Page 22 of Wintertime Love (Holiday 2)

“You suck.”

Amusement enters his eyes, and he nods gravely. “I do.”

I start backing out of the kitchen, pinning him to the spot with my eyes. “This doesn’t change anything,” I warn.

Now he’s struggling to keep a straight face. “It doesn’t.”

“Stupid Irishman,” I grumble, making my escape up the stairs to my room, slamming the bedroom door shut.

The next day, I wake up late because only the café part of the diner is open on the weekends and Stacy always opens on the weekends. And I’ve locked my door so that Vysky doesn’t barge in like every morning.

I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, half drowsy while wanting to turn over and go back to sleep but I can’t. The event coming tomorrow washes over me and I wonder if I’m making a mistake in forgiving Finn so easily. He’s probably going to end up being a rival and you don’t trust the enemy.

However, I’m determined not to let him off the hook that easily. But how to make him pay? I have a reputation for being petty and until he’s been punished, he’s not getting off scott free. It’s easy to apologize so prettily like he did but my fingers are itching for some revenge.

Till he’s suffered a little bit, I won’t be appeased. But how do I get him back?

I ponder over it and then a sinister smile spreads on my lips.

Revenge could be both sweet and bitter.

Chapter 5

My mood is unexpectedly bright to the surprise of the people who drop by the whole day, having heard of the incident from last night.

Jerry, a fan of anything drama related, has parked himself in the diner turned coffee house since the moment it opened.

I kept shaking my head at him. “Jerry, you’ll lose business this way. Just go back to the shop.”

The old man shakes his head. “I’m here to keep an eye on you. What if that young man of yours comes around? No one’s going to bully you on my watch!”

I put a sandwich in front of him along with a glass of hot milk. “Do I look like somebody who can be bullied? And stop calling him my anything. He and I aren’t together.”

“He certainly seems to be with the way he keeps chasing you around town like a lovesick puppy,” Jerry comments. “You tell him that if he even thinks of not treating you right, old Jerry will sort him straight.”

“I’m sure he’s terrified, Jerry.” I grin.

Now the owner of the flower shop next door, looks satisfied. “Did you tell him I won five boxing matches in the town fair till I was fifty?”

“Sometimes that’s all we talk about,” I tell him in a deadpan voice. I lean over and press a kiss on the forehead of the man who’s been a part of my life since I arrived in this sleepy town. “With you looking out for me, what do I have to be worried about?”

Jerry looks pleased and stops nagging me.

A little while later, I drop by his shop to see his grandson minding the shop and I gave the preteen a coffee and a snack.

The day crawls by and I keep checking the time. On the weekends, I close up at five. It’s still shy of a few hours when Danny walks in and I blink, “I thought you were on duty today?”

He slides into a booth as he replies, “I was. I got off a few minutes ago. Mom doesn’t have work today so Ben’s with her, meaning I got no babysitting duty.” He stretches his arms. “I want a Café Latte with loads and loads of sugar and a slice of that apple pie.”

I bring him his food and slide in across from him, studying him. “You look awfully happy. What happened?”

He beams. “I’m in love, babe. Sharon agreed to a second date. And she gave me some biscuits for Ben. Hopefully that will warm him up towards her.”

“Good for you.” I play with one of the packets of sugar.

He shoots me a concerned look. “Finn didn’t bother you again, did he?”

I shake my head. “He came by to apologize after everyone left.”

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