Page 126 of Will Bark for Pizza
“So, this is really happening?” Kira said, her words almost too quiet to be heard.
“You already took on the bookstore,” Aspen said, pulling cash from her purse and setting it on the table as she scooted out of her chair. “Seems kind of silly to commute.”
“Aspen, babe, put your money away,” Lila insisted.
“I can’t let you pay?—”
“I’m about to put all of you to work.” Lila picked up the cash and handed it back to Aspen, holding out her hand until Aspen caved. “You can absolutely let me pick up the tab tonight.”
“Headed out?” Connor asked Aspen.
“Duty calls,” she said, likely referencing the bakery.
“Take a couple of slices for Owen,” Kira insisted.
“He’s good,” she said. “He and my dad went fishing. I don’t think he’ll come back hungry.”
“Owen’s like the son he never had,” Luke muttered.
Several sets of eyes locked, but no one said anything about Thoren. Not directly. They didn’t have to.
“Guess you’ll be moving into the cabin soon?” Luke asked me. I couldn’t tell by his tone whether he was simply shifting conversation, or wondering how soon I would no longer be staying across the hall from his sister. Better to err on the side of caution.
“Soon, yeah.”
“Let me know if you need a hand,” Luke added.
“Don’t really have much to move,” I admitted.
“Then I’ll bring the housewarming pizza.”
Husker perked at the mention of his favorite word, as though he forgot there were leftovers on the table or that his belly was probably stuffed so full he might turn into a pizza.
I tossed him a pepperoni, stalling because I wasn’t ready to leave yet. Not with Kira sitting next to me, her leg so close to mine that the heat radiating offher skin threatened to burn mine. Another inch and we’d be touching. Skin on skin.
Fuck, I needed to leave.
I needed to get moved into that cabin, and away from temptation.
And as soon as Kira was officially relocated to Bluebell Springs, that’s exactly what I planned to do.
THIRTY-SEVEN
KIRA
“You sure arehandy with that drill,” Lotti cooed as Beckett hung brackets above the display window. The book club had unanimously agreed that we should hang a curtain until we were ready for the grand re-opening to keep people from being nosy. So Lotti had sewn a set of curtains from the cutest book-themed fabric. They were the perfect backdrop for the new sign in the window:Stay Tuned for our Next Chapter!
“Lotti, let the man do his job,” Thelma scolded.
“What? I’m just complimenting a job well done,” she said innocently, batting her fake eyelashes.
“He’s not going to get the job done if you keep pestering him,” Thelma chided.
I exchanged a look with Carlos, who was currently hovering behind his husband’s back at the computer, and we both fought a fit of giggles.
Moments like this, I knew I made the right decision.
I wasn’t alone.
