Page 116 of Sweet Hate
“Scout’s honor.” He stands with his hand raised like a Boy Scout, a serious expression on his face.
“Good. Basically, there can be no sleepovers. It’s six weeks and we’re done, but we’re exclusive during that time. We keep it between us, and there’s no funny business at the bakery because she wants to keep it professional here.” Lucas laughs, no doubt thinking about this morning. “And yeah, no catching feelings.”
Her rules are burned in my brain, a constant reminder of what I’m up against to convince my girl to take a chance on loving me back.
“Well, damn. That’s a bummer.”
“No shit.” We stand there in silence for a second, I’m not sure there’s anything else left to say.
“That’s it? You're just gonna follow her rules and let her go again? For a second time?” Disgust creeps onto his face, his stare intense.
“Hell no! But I need to be smart about this. I can’t just turn around and tell her I’ve loved her since we were eighteen, maybe even longer than that. She’d bolt and run for the hills.”
“How do you know she’d bolt?”
“It’s not a risk I’m willing to take.”
“OK, so what’s our planhere?”
“Ourplan?” His answering grin borders on a little maniacal but it’s Lucas, not Freddy Krueger, it’s fine.
“Well, if you think I’m going to let your dumbass mess this shit up a second time, you’ve got another thing coming.”
I laugh, but he’s not wrong. It wouldn’t hurt to have him clued in on the plan to help. Or throw one of his Lucas theatric distractions. That could actually work.
I still can’t believe I spent half my life thinking this guy had feelings for my girl, when all along he was rooting forme, but I’m not about to dwell on that shit. It feels damn good to have Lucas in my corner.
“Here’s what I’m thinking…”
39
HAVEN
“Your man’s here, Haven,” Jett sashays through the kitchen doorway, all hip swings, and dark red lips. I ignore the flutter her words spark in my chest. We are not fooling ourselves today, no ma’am.
“I don’t have a man,” I drop my gaze and focus on wiping down the counter where I spent the afternoon helping her Chef with food service after his assistant called off.
“Ohhh, I’m not so sure about that, darlin’. The look on his face says otherwise.” That damn flutter comes back, this time it’s brought friends.
“How does he look?” Dammit. That slipped out.Good job Haven.She smirks over at me as she examines the cupcakes on the counter. “Help yourself.” I nod toward them.
Sheila Merryweather came and collected their sampler, and it’s not like I’m going to eat the rest myself. I’m pretty sure Axel will be back at the firehouse tomorrow, so I was going to give him a bunch to take in.
“You don’t have to tell me twice.” She picks one and takes a huge bite, closing her eyes as she chews.
“MmmmmHaven. These are better than sex! Damn, girl. No wonder the Merryweather’s insisted on hiring you. What do we have to do to keep you around?”
I laugh, not quite comfortable enough around her to question what bad sex she’s having—as if I can talk right now. Although, hopefully not for too much longer— but I’m just casually going to ignore her comment about staying too and hope she doesn’t notice.
Telling Axel was one thing—I couldn’t very well jump into bed with him without giving him the full picture—but telling anyone else makes it real. I spent so long waiting to leave this town that planning to stay still weirds me out.
“To answer your question.” She pauses to take another bite, and I swallow an impatient sigh. I don’t know why I’m so eager to know what she thinks, it’s stupid. It shouldn’t matter how he looks, we know what thisreallyis. So why does her answer feel so important?
“Axel’s eyes haven’t moved from these doors since the second he walked in. I can tell it’s taking everything in him not to walk in here to find you. The guy’s practically vibrating on the spot out there.” I fight the urge to smile, the flutters full on raving right now.
I wasn’t expecting to see him tonight. I texted him telling him I’d make my own way home, but he clearly chose to ignore that.I probably shouldn’t be surprised.
“Go put him out of his misery, darlin’.”
