Page 34 of Falling for the Wrong Guy

It was the first time in a month that I had enough energy for a bike ride after work. I got back home just as the sun was setting, a beautiful concoction of smeared pastel colors mixed with wispy clouds. I was feeling refreshed and cursing myself for not taking more time for self-care, like a brisk bike ride. My nose was cold, my fingers numb and my eyes were watering from the ride, but I felt exhilarated. I had glorious visions of a long shower, a cup of hot cider and a good book, but all those visions were obliterated when I found Kellan standing on my front stoop looking as if he’d been sucking on a sour lemon.

I sighed in exasperation as I pushed my bike into the garage. Kellan waited for me on the porch, his expression growing more sullen with each passing minute.

I stood in the garage and took a few deep breaths before going out to meet him. “You didn’t tell me you were coming. I was on a bike ride.”

“I saw the bike,” he said curtly.

For a brief second, I considered that he was there to apologize and tell me how much he needed me in his life and how I should always make my own decisions because I was a strong, independent woman. But that didn’t seem to be the case.

“Come on in. I was going to make myself some hot cider.”

Kellan followed me inside. He rarely came to my small house. His aftershave immediately filled the front room. “I’m not a fan of cider but you go ahead.”

“Kellan, if this is about hiring Dex?—”

“I obviously wasn’t making my point well over the phone. You don’t want to tangle yourself up with my brother. You’ve put far too much work into that café.” It was the first time he’d ever mentioned how hard I had to work to keep the café going.

“Specifics,” I said.

His brows bunched in irritation. “What do you mean?”

Kellan was coming at me like a freight train. He even drove a half hour to make sure I saw how angry he was. He’d already made that crystal clear when he shouted at me through the phone. I was feeling a chill in my bones from the ride, and all I wanted was that hot shower, but it seemed that we were going to do this here and now. Kellan liked to control things like that. I was starting to see that more all the time.

I crossed my arms defensively. “I need specifics, because I’ll tell you all I know so far. You and your brother have a strained relationship.”

“Understatement of the year,” he muttered.

“And see, that really doesn’t have anything to do with my business. Dex walked into the café this morning, cold turkey, so to speak. He knew nothing about the menu or the kitchen layout or the customers, but he put on an apron and an hour later he was serving up delicious food. And here’s the most important part about it all—the customers couldn’t stop raving about his cooking. I got to serve coffee, chat with customers and make sure the front of the restaurant was running smoothly. It was such a relief to have someone capable in the back that I almost had to pinch myself. Now, tell me something specific, something that is a dealbreaker, and I’ll consider your advice.”

“I’ve already told you. He’s trouble.”

“Again. Something specific, please.”

“Have you asked him why he’s here in Whisper Cove?” Kellan’s face was tight and serious. Not a good look for him.

“Not sure if it’s my business.” Of course, I’d wondered it more than once, but I wasn’t going to let Kellan know that.

“He’s here because he’s trying to help his friend Quinn skip his prison sentence. I don’t know much else except that Quinn is in the hospital in bad shape.”

I stared at him and wondered if this really was it for us. “Excuse me, but isn’t that a noble thing? Trying to help a friend who’s been hospitalized?”

“Oh, I assure you, there’s some much shadier stuff happening in the background of it all. But I can tell you this, my brother will do what he can for Quinn and then he’ll be on his way. And he won’t bother with a notice or warning. You’ll just open the café one morning, and he won’t show up. That’s how he’s been his whole life. No responsibility to anyone but himself.”

His words were having their desired effect, but I didn’t want him to see it. “Not anyone but himself? You just told me he was here for his friend.”

“You’re twisting my words,” he said angrily.

“Uh, nope, I don’t think I am.”

“I’m done here.” He started toward the door, and I didn’t stop him, which told me all I needed to know about my feelings for Kellan. He looked back at me. “I thought you were more level-headed than this. Just don’t get too drawn in by my brother. He has a tendency to do that—to attract people to him, catch them off guard with his charm—but you can’t trust him. That’s my final warning. If you come to your senses, let me know.” He stared hard at me, but I had a tough time looking at him. “I thought we had something good. I can give you the world, Aria. All you have to do is ask for it.”

“That and make sure to follow your orders.” It slipped out before I could stop it.

He slammed the door so hard, my coat fell off the hook.

I stared out the window, waiting for his car to turn the corner and disappear, then I sat down with a big release of breath. All the benefits of the brisk, late afternoon bike ride had been obliterated. Even the hot cider didn’t sound good anymore. But I wasn’t as upset about the obvious end to our relationship as I was about something Kellan had said. I needed to find out if he was telling the truth.

I pushed to my feet, grabbed my coat, scarf and keys and headed out to the car. There were only a few lights on at the marina, including several of the boats with occupants like Oscar. The coastal fog was just starting to make its way across the harbor, and wisps of it floated around the boats like spectral beings. I got out of the car and realized then that Dex’s motorcycle wasn’t in the lot. I’d made the trip for nothing. I was about to get back in the car and restart my evening plans of a hot shower and a book when a single headlight glowed through the haze. The motorcycle pulled into the lot. He looked almost too big for the bike.

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