The Other Room (Door Peninsula Passions Book 2)

by Katherine Hastings

  Was that a good narrowing of the eyes or a bad one? Knowing her deep love of bacon, I hoped it was the good kind. After I cracked the eggs and tossed them in the bacon grease, the door opened, and Jo walked out.

  “Coffee?” I held it up again, a sheepish grin accompanying my offering.

  With a heavy sigh, she stepped forward and took the cup. “Thanks.”

  Thanks. A simple but powerful word. There was no “Thanks, asshole” or “Thanks, dickhead”. Just “thanks”, and I considered that a small victory in my battle to win back Jo.

  “Have a seat. Take a load off. Breakfast will be ready in two minutes.”

  She slumped into the couch, and I watched her struggle to find a comfortable spot.

  “I’m going to grab us a new couch if that’s okay? I’ll pop around the thrift shops or look on Facebook. That thing is like a deathtrap.”

  “Sure. Why not?” She shrugged then kicked her feet up on the makeshift coffee table constructed of two wooden crates and a board.

  “And I’ll make us a new coffee table, too.”

  Glancing at the contraption she must have hastily tossed together when she moved in, she shrugged. “Whatever you want. Just don’t touch anything in my room. Or my stuff.”

  A dark eyebrow contrasting her soft, ivory skin rose in a warning.

  “Don’t touch your stuff. Got it.” I flipped the eggs onto a plate and scooped on a pile of bacon beside them. “Here. Breakfast of champions.”

  Wary eyes watched me approach, and just before I reached her, that mangy cat came around the corner. I stuttered to a stop and took a healthy step back when it hissed and growled at me.

  “He’s got bacon, Petunia. Don’t bite him.” She looked back at me. “Yet.”

  Biting my lip and digging into my courage to close the distance between myself and the cat that looked ready to launch at my face any moment, I pushed forward. “Here.” I handed her the plate then scurried a safe distance away. Petunia’s eyes followed me for a moment and then moved to Jo’s plate. A raspy meow paired with pleading eyes prompted Jo to break off a piece of bacon and give it to her.

  “Is that the trick? Do I just need to feed it bacon every day, so it doesn’t kill me in my sleep?”

  Petunia chomped on the bacon, and Jo shoved a piece in her mouth. “Bacon helps. For both of us.”

  “Bacon. Check. I’ll keep feeding you both bacon until one, or hopefully both, of you decides I’m not the devil.”

  “It’s gonna take a lot of bacon.” She arched her brow and stuck another piece in her mouth.

  “I’ll buy out the Piggly Wiggly every week. Whatever it takes.”

  “Mmmhmmm,” she mumbled then went to work on her eggs.

  Progress.

  While Jo ate, I cleaned up my mess in the kitchen. I actually enjoyed cooking and having someone to cook for this morning was fun. A nice change from waking up alone every morning in my bachelor pad. I’d cleared out the last of my boxes last night while she was at work, and everything I owned was now piled into my new tiny bedroom with the single bed that had already been in there. A bed with a mattress as old as this cabin that I had to move to the top of my list of things that needed updating. The crick in my neck was just the beginning of what would be a long, painful summer if I didn’t get a more comfortable mattress soon.

  Jo finished her bacon, and I hurried over to take her empty plate. Petunia hissed when I got close, but she didn’t lunge at me or swipe at my legs like she had last night when I wandered too close.

  More progress.

  “Did it work?” I asked as I took her plate.

  She furrowed her brow. “Did what work?”

  “The bacon. Am I forgiven?” I gave her my most charming grin, but it dropped when I didn’t see amusement return to her eyes.

  Jo tapped her chin, faking a contemplative face. “Hmmm. What do you think, Petunia? Does a few slices of bacon undo the fact that the man I thought I knew better than anyone in the world turned out to be a complete lowlife asshole?”

  Petunia didn’t answer, but the scowl on Jo’s face told me what I already knew.

  “So, more bacon?” I sucked the air through my teeth.

  With an eyeroll, Jo pushed herself out of the pit she’d settled into and stood.

  “Come on, Jo. Are you seriously still going to be pissed at me? Can’t we get past this?” I knew I shouldn’t push it. Just like Jo had tamed that nasty cat with slow, methodical moves, I should take my time at chipping away at her wall constructed of well-placed anger. But like I always did, I charged right in with no tact or timing.

  “Really? I’m barely awake, it’s your first morning staying in my cabin... the one I didn’t want you in, and right away you expect that all is forgiven?”

  Realizing the error of my ways, I pressed a finger to my chin. “Not so much expect, but more like hope.”

  “Well quit hoping. This is temporary, and only happening because unlike you, I’m not a complete asshole. But just because I took pity on your homeless ass doesn’t mean I’m going to forgive you. What you did...”

  She closed her eyes and the agony of my decision slammed into me again.

  “I know,” I breathed. “It was awful. Stupid. Selfish. But you have to find a way to forgive me. You have to. I miss you. I miss us.”

  For a brief second, I saw her anger slip. Her eyes flashed for only a beat without the anger and hatred that had filled them ever since that fateful day. But only for a second, and then they hardened again.

  “Just try to stay out of my way, Matt. I’m taking the day shift today, so I’ll be home by nine. Try not to screw anything up. And stay out of my room.”

  Giving up the fight, for now, I nodded and stepped out of her way. She marched back into her bedroom and closed the door, sealing me into the living room with Petunia. The cat and I shared a look before I crept out of its way, careful not to get too close while I moved back to the kitchen to wash off Jo’s plate.

  Feeling defeated by my first attempt at patching up the biggest crater left from when I’d exploded my entire life, I went in my bedroom and grabbed my fishing pole from the corner and headed out for some fishing therapy. As I went out the door, I didn’t notice Petunia crouching beside the couch, and I let out an embarrassing shriek when she launched out and swiped at my legs.

  “Jesus!” I shouted as I scooted out the door, grateful it slammed shut behind me. “Fucking cat.”

  Shaking my head, I marched back to my truck and climbed in, pausing to shoot Jake a text. I’d called him yesterday morning to tell him I was moving in with Jo, and his snort and answer of “Good luck with that” only shook my confidence more.

  Me: It’s not going well.

  Jake: Did you think it would, dumbass? Jo hates your guts.

  I blew out a breath, trying to dig into the resolve I needed to ride out this storm.

  Me: How can you forgive me but not Jo? It just doesn’t even make sense.

  Jake: Dunno, man. But she really hates you. I hope she doesn’t kill you in your sleep.

  Me: You and me both, bro.

  Jake: If she does, make sure you have it written down somewhere I get your fishing stuff. I want that new rod you just picked up.

  Laughing, I shook my head.

  Me: Dick.

  I put my phone on the seat and pulled out to head to the Sister Bay Marina. Fishing had been good this morning, and I wanted to get a couple casts in to help shed off the tension that tightened my shoulders. When I got to the dock, I parked and hopped out, grabbing my pole from the bed of the truck.

  “Hey, Matt! What are you doing on this side of the county? I thought you only fished in Baileys Harbor.”

  When I turned, I saw my old fishing buddy Ted leaning against the boat rental kiosk.

  “Hey, Ted. Yeah. I’m staying up the road now so looks like Sister Bay will be home base for a while.”

  “Oh yeah? Where you working?”

  That was a good question. Now that the sea
son was in full tilt, fighting the slow-moving lines of tourist traffic to Baileys Harbor and back five days a week would be a real pain in the ass. “Working for Baileys Harbor doing maintenance right now. Why? You know of something?”

  “Hell yeah! I’m desperate for employees. I could use someone with your boating skills to rent out boats and teach the tourists what they’re doing so they don’t kill themselves.”

  Pursing my lips, I contemplated it. Though it wouldn’t be a long-term job since it shut down every fall when the Wisconsin weather forced everyone off the water, it could be a good gig while I figured out what the hell it was I wanted to do with my life. Spending my days on the water with boats and jet skis? Not a shabby way to spend the day.

  I gave the water an envious glance. “Can I fish when it’s not busy?”

  “Yep. You can almost cast right out of the kiosk.” He tapped on the side of the small wooden building just a stone’s throw from the water’s edge.

  Now that was something I could work with. “Hours?”

  “Pretty flexible. We can work around your schedule.”

  “Pay?”

  “I’ll beat whatever you’re making in Baileys Harbor.”

  “You’ve got yourself a deal!” Tucking the fishing pole beneath my elbow, I stepped forward and grabbed his hand.

  “Great! Come in on Wednesday when it’s slower and I’ll give you the tour and show you around the rentals.”

  “I’ll let the town know to start looking for a replacement, and as soon as they have one, I’m all yours.”

  “Looking forward to working with you, Matt!”

  With a grin as wide as if I’d just hauled in a big fish, I marched over to the side of the dock and cast my lure into the water.

  Place to live. Check. Fun job in Sister Bay. Check. Winning back Jo’s forgiveness...

  No check yet, but with the way my luck was going, it was only a matter of time.

  I hoped.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  JO

  The day shift at JJ’s provided a welcome reprieve from the insanity of the night shift. I’d agreed to switch out today so Valerie, the day bartender, could go to a friend’s wedding. The day shift consisted of mostly burgers, sandwiches, and sodas, making my job a hell of a lot easier.

  Even though I couldn’t see my cabin from behind the bar, I still glanced out the window in that direction. I wondered what Matt was up to today. He hadn’t been back before I went to work at noon, and I wondered if he was there now. Hopefully if he was, he was keeping his mitts out of my underwear drawer. I’d never had a roommate before, much less a guy, and I had no idea what kinds of trouble they could get into home alone. I valued my privacy, and the thought of someone pawing through my belongings sent a shudder through my body.

  Especially someone as untrustworthy as Matt.

  Untrustworthy. Now that was a word I’d never thought I’d utter about Matt. But now... now it was the first word that popped to mind when I thought about him.

  “What up, sis!” My sister’s voice pulled my attention away from thoughts of my cabin.

  I turned to see her waltzing up to the bar with a leggy blonde in tow. A bride, no doubt. Jenna was a wedding planner who had a thriving business up here in Door County.

  “Hey, Jenna. What are you doing here?” I walked over and leaned on the bar while she and her companion settled in.

  “Wedding planning. And we got a lot done, so we earned ourselves a margarita.” She grinned, her white teeth gleaming in the ray of sun that leaked in through the window. “Darcy, this is my baby sis, Jo. Jo, this is Darcy, the beautiful blushing bride whose phenomenal wedding I have the honor of planning.”

  “Nice to meet you.” Darcy extended a hand and my eyes bulged at the size of her ring. I could have slapped on some ice skates and taken a few spins around that bad boy.

  “Nice to meet you, too.” It took everything I had to lift my eyes from the rock on her finger. Not that I would ever want one that big, that wasn’t my style, but it was near impossible to ignore it.

  “Can we get some margaritas, JoJo?”

  If she hadn’t been with a client, I’d have ripped her a new one for calling me JoJo. At least she didn’t say Josephine. Only my grandmother could get away with that unscathed.

  “Sure thing, JennaJenna,” I answered, and she gave me a coy smile.

  “I love that you work here now.” She dropped her expensive handbag on the bar. “Like I needed another excuse to drink margaritas, but I’ll take it.”

  “You two could be twins!” Darcy said, snapping her head between us.

  It was true. Even though Jenna was two years older than me, we shared just about every feature possible. The same long dark hair, the same brown eyes, our mother’s dainty nose and chin. We were even the same height. But even though we looked like twins, our personalities couldn’t be any more different.

  Jenna loved the finer things in life. She drove nice cars, wore designer shoes and clothes, and indulged in regular manicures and massages. Spending time outside for her meant sunning herself by a pool. Then there was me who loved the outdoors, rarely painted my toes, barely knew how to pronounce the designer names, and drove an old blue Jeep I’d gotten in high school and refused to put down. I was as attached to it as I was the leather jacket I’d been wearing for as many years.

  Though she lived a pampered lifestyle, it was one she’d busted her ass to achieve. She’d put herself through college, worked for a few years as an understudy barely scraping by, and then finally branched out to open her own event planning service in Door County. And crushed it. Her impeccable taste and hyper-organization had made her the most sought-after planner in the area. Now she enjoyed the fruits of her labor, but she never took it for granted.

  “We get that all the time. Considering my baby sister is a knock-out, I take it as the highest compliment there is.”

  “Awe,” I teased as I filled up their margarita glasses. “Right back at ya.”

  Darcy glanced between us. “Seriously. You’re both gorgeous. Good genes!”

  “It’s our mom. We can’t take any credit,” Jenna said. “And what about you? You’re a freaking bombshell! Bill is a very lucky man.”

  “And he’d better never forget it.” Darcy waggled her brows while she flipped her blonde hair over her shoulder.

  “So, you two are working on wedding plans today?” I set the margaritas in front of them.

  “Yep. We just got done going over the ceremony site so we could decide on chair arrangements. She’s getting married at a gorgeous barn out in the countryside. Very shabby chic.” Jenna pursed her lips and nodded. “It’s gonna be to die for.”

  “Sounds amazing. You’re in good hands with Jenna. She plans the most incredible weddings.”

  “Don’t I know it,” Darcy said after taking a sip of her drink. “We postponed our wedding date since she was booked the weekend we wanted to get married. I wasn’t walking down the aisle unless Jenna was the one organizing the event.”

  Jenna pulled her in for a hug. “I’m the luckiest wedding planner in the world.”

  “So, plans are going well?” I asked.

  “So well. It’s crazy good.” Jenna released her hug and took a swig of her drink. “So good we earned a margarita break. What about you, sis? What’s new with you? I haven’t talked to you all week.”

  With an eye roll, I groaned and leaned forward on the bar. “A lot is new with me.”

  “Ooh. Dish!” Jenna leaned in closer.

  “So, I was working two nights ago, and Tony, Aaron, and Matt came in.” I snarled when I said his name.

  “Her friends from high school.” Jenna narrated to Darcy. “And Matt was her best friend, but she doesn’t talk to him anymore.”

  “Gotcha,” Darcy said, leaning in with the same expectant eyes.

  “So, it turns out Matt lost his place to people renting vacation houses and was homeless. And my tequila-soaked idiot of a self, gambled away the extra bedroom
in my cabin. And lost.”

  Jenna’s eyes went wide. “And...”

  “And... Matt moved in yesterday.”

  “Holy shit!” She laughed then turned to Darcy. “Let me catch you up. Jo hates Matt because they were besties and they had a third bestie, Jake. Well, Matt got hammered and slept with Jake’s fiancé.”

  Darcy’s eyes widened to the point of popping out of her head. “No!”

  “Yes,” Jenna went on. “Jo was so furious with Matt because he’d betrayed Jake. It’s been a year, and she still isn’t talking to him. Well, I suppose if he’s living with you that’s changed?”

  They both turned to stare at me, and I shrugged. “Barely, but since he’s living with me it’s impossible to avoid him completely.”

  “So,” Jenna said, turning back to Darcy. “Jo was really upset because not only had Matt betrayed Jake, but Jo has been in love with him since like... forever.”

  “What?” Darcy and I mirrored, and our gasps merged into one.

  Leave it to Jenna to overshare... and miss the mark completely. “I am not in love with Matt!” I shouted too loud and caused the couple customers scattered throughout the restaurant to look over. Lowering my voice, I leaned back in. “Why the hell would you think that?”

  “Ummm... maybe because it’s true.” She rolled her eyes and tapped me on the forehead.

  “You’re in love with him?” Darcy’s slack jaw remained open as she fumbled to get the margarita back to her lips.

  “No.” I returned the tap to Jenna’s head with a little extra force, and she swatted my hand away. “I am not in love with Matt.”

  “Is that so?” Jenna said, her brows raising to her hairline while she pursed her lips in a challenge.

  “Yeah. That’s so.”

  “Then you don’t think he’s crazy hot?”

  “Well,” I stumbled for words. “I mean, I’m not blind, Jenna. But just because he’s hot doesn’t mean I’m in love with him. I know a lot of hot people that I’m not in love with. You’re hot. I’m not in love with you.”

  She tapped her fingers on her chin. “Then riddle me this. If everyone else, including Jake, has forgiven him for his transgression... you know, the one against Jake... then why haven’t you?”