by Robyn Neeley
“Oh, I don’t think so . . .” she paused and picked up the photo, her hands visibly shaking.
“Why not?” Josh asked.
“According to my mother . . .”
“According to Grandma, what?” Josh pressed.
Sheila looked up, glancing over at Caitlin and then Josh. “Mary didn’t exist.”
* * *
Caitlin came into the living room, sat down on the sofa next to Josh, and handed him a new glass of wine. Sheila had left twenty minutes earlier, and after two hours of discussing the mysterious woman, the spoon, and her apparent connection to Caitlin and Josh, they weren’t any closer to getting the answers they were looking for.
“Thanks for the yummy burgers and doing the dishes,” she said, attempting to lighten the mood.
“My pleasure. Thanks for the company.” He took a sip and closed his eyes for a second.
Pulling her legs up and tucking them underneath her, she faced Josh. “So, let’s recap what we learned this evening.”
Josh laughed sarcastically. “That my family sees dead people, but don’t worry because that dead person is probably my grandmother’s imaginary friend—who by the way, helped enchant the blue mixing spoon and then ran off with it.”
“Yep, that’s pretty much what I was going to say.” She tilted her glass up. “Maybe we shouldn’t talk about this anymore tonight.”
“That sounds like a plan.” He tapped her knee. “This wasn’t how I imagined this day ending.”
Caitlin gulped. What did he mean by that? Maybe it was the wine talking or the way his gorgeous chocolate eyes met hers, but she wanted to know. No. Strike that. She needed to know. “How did you want it to end, Joshua?”
He set his glass down on the coffee table and then did the same with hers. “With me doing this.”
Pulling her into him, his lips touched hers, a soft kiss at first that deepened immediately on impact. She maneuvered onto his lap, while their lips continued to get reacquainted.
“I like this ending.” She grinned in between their kisses, her thoughts running fast. They were responsible parents with three babies in the next room. Making out on her living room couch didn’t seem quite appropriate. “Maybe we should take this to my bedroom.”
Josh touched her face then brought her into an embrace. “Lead the way, beautiful,” he whispered into her hair.
Caitlin was about to do just that when they were interrupted by a loud noise.
“Well, what do we have here? If it isn’t my best friend getting cozy with my fiancée.”
Caitlin looked over her shoulder to see Adam stumbling around her living room. She removed her arms from Josh’s neck and jumped off his lap. “Adam. I thought you were at a race car derby?”
“I was. Hey, buddy.” Adam nodded to Josh. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m totally psyched to see you two getting busy, but Caitlin, when were you going to tell me we were getting married?” He wobbled on his feet. “That news is kind of important for a guy to know before the whole town does, don’t you think?”
Walking over to Adam, Caitlin helped steady him so he didn’t trip over her furniture and twist an ankle. “Did someone have a good time tonight? You shouldn’t be driving.”
“I’m not. I walked over.”
“That’s over a mile.” She turned to Josh, not quite sure what to do. After a couple bottles of wine tonight, neither one of them should get behind a wheel either. “Can you see if Emma and Jason are still up? I’m sure one of them can take him home.”
“Sure.” Josh got up and Adam hooked his arm around Josh’s neck.
“I love you, man. You’re my best friend, don’t you ever forget it.” He then put an arm around Caitlin. “And I love you, too, Caity Bug. Not in a ‘want to sleep with you’ kind of way.” He chuckled. “Not like this guy does.”
Josh turned him toward the door. “Okay, why don’t we head on outside before you wake the triplets? Say good night to Caity Bug.”
“Can I pee first?” Without waiting for an answer, Adam rushed down the hall.
“Wow.” Caitlin went over to the coffee table and picked up the wine glasses.
Josh came over and touched her arm. “Care to explain what Adam meant by fiancée?”
She glanced down at his tanned hand, not having the guts to look him in the eyes. “Do I have to?”
“Well, given the fact we were headed into your bedroom before he interrupted—yeah, you probably should.”
Dammit, Adam. If he hadn’t shown up when he did, she would have Josh’s clothes torn off by now. “It’s not what you think.” She paused, adding, “Or what he thinks. I can explain everything.”
Just then, Adam ran into the room. He stopped in his tracks.
“What’s wrong?” Josh asked.
“Caitlin, are you teaching Lily to bake?”
What an odd question. How much did he have to drink tonight? “Yeah, you figured me out. I’m teaching all the kids to bake, take out the trash, and mow the lawn by the time they turn one.” She studied Adam’s flustered face. “What has gotten into you? You look like you’ve seen a gho—” Caitlin stopped, shoved the wine glasses at Adam, and flew down the hall toward the nursery.
“Oh, my God.” She looked behind her at Josh. His expression displayed the same horror that currently pulsated through her.
Lily looked up at them from her crib all smiles, her fingers touching the shimmering blue spoon.
11
Caitlin brought a cup of coffee into the living room and did her best not to wake up her guest. A sleeping Josh lay flat on his back. He’d removed his polo shirt and jeans and was now sprawled out on her sofa in a T-shirt and blue-and-white checkered boxers; his blanket had been tossed to the floor.
She couldn’t help but smile because she’d gotten cold during the night and turned the heat way up. He probably had been miserable. That and, most likely, exhausted. He’d been a huge help, meeting her in the nursery a few times throughout the night when one of the triplets started to cry. He’d even cradled Cassie back to sleep, and that warmed Caitlin’s heart.
Yesterday had been perfect—well, almost.
After the creepy, unexplainable movement of the blue spoon from the kitchen table to Lily’s crib, Josh had offered to spend the night, and she was grateful for that. To say she was spooked was an understatement. There’s no way she wanted to be alone with the kids. If he hadn’t offered, she would have insisted.
Josh had removed the spoon from the crib and taken it with him to Emma’s. He and Jason first dropped Adam off and then drove to the bakery where they locked the spoon in the safe. While they were gone, Emma had come over to keep Caitlin company.
When Josh came back an hour later, the steamy encounter they’d shared on the couch earlier had definitely evaporated, and that was fine by her. Her nerves were shot. There was no way she could have picked up where they’d left off, and given his horrified reaction to the mystery appearance of the spoon in the nursery, Josh wouldn’t be able to either. They’d talked in the living room for a few minutes while she got the couch comfortable for him, and then she went to bed—alone.
Now it was a little after six a.m. The triplets would be up any minute, and Penny would soon arrive for her shift. Right now, all was quiet.
She admired her houseguest as he slept. From his dark messy hair and tanned face, to his strong biceps, morning Josh was just as sexy as suit-wearing Josh.
His eyelids flew open.
“Good morning.” Caitlin walked over, and he sat up, giving her space to sit. She handed him the coffee cup. “I wasn’t sure how you liked it, so it’s got a little milk and sugar.”
Josh rubbed his eyes with one hand and took a sip. “It’s perfect. Thank you. Kids still asleep?”
“Yeah, but not for long.” She picked up the blanket, setting it off to the side, and leaned back against his bare leg as if it was the most natural thing to do. “So last night was something.”
He nodded. “That’s puttin
g it mildly.”
“How do you think the spoon got into the nursery?”
“I have no idea. One thing is for sure, it’s not leaving the bakery again.”
“I think that’s wise. Hopefully it won’t be able to pull its Houdini disappearing act from inside the safe.”
“Hopefully not. Jason and I were talking last night. I’m thinking once we know the motivations behind its owner, we’ll understand the spoon a little more.”
“You mean your grandmother’s imaginary friend?”
Josh took another sip of his coffee. “Yes, or whoever the ghost is haunting your theater. I’m going to start doing some research. Maybe we can get Bridget to help us out.”
“I’m sure she would be happy to help. What are you thinking?”
“Well, since this woman was drenched, Jason suggested that maybe she drowned in the lake.”
Caitlin’s hand flew to her mouth. “How awful.”
“Yes, but if she did, there might be a public record of it somewhere or maybe even an obituary. I’m also betting that she was the non-imaginary friend of my grandmother’s.”
“So, you think your grandmother’s imaginary friend was real and could be our ghost?”
He nodded.
“I’ll call Bridget this morning.” She lowered her lashes, wanting to move away from all talk of ghosts and on to the subject of what happened between the living last night, but not quite sure how to bring up their kiss. “So . . .”
“So . . .” He smiled.
Her breath hitched. She wasn’t used to Josh smiling at her. Growing up, there had been many, many disapproving scowls thrown in her direction. This was new territory. “Did Adam get home okay?” Caitlin asked, chickening out on asking the question really on her mind.
Laughing, Josh set down his cup. “Yes, I’m sure he’s sporting one hell of a hangover. Care to tell me how you two are now engaged?” He tapped her knee. “Oh, and maybe include the part about him not knowing.”
“It’s nothing really.” And go ahead and leave that hand on my knee while you’re at it.
“Really? Because engagements are usually a big deal.”
Caitlin let out a loud sigh. “The town has decided that Buttermilk Falls would be the perfect place for destination weddings. You know, the town that loves love. Marilyn Jenkins had this silly idea that because I’m the first bachelorette to see my soul mate’s name in my batter, Adam and I should get married this fall and let the town plan it. She’s convinced once the world hears our story and sees pictures, videos, and blog posts from the preparations, hundreds of couples will want to have their own small town, lakeside wedding here and tourism will skyrocket next year.”
“Wait. What? Rewind. You agreed to get married to Adam?” His lips turned downward and there it was—the disapproving scowl she remembered all too well.
“No, of course not . . . I mean . . . okay, maybe I did, but we’re obviously not going to go through with it.”
Josh leaned back. “Well, it is a good idea.”
“It is?” Her heart sunk. Was he serious?
“A wedding planning business could do very well here, and I’m sure Brandon’s inn, not to mention Abby’s catering company, would both benefit from all the new business. Maybe you should consider it.”
“You’re kidding, right?” This coming from the man who kissed her senseless last night, and let’s not forget, accepted her invitation to join her in her bedroom before they were interrupted. What did he think they were going to do in there? Play checkers?
“Think about it.” He placed his hands behind his head and smirked. “If Emma expands her matchmaking to two a week, that’s eight couples each month potentially getting married within a year. Surely, that will inspire out-of-towners to book their own weddings in Buttermilk Falls. It’s pretty genius.”
She cocked an eyebrow. “Well, maybe it is. Perhaps I should consider it. Adam is my soul mate, after all.” She started to get up, but Josh grabbed her by the arm and pulled her down. With one swift motion she was on her back underneath him. She stared into his rich chocolate eyes.
He leaned down, whispering into her ear. “Let’s get something clear, Ms. Reynolds. I don’t care what you saw in that mixing bowl. Adam Reed is not your soul mate.”
Caitlin tilted her head back, her fingers running through his hair as he kissed her neck. No, Adam wasn’t. Was it too early to hope her soul mate was currently the cause of the jolt of electricity traveling from her neck to her toes?
A cough caused Josh to bolt up.
“I’m so sorry.” Penny dashed out of the room.
Hitting the sofa cushions with both hands, Caitlin sat up on her elbows. “Man, we really need to be quicker about moving into my bedroom.”
Josh chuckled and leaned in, kissing her forehead. “I should probably get to the inn. I need to set up my lab and do some work this morning.” He swept a piece of hair out of her eyes, tucking it behind her ear. “And you’ve got a wedding to call off.”
“Right.” She glanced up at the clock above her fireplace. “Marilyn asked me to swing by her boutique this morning. I’ll do it then.”
“Tell you what. I should be done setting up my lab by noon if Abby leaves me alone. Why don’t we meet for lunch?” He paused, shooting a playful eyebrow up. “Unless you think it would be scandalous for us to have a meal together in public so soon after your breakup?”
“I think it’s a risk I’m willing to take.” She batted her eyelashes in full-on flirt mode. “Besides, if I’m craving a BBB Burger for lunch, and you just so happen to be craving the same thing, and we run into each other at the Star Lite at noon, it’s totally innocent for us to sit together . . . and enjoy our burgers, right?”
“Absolutely.” He slid on his jeans and shoes, while she handed him his shirt off the back off the couch. “Totally innocent,” he said, pulling his polo over his head. Walking over to the door, he opened it and turned around. “Maybe I’ll see you later then.”
“Maybe,” she smiled coyly. “I could always change my mind and grab a bite at the Buttermilk Tavern. They have awesome burgers, too.”
“I’ll take my chances. Bye, Penny,” he called out, indicating it was safe for the nanny to come back into the living room.
As Josh headed down her driveway and got into his car, Caitlin couldn’t help watching him pull out from the living room window. She grabbed the white bed pillow off the sofa and held it close to her chest, inhaling his delicious scent.
If anyone would have told her yesterday morning that Josh would be in her cottage by the end of the night kissing her like he did, she would have told them they were delusional.
But that’s exactly what happened, and this morning confirmed that he wanted it to happen as much as she did.
Was this the start of something between them? She smiled, squeezing the fluffy pillow one last time. Hopefully, but first, she needed to break things off with her faux fiancé.
* * *
Josh skipped down the steps and headed into the inn’s kitchen. After a quick shower, it was time to get this day started. The sooner he set up his lab and got everything accomplished that he needed to, the sooner Caitlin would be back in his arms and, dammit, they were going to make it to her bedroom this time.
He shifted at that thought. Now was not the time to think of being in Caitlin’s bed. No. There was too much to do. His boss hadn’t been pleased to hear the news that Josh had upped and left without permission, but they’d always had a great working relationship and came to a mutual agreement on Josh’s schedule for the next few weeks, which would include one week back in Manhattan.
Bill knew Josh would get the job done. Josh always did. It didn’t matter if he was in Manhattan or Buttermilk Falls.
Josh assured him that he would not miss the deadline to finish the new perfume and would hand deliver it to him. To do that, he needed to get started immediately.
He had a good feeling he’d get it right this time. Even after sho
wering, he could still conjure up the memory of Caitlin’s scent. Maybe that was his magical power. He laughed. Or maybe it was hers because she certainly bewitched him.
Speaking of witch, he hadn’t mentioned it to Caitlin as he didn’t want to freak her out any more than she already was, but he, Jason, and Emma were pretty sure that Mary had not only been real, but had also been a practicing sorceress.
So many questions swarmed his head: did his grandmother know that her friend wasn’t imaginary? Was the blue spoon in the box the woman in the photo was carrying on the theater’s opening night? Why was her spirit haunting the theater?
“Hey, big brother, fancy meeting you here.” Abby walked in and gave his arm a playful slug. “Are you really going to set up your lab in this kitchen?”
“Yep. Your space is my space for the next six weeks.”
“I always knew you wanted to work with me. It’ll be like when we were kids. Remember how much fun we had playing with Emma in Mom’s kitchen?”
“You mean when I attempted to blow up whatever you two baked?”
“You were a future chemist in the making.” She pretended to draw a line across the kitchen’s prep table. “As long as you stick to your area, we’ll be fine. Although, you probably shouldn’t mix any chemicals while I’m preparing food. I don’t want anyone going to the emergency room after eating my appetizers.”
“I promise my actual perfume making will wait until you are out of the kitchen.” He pointed to the small room off to his left that Brandon had showed him yesterday. “I’m actually going to set up my beakers in there so there will be no chemicals near your preparations.”
Plus, the door had a lock. No that he expected a competitor to show up in Buttermilk Falls and steal all his perfume samples, but it was better to be safe than sorry.
Abby headed to the refrigerator and filled her arms with celery, carrots, and mushrooms. “So, I heard from Emma you saw something a little out of the ordinary yesterday at the Majestic Theater.”
