben tells me and I grin.
“No kidding?” I ask. “So why do you look disappointed?”
He sighs, in that weary exaggerated way only kids can sigh. “She’ll steal Danny away from you, Clara.”
I roll my eyes. “You do know that Sharon is a better baker than me?”
“Nobody’s better than you, Clara.” He motions with his hand and I lean closer. “If Danny wont marry you, I will, okay? Once I’m grown up and I get a job, I’ll marry you.”
I give him a serious look. “Have you been talking to my aunts?”
He blinks at his. “Why?”
My lips twitch. “Never mind.”
Danny is busy texting his new girlfriend. He’s developed a thing for Sharon over this past month and I wonder how serious it is. Danny isn’t one to take relationships so seriously. With me, he had been, but aside from me, I’ve never seen him invest so much in a woman. But Sharon keeps him on his toes and maybe that’s what he needs.
I have a feeling Sharon really might steal him away, permanently.
Although I’m happy for him, I can’t help feeling a little lonely. I glance around the diner. Maybe Aunt Helen is right. Maybe I’ve been running from love for so long that I’ve begun to treat it as something meant to be avoided. Perhaps the only reason I was so susceptible to Finn’s advances is because I’m lonely.
I am in my mid-twenties. And it’s not like I don’t get asked out.
“Something bothering you there, Clara?” a familiar voice asks as Nick, the town’s handyman takes a seat at the counter.
Nick with his laughing blue eyes and matted sandy hair that keeps sticking up to his constant consternation, has always been a cheerful person and a sort of friend. Unlike Danny and me, he wasn’t born here. He moved here as a teenager with his mother. I’ve always gotten along with him. He’s a likeable person and more importantly, he often flirts with me.
I’ve never really paid attention to him in that way, always brushing off his attempts, never taking them seriously, but now I take a good hard look at him and realize that he is a very attractive man.
“What?” he asks me, uneasily. “Quit staring at me like that. You’re freaking me out.”
I snort. “Sorry. Here, have a cupcake. On the house.” I take out one of the cupcakes from the display case and hand it to him.
He studies the dessert. “How come I get a free cupcake?”
I lean on the counter, casually. “Because you’re cute. That gets you a free cupcake.”
He winks at me, cheekily. “I’m freaking adorable. Shouldn’t that get me two cupcakes?”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Want me to take away the first one?”
He snatches it out of my reach, grinning broadly. “No ma’am.”
As he settles down and looks over the menu, I ask. “So, what have you been up to?”
“Did a few repairs at your Aunts’ place a while ago. Heard you got yourself a new beau. What’s going on? I’ll get the cheese burger with fries.”
I send his order into the kitchen and reply, “Nothing is going on there. You heard wrong. I’m as single as one gets.”
He waggles his brows, cheekily. “Want to give me a shot?”
I study him for a heartbeat, seriously considering his offer, before I laugh lightly. “Not today. Ask me again, when I’m in a better mood.”
“Tomorrow then?” He smiles at me.
Yeah, I know it would be easy with him. Going on a few dates, falling into bed with him, falling in love with him. Will you have that same chemistry with him, though? Will you look at him and see someone else? Jesus. It was just one kiss. Get over it! “Maybe not tomorrow,” I finally reply.
He leans forward, grinning. “Day after tomorrow then?”
I open my mouth to say something but a smooth voice cuts in, “I’m afraid she won’t be available.”
I freeze and raise my head to meet a pair of cool amber eyes. Underneath the coldness is a raging fury, and for a moment I want to accept Nick’s offer, just to see how Finn would react. But I’m not someone who would use my friends for such a petty reason. So, I meet Finn’s gaze, steadily, not betraying an ounce of the bewilderment and hurt inside of me. “You don’t speak for me, McCarthy.”
Finn is dressed in a casual T shirt and black jeans. And damn, he looks wild and sexy, it would make any woman’s breath catch. His eyes remind me of those of wolf. A wild wolf. Dangerous and unpredictable.
Finn gives me a long look.
I stare back, refusing to be intimidated.
Finally, he says, softly, “I didn’t take you for that kind of woman.”
A stunned silence follows in the wake of his cruel words, and I feel the blood drain from my face.
Before I can say anything, Danny is on his feet, looking furious. “What the fuck did you just say?”
Even Nick looks pissed off as he exclaims, “Watch your mouth!”
Finn doesn’t bother with them, his eyes on me, waiting for me to react.
“Sit down, Danny,” I say, sharply, calling on every ounce of composure that I can muster. “You, too, Nick. There will be no fighting in my diner.” I straighten up and force down the humiliation, the hurt, and I face Finn, putting on a wry smile on my face. “Maybe I am that kind of woman Mr. McCarthy. I earn my own keep, I put food on my own table, I pay for the roof I live under, I pay for the clothes on my back, and if I want to take a man to my bed, I do so. None of that’s got anything to do with you. I don’t need your judgement or your comments. You are no one to me. You and your opinions don’t matter to me. You’re just someone with a business interest in this town. Why don’t you keep it at that and leave? You know where the door is.”
My legs are trembling but no one aside from me knows that fact. I keep my expression calm and I layer every ounce of emotion I have with self respect and confidence.
There’s a trace of regret in his eyes as he states, “That was out of line. I apologize.”
“Please leave,” I say, coldly.
He stares at me for a moment longer then turns around and walks back out the door.
I let out a shuddering breath then glance around at everyone watching and raise a brow. “Does someone else have something to add?”
Jeremy, who’s still in the same booth from this afternoon, starts clapping his hands.
Then one by one, other people join in.
I flush, knowing that this is their way of showing support.
“Sit down, babe,” Danny says, softly.
I slump onto the stool behind the counter as the clapping dies down, my heart pounding. I lock eyes with him and nod. “Thanks for standing up for me.”
His eyes light up in anger. “Who does he think he is, coming in here and saying shit about you? He and I are going to—”
“No, you aren’t,” I cut him off. “Don’t involve yourself with this, Danny. I can handle it. But I appreciate it nonetheless. You too, Nick.”
Nick growls, “Danny’s right. He can’t just come into our town and insult our—”
“Exactly. Look, Clara…” Danny is starting to get riled up all over again,
“I don’t need saving, you two. So sit down and stop talking.” I scowl at the two of them. “I don’t think Finn will be bothering with me from now on. I’ve said all I have to say to him.”
The anger on Danny’s face gives way to admiration. “That was some speech, babe.”
I give him a crooked smile even as I still feel such hurt inside.
It takes a while for the two of them to calm down and as people leave, everyone has one or two words to say to me in righteous anger.
I accept their words and their love for me. I’ve grown up around these people, on these streets. This town knows me. These people have seen me go from a sullen child to a spirited lanky teen to a strong minded businesswoman. I’ve built a place here which welcomes everyone. I’ve invested every dime, every minute into this place. I’m an active membe
r of the community. Of course, they’ll be infuriated by a personal attack on me.
I should feel better but I feel dirty instead.
I clean up after everyone leaves, not wanting to go home, where I know Finn will be. But if I don’t go home, where else would I go? Everything I’ve said would have been pointless if I hide in here.
I scrub the counter, my lips pressed into a thin line. Asshole. Small minded, tiny dicked ass-
The sound of the door opening has me looking up.
I narrow my eyes when I see who it is. “Are you blind? It clearly says ‘Closed’.”
Finn tucks his hands in his jean pockets. “I wanted to talk to you.”
I walk over to the booths and start wiping them. “Haven’t you said enough?”
“Clara,” he begins.
I refuse to look at him, moving my arm, taking out my frustration on the innocent table. “I have nothing to say to you. Get out. I have a lot of work to do.”
“I’ll help.”
I blink and then look up at him. “What?”
Finn meets my gaze, not flinching. “I’ll help you clean up. Just listen to what I have to say.”
A startled laugh bursts out of me and I put both palms down flat on the table, shaking my head. “Are you stupid? Do you think I’m so completely devoid of self respect that I would listen to anything you have to say? I know you outbid me for the bar. You must have known that I was the other party in the deal. And even if you didn’t, you found out this morning. And yet, you didn’t have the decency to tell me. Instead, you come in here, in my place of work, and in front of all my customers, you call me a whore.” My body vibrates with fury, “And you think I’m going to hand you a broom and we’ll have a good time as you try to get back in my good graces. Get out, McCarthy. We’re done.”
Finn takes my harsh words, silently, and then he takes a step towards me, “I’ll leave. But before that I’ll still have my say.”
Stubborn bastard.
I want to pick up one of the trays drying on the counter and hit him on the head with it. “Do whatever you want, then.” I turn my back on him and get back to fixing the chairs now. I expect him to say a few false words of apology and then leave. I’m not expecting him to stride towards me, grab me by wrist and whirl me around to face him.
My face flushes. “What the hell are you doing?”
“Stop ignoring me,” he growls. His grip is firm and yet he’s careful not to hurt me.
I try to yank my wrist back but he’s not having it. He backs me into the booth so the edge of it is cutting into my back, uncomfortably. “You—”
“I didn’t mean that,” he cuts me off, his voice calm, his eyes flashing. “I don’t think you’re a whore. I never meant to imply otherwise. I just saw you flirting with that man minutes before you and I were supposed to go on a date. Since the moment I saw you, I’ve been drawn to you like a moth to a flame. I want you. I’ve never met a woman who makes me so irrational.” His tone is getting more heated by the second.
I tremble when he presses his body against mine, pinning me against the edge of the table.
His eyes are dark as they roam down to settle on my unpainted lips. “I respect you. I like you. I admire you. What I said in that moment was said out of spite. I just wanted to hurt you like I felt at that time. The minute those words left my mouth, I would have done anything to take them back.”
“B-but you can’t,” I whisper, my mind blanking out with his close proximity, even as I try to find my scattered brain cells. “You made sure to humiliate me.”
“Then tell me how to earn your forgiveness,” he murmurs.
His face is so close to mine that I can feel his hot breath on my lips. My heart is racing even as my head screams to push him away.
Suddenly the idea of him kissing me makes the alarm bells go off in my head and I grit my teeth and shove him away. “I’ll think about it!” The words are out of my mouth, spoken in desperation and I groan, mentally.
“You mean it?”
Now if I say no, that makes me out to be a liar. I grind my teeth as I answer him, “You still lied to me about the bar. By omission even.”
“I didn’t know how to tell you this morning. I had no intentions of hiding it from you. Till you brought it up, I didn’t know you were the other party.” He releases me easily.
I step to the side, keeping some distance between us. “Why do you even care?”
He just stares at me as if baffled by my question.
I continue, “Are you just here to apologize because you want to sleep with me and now you think I won’t?” I spit this out and I see
His eyes widen at my words. “Is that what you really think?”
I scoff, “You just said so in so many words.”
He pauses, and then an expression that I can only call sheepish settles on his face. “That’s not it…” He seems to search for the right words, “…Helen and Vee talk about you a lot and before I met you, I’d been staying at the B&B for two days and I wanted to meet the person they described so lovingly. And then I did and you were everything and more.” He takes a step towards me.
I take a step back.
This action doesn’t escape his notice as he went on, “I do like you, Clara. But I’m afraid I can’t lie to you and say that I just want to be friends. You and I can never be just friends.” He straightens up and gives me a long look. “I will apologize for what I said again and I don’t have that much of an issue with my ego to not apologize in public if that’s what you want. I always admit when I’m in the wrong.”
When he pauses, giving me an expectant look, I bite my lower lip, frustrated. ”Even if I let it go, you and I won’t be friends or anything of that sort. You’re a competitor. And that’s what you’ll remain.”
This time his lips curve in a half smile, and his eyes heat up, as he murmurs, “But there’s a fine line between love and hate, isn’t there?”
I purse my lips. “Get out.” But my lips twitch reluctantly.
Finn sees this and smiles now.
“You’re not forgiven yet,” I inform him, annoyed.
“Will I be welcome if I come by for coffee tomorrow?”
“You’ll be paying double.”
“Understandable.”
“And this doesn’t mean we’re good.”
“But you’ll think about it.”
“Yes.” I watch him leave and there’s a smile on his face. I try to look inside for the anger that had been simmering there since this afternoon and had only intensified when we exchanged words, but it’s almost non existent now. That pisses me off. “What happened to holding a grudge?” I mutter loudly to myself.
But I’ve never been apologized to in such a manner. I don’t doubt the sincerity of Finn’s words.
“Too damn trusting,” I scold myself, loudly, as I begin sweeping. “You didn’t even yell at him. The man insulted you for heaven’s sake. Breaking a bottle over his head wouldn’t have been that hard. I mean how long can Greg keep you in that cell for?”
My mood worsens by the time I start locking up because I know Finn is already forgiven.
“Stupid Irishman with his stupid accent and his stupid smile,” I mutter to myself as I let myself in through the front door of the house. In my current mood, I didn’t even eat anything and my stomach rumbles as I make my way to the kitchen. “I hope he steps in dog shit tomorrow and messes up one of his fancy rich shoes.”
“I beg your pardon?” a bewildered accented voice came from the stove.
I look up to see Finn heating something up in a pot on it. I glare at him.
He’s watching me, warily. “I just thought you might not have eaten so I heated up the pasta that Helen made.”
When I don’t say anything, he dishes out the white sauce pasta in a plate and I glare at it. It doesn’t help when my stomach growls loudly and both of Finn’s brows climb up so high on his forehead that they’re in the danger of disappearing.
I snatch t
he plate from him and grab a spoon, brandishing it at him like a weapon. “This isn’t over, just so you know.”
He blinks at me.
“You suck.”
Amusement enters his eyes, and he nods gravely. “I do.”
I start backing out of the kitchen, pinning him to the spot with my eyes. “This doesn’t change anything,” I warn.
Now he’s struggling to keep a straight face. “It doesn’t.”
“Stupid Irishman,” I grumble, making my escape up the stairs to my room, slamming the bedroom door shut.
The next day, I wake up late because only the café part of the diner is open on the weekends and Stacy always opens on the weekends. And I’ve locked my door so that Vysky doesn’t barge in like every morning.
I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, half drowsy while wanting to turn over and go back to sleep but I can’t. The event coming tomorrow washes over me and I wonder if I’m making a mistake in forgiving Finn so easily. He’s probably going to end up being a rival and you don’t trust the enemy.
However, I’m determined not to let him off the hook that easily. But how to make him pay? I have a reputation for being petty and until he’s been punished, he’s not getting off scott free. It’s easy to apologize so prettily like he did but my fingers are itching for some revenge.
Till he’s suffered a little bit, I won’t be appeased. But how do I get him back?
I ponder over it and then a sinister smile spreads on my lips.
Revenge could be both sweet and bitter.
Chapter 5
My mood is unexpectedly bright to the surprise of the people who drop by the whole day, having heard of the incident from last night.
Jerry, a fan of anything drama related, has parked himself in the diner turned coffee house since the moment it opened.
I kept shaking my head at him. “Jerry, you’ll lose business this way. Just go back to the shop.”
The old man shakes his head. “I’m here to keep an eye on you. What if that young man of yours comes around? No one’s going to bully you on my watch!”
Wintertime Love: A Christmas Billionaire Small Town Romance Page 5
