by Taryn Quinn
“Oh, she’ll laugh her ass off, don’t worry. But I have to say I enjoy when she gets mushy. This will definitely do it. Mainly because I take pictures for later bribery.”
“That so?”
He shrugged and pocketed the note. “Gotta do what you can to get a leg up on her, man.”
“Since we’re on the topic anyway…” I cleared my throat and glanced around to make sure no one was close enough to overhear our conversation. The guests were all starting to arrive, talking and walking in small groups and admiring the decorations. But time was running short, so I couldn’t belabor this point. “How exactly did you bag Macy?” At Gideon’s slow blink, I pushed back my knit hat and tried again. “What worked with her to, you know, soften her up?”
“You see Macy practically every day when you stop by Brewed Awakening. Does she seem any softer to you?”
“Not particularly, although she did get a little misty when I told her my black pekoe was particularly strong the other day.” I was trying to cut back on the caffeine so I wouldn’t be up all night as often, but all I’d managed so far was to add tea to my daily coffee regimen.
I didn’t think caffeine had much to do with my wakefulness anyway. I tended to stay in my store working until a certain redhead went down to her car. Most of the time, I planned my exit just right so we could walk together.
Of course that had all changed since we’d kissed. We’d fucking kissed, and she’d acted as if I’d tripped and slid my tongue into her mouth.
Whoops, sorry, no big deal.
She’d moaned when I had her in my arms. Yet since then, she’d been as cool to me as a stranger. Sometimes the ice chipped and the real Kinleigh peeked out, but just as swiftly, she disappeared again behind careful politeness.
“Well, Macy takes her business very seriously. But that was probably hormones. I caught her sobbing over Garfield the other day.”
“The cartoon cat?”
“None other. She reads the strips online and something about Odie taking Garfield’s candy set her off. Beats me, man.” Gideon sighed. “We hugged it out and she didn’t offer to give me a vasectomy herself, so it was a good day.”
I didn’t even crack a smile. This was serious business and the clock was running down. It wasn’t as if he had time to counsel me on his damn wedding night.
At least the ceremony hadn’t occurred yet.
“So, c’mon, Gideon, tell me how you managed it.” I sounded more than a little desperate but it couldn’t be helped.
“Managed what?”
“Winning over Macy.” It sounded like a Lifetime movie of the week. “Surely you have some…tips.”
“Tips?”
“Is there a damn echo? Look, you’re getting married. She let you knock her up.”
His lips twisted. “She did. I don’t even think she regrets it most of the time.”
“She wasn’t the sort of woman who wanted any of that, at least on the surface, so how’d you break the ice?”
“Sex,” he said seriously.
It was my turn to be a parrot. “Sex? That’s it?”
“That’s everything. You have good chemistry in bed—or on the bar,” he didn’t even smirk when he said it, “and suddenly, a lot of objections fly out the window.” Before I could process that, he angled his head. “Who’s the lucky lady?”
“No one.”
He shrugged. “I get it. Don’t show your cards too soon. But if it’s a certain redhead—”
I shook my head. “Absolutely not.”
This freaking town knew everything about everybody. Sometimes it was a comfort, sometimes it pissed me right off.
Damn, had someone seen us kiss at the hospital? Maybe even Gina. She’d been right there, and she was a notorious gossip.
If Jared knew, I’d never hear the end of it. Which actually gave me a measure of relief. If he knew already, he would’ve struck while the embarrassment was fresh.
So, Miss Scott turned you down, hmm? Pity. But that means she’s still on the market, right?
Not that he would’ve intended to do anything about it. He just liked to amuse himself at his friends’ expense when he wasn’t being Mr. Straight-Laced while on duty.
The guy needed a hobby, and for that matter, so did I. One that didn’t include obsessing about a woman I couldn’t have.
Gideon ignored my denial and continued on. “You’re probably thinking too hard. Just get in the same space with her and let it happen naturally.”
“Yoohoo, John Gideon, tonight’s the night you bang your woman!”
Gideon groaned and turned his head as the quite literally larger than life Lucky Roberts from his crew—and another one of our friends—stampeded across the grass. He had on a bright turquoise suit with a ruffled shirt that looked as if he’d borrowed it from Elvis, circa 1975.
“He realizes Macy is already pregnant, right?” I asked in an undertone.
“He knows. He’s just an asshole.”
That was the last thing he got out before Lucky lifted him off the ground in a ribs-cracking bear hug.
“Congratulations, man. Don’t know how you did it, but good fucking luck!”
Gideon was a big guy himself, but Lucky was a battering ram. And he sounded as if he’d already had some liquid lubrication to get his night started.
Since Gideon was now being swarmed by the rest of his crew, I turned to leave, but he called my name before I’d taken a step.
“Here, man.” He whipped out his wallet and opened it to withdraw a small square item. He pressed it into my hand and lifted his brows. “I don’t need this anymore, so just in case.” He gave me a quick one-armed hug. “Thanks again for the arbor.”
Gideon and his band of merry men turned to go on their way, and I was left staring down at the foil packet cupped in my palm.
John Gideon had given me a condom.
One side had the picture of a metallic swirled lollipop. The other contained a prophetic bit of advice.
If you lick, be quick. If you stick, take this.
I couldn’t imagine where he’d gotten this. For all I knew, it was a joke rubber, not meant to be used. But it wasn’t as if I carried any with me on the regular, and it wasn’t smart to be too hasty.
Sexy feminine laugher carried on the wind, and I caught sight of a swish of familiar red hair in the growing crowd.
Swallowing hard, I slipped it into my jacket pocket.
Just in fucking case.
Three
What a night.
Music blared from a pair of fancy speakers that had to have been provided by Rory, my bestie’s husband. No one else had access to that kind of equipment in this town. I got passed around a few times as spontaneous dancing started as soon as the groom kissed the bride.
A navy star-strewn sky chased the raspberry and purple sunset, leaving the park and the pier in fiery orange, purple, and white lights. Everything swayed due to the wind off the water. Mason jars lit up the trees and flickered like fireflies in the summer.
Only it wasn’t summer.
No, it was the dead of winter in Central New York, and we were hardy people. In fact, I dared to say this was a delightfully balmy evening in our little lake town. Children ran around with sparklers, laughing and clapping in what was probably their Christmas finery—miniature peacoats, snowsuits, and mini-me adult-style jackets.
The townspeople were also dressed to impress. Brilliantly colored dresses peeked from long jackets and winter coats as coffee, hot chocolate, and ice cream were passed around. Because of course there was ice cream. I was pretty sure some of it had actually been dumped into various mugs to boot.
It was chaos and perfection.
Crescent Cove wasn’t the usual town. Getting married here was a big deal. Even strangers stopped to watch the New Year’s Eve wedding in the gazebo. Most of the town had turned up to see Macy take the plunge. Not just because Brewed Awakening had become Crescent Cove’s hub, but because she’d been so anti-marriage, kids, and l
ove.
Joke was on her.
This was one of the most romantic weddings I’d ever seen in all my twenty-six years. Granted, I hadn’t attended too many of them, but living here was certainly changing that.
Gideon had a mug in his hand as he climbed up on one of the big speakers. “Hey, everyone. We’re having an open reception at The Haunt. Join us there so we can warm up, huh?” He looked down at Macy. “My gorgeous bride and I aren’t ready for the night to be over.” He quickly grabbed for his daughter, who was climbing up after him.
He drew her into his arms, handing her the hot chocolate. “My family would really love for everyone to come. Bring in the New Year with us. We have a huge box of sparklers near that gorgeous arbor if you’d like to do it up stroll-style along Main Street.”
The crowd clapped and more sparklers fired into the night.
A little girl with red braids and a purple jacket came up to me. “You can haff mine, so I can have a new one.”
I laughed at her pronunciation and took the sparkler from her. “Thanks, sweetie.”
A woman in a sharp crimson jacket held her hand out for the little girl. Gold flashed in her ears and her fingers. She was hella put together. All class.
She smiled at me and then tugged her daughter away.
With my free hand, I clutched the antique wire of my large pendant and glanced down at my navy dress. The purple lacy edge along the hem fluttered in the breeze and tickled the back of my matching suede boots. The ones I’d spent weeks dying to match.
I might never look as classy as that woman, but at least I had a one of a kind dress. And my gray long jacket had been rescued on a trip into the city. I always got the best stuff down there to repair and resell. It was what I did. Repurposed and made things shine again.
“Careful, Kin.” A large, warm hand curled around mine.
My breath hitched as August pulled me in, taking the dying sparkler from my fingers. It gave one last flash and died between us.
“Guess you got a defective one.” He waved it quickly to get the last of the heat out of the burned out stick.
I shivered. Because it was cold, of course. Not because I hadn’t been this close to him since…well, since that day at the hospital.
I’d done my damndest to keep out of his way—as much as one could when one worked in the same damn building as the guy she was avoiding. Oh, and couldn’t forget the whole helping with the wedding thing. But I managed well enough most of the time. Unfortunately, my stupid body hadn’t gotten the memo that he was off-limits.
His gaze drifted to my mouth then back up to my eyes. “You look amazing, Kin.”
I pulled my hand from his. “Can’t compete with the bride and her party, but I clean up all right.”
He frowned. “Why would you need to compete? You’re one of the most beautiful women in the Cove.”
My mouth went dry. “Wow.”
“You know you’re gorgeous.”
I looked down at my feet and jammed my hands into my coat pockets. “That’s sweet of you to say.”
“Get over here, Beck!”
We both looked up at the barked orders from Sheriff Brooks. It just felt weird to call him Jared, even in my head. He was as much the badge as a man in my mind. And I’d learned long ago to be wary of the badge even when I hadn’t done anything wrong.
Badge equaled social services and social services meant being trapped. I’d learned to avoid any and all of that when I was a kid.
I shook my head. Where had that come from?
It had to be all the crazy emotions of the day. It had been a damn long time since I’d thought of my teen years. I preferred to be firmly rooted in the now.
Now was where it was safe. That safety did not include the very tall and pleasantly wood-scented August Beck.
He’d even put on his good, dark-washed jeans for the occasion. The ones he wore to go to the bank or to meet with important clients. His baseball cap was gone. Instead, he wore a heavy green knit hat that made his green eyes glow. His dress coat—well, dressy for August—was open to show the crisp white Oxford shirt and tie that Ivy had to have picked out.
I didn’t think he knew to buy that shade of forest green and celadon plaid mix.
I tugged on his tie. “You look pretty good yourself, Aug.”
He flushed and reached back to tug his hat down. “Ivy threatened me with a month of diaper duty if I didn’t at least wear a tie.”
“Did she tie it for you too?”
“No.” He jerked at the knot. “I know how to tie a damn tie.”
I pressed my lips together against a laugh.
“I’ll see you at The Haunt?”
I nodded. “Sure. Of course. I’ll be there with the girls.” I looked over my shoulder and spotted Rylee and Ivy with their heads together. “I should go over there with them anyway. See if I can help too.”
“Beck!” Sheriff Brooks called. “Before I freeze my goddamn nuts off.”
August walked backward. “See ya.”
I waved.
Jeez. What the heck was all that about?
I picked my way through the carnage of footprints packing last week’s snow down to ice. Rylee was hopping up and down in front of a cooler.
“To starting the night right. I have a babysitter and plan on seducing my husband, thanks to Jose and Cabo Wabo. What’s your poison?”
“Two different tequilas?”
“Margies in this one.” She flipped her dark braid over her shoulder and did her best Vanna White impression, indicating the red and white Coleman thermos we generally used for lemonade. “And this one…” She stepped aside to show a matching blue one. “Tequila Sunrises.”
“Oh, hello.”
Rylee tossed me my cup. “Have at it.”
I looked over my shoulder at Sheriff Brooks. He wasn’t paying attention—yet.
“Closed container, who’s gonna know?”
“Ever the troublemaker, that’s my sister.” Kelsey tucked a wildly fluttering lock of strawberry hair behind her ear. “However, I recommend the Sunrise.” She licked her lips. “Yummy.”
“You too?” But I went right to the blue thermos and opened the spigot. I definitely needed a little bit of liquid courage to get through this night.
We sipped from our covered tumblers as we gathered the small amount of trash that had been left behind. As cups and wrappers were dumped into bags, we laughed and cupped our hands over our mouths to keep in the warmth.
While we cleaned up, I finished off two rounds of Rylee’s dangerous Tequila Sunrise concoction that I had a feeling was heavy on the Cabo. Whoa.
The guys finished taking down the arbor and packing it away in August’s truck. He came back and took the two big bags of garbage from us and ushered us out of the park.
“Get inside, ladies. It’s fu—freaking freezing.”
Ivy patted his cheek. “Such a good guy.” She giggled and bumped his hip.
“Just what have you guys been drinking?”
I swung the blue Coleman, my new best friend, and patted his chest. “Don’t you worry about it. Just our go-juice for the evening.”
Ivy, Rylee, Kelsey, and I danced our way around him and over to Jared before Rylee stole his hat.
“Mrs. Kramer,” he warned.
Rylee tossed it to Kelsey, who fumbled it and picked it up off the snow with a laugh. “Whoops.”
The sheriff shook his head. “Don’t make me arrest you today.”
“Aww, come on. Have a little fun, Jared.” Rylee saved his hat from her sister and jumped up to plunk it on his head. “We’re gonna go right across the street to The Haunt and be good little girls.” She tapped her chin. “Ish. But no one will be driving, so don’t you worry.” Rylee shook her booty and headed for the sidewalk.
I rushed after them, the thermos and its icy contents slushing the whole way. I laughed and hooked my arm through Ivy’s. “She’s crazy, but I really kinda love her.”
“She’s so happy
for Macy. And relieved that this is all over like the rest of us. We need a little break from all the planning. Even my planner is tired.”
“I hear that.” I hugged her arm. My bestie and her perpetual planner. She and Kelsey had tried to convert all of us. I’d actually been enjoying the traveler’s notebook she’d gotten me for Christmas. I liked the feel of paper over the endless spreadsheets I had to deal with for the shop.
I’d even found some cool vintage papers to use in one of the estate sales I’d sneaked away to yesterday. When I was overwhelmed, I went shopping. It calmed my crazy and streamlined it into about a truck bed’s worth of new stuff for the shop.
Including a beat to hell Art Deco chair and stand I’d be working on as soon as all the wedding festivities were over.
Ivy clasped my hand and we danced our way around the line of cars that had been parked in front of The Haunt. People were loitering out front and down near the café where the tables were being used even on this cold night.
Plates of finger food were being passed around by a few of Macy’s waiters and waitresses, as well as some other people I didn’t know. Probably temps for the occasion.
I grabbed a crescent roll wrapped something or other from a tall guy who might’ve been out of his teens. Maybe. I suddenly felt very old, but I enjoyed the fluffy, salty buttery treat.
In fact, I’d waved Ivy ahead and gone to chase him down for another when I bumped into August.
“Hey, watch it.”
“You keep saving me from my clumsiness today.” I laughed up at him and slipped my hand into the warmth of his jacket. “Gonna wonder if you’re following me.”
His fingers curled around my elbow to tug me more into his heat. “You’re freezing.” He peered down at me. “Or are you not feeling the cold?”
I shrugged. “Maybe not.” I swayed toward him. “Rylee was pretty heavy-handed with her Sunrise of tequila.”
“Tequila Sunrise?” he asked with a laugh.
“Right. That. She used that Cabo Wabo tequila, and whew, that Sammy Hagar dude is no joke with that stuff.”
“Evidently.” His eyebrow rose.
