“Not really.” She sighed. “I’m not looking forward to spending my first night alone.”
“You mean…?”
"Yep. Tracy's been with me since the first night. It's going to be hard, but I'll get through it. I can't rely on her for everything. At some point, I'm going to have to be on my own."
“Yeah, but this is only a few weeks after, you know. You shouldn’t be alone at a time like this.”
“It’s not like I have a choice. I’m not going to let Tracy ruin her business so I can keep her by my side. That’s not the kind of person I am.”
Kate took a deep breath. “I get that, but you’re important, too.”
“I’ll be fine. Tracy promised we’d talk on the phone every night before bed. It’s not the same as having someone there, but it’ll have to do.”
Kate bit her lip and stared at her lap. The younger woman muttered to herself and seemed to be in a silent debate.
Allison cocked her head. “What?”
"You could stay with me."
Allison’s heart beat double-time, and a lump formed in her throat. The moment Kate offered, an image from an inappropriate dream Allison had had about the younger woman a couple of nights ago flashed into her mind.
In it, Allison lay on her bed as Kate hovered and smiled down at her, before proceeding to pepper kisses along Allison's collarbone. Thankfully, the dream didn't go much further because Tracy woke up to get some work done. Allison had pushed the images far into the recesses of her mind, but they were proving stubborn to get rid of.
Oh God, I thought this attraction was a fluke. How could I be thinking of Kate like this?
Allison’s cheeks flared with heat. “I couldn’t impose.”
"You're not imposing. I'm asking. No… I'm insisting." Kate scooted forward and placed her hands on Allison’s knees. "Knowing what I know, I wouldn't feel right leaving you in a brand-new house, in a new town, all by yourself. Come stay with me. It'll be fun."
“We’re not talking about a sleepover, Kate. Tracy is going to be gone for a whole month. I’m sure you wouldn’t want a stranger in your house.”
“You’re not a stranger. You’re my sister’s girlfriend. That makes you like family.”
The sincerity behind Kate's words splashed a bucket of cold water on Allison's faulty libido. Kate didn't see her as anything more than a friend. Her fear of spending more time with her was unfounded. Not only because Kate wouldn't reciprocate, but because Allison was not a cheater. Never had been. And she sure as heck wasn't going to start now.
"Why don't we try it for a couple of nights?" Allison offered, not wholly trusting herself. While she was a hundred percent sure nothing would happen between her and Kate, she didn't want to fuel her errant attraction. Tracy was a catch—one who had a fair amount of life partner potential. Allison wouldn't repay her by letting her feelings stray.
If she found herself thinking of Kate inappropriately, then she would distance herself, but that was easier said than done, as was quickly proven by the way Allison’s stomach flip-flopped when Kate got up and shook her hand, sending a searing heat up her arm.
"I'll take that," Kate said. "Let me know when you're ready to go, and we'll go get your stuff, roomie."
“Sounds good.”
4
Kate woke up from an unpleasant sleep and peeled her sticky tank top off before sitting up. Summer was beginning, and from the light sheen of sweat on her body, she could tell it was going to be a hot one.
Note to self, make sure the AC in the bakery works. I don't plan on rushing fainting customers to the hospital.
Kate rubbed her hand over her face and took a deep breath. While she would love to blame her restless sleep on the rising heat, she couldn’t deny that having Allison so close had added to the cause. The desire to rush to the blonde woman’s side to make sure she was okay, and the guilt of knowing her intentions weren’t one hundred percent pure, had woken Kate up several times.
To Kate’s surprise, her attraction to Allison had only grown as the weekend progressed. Unfortunately, it was a one-sided attraction that could never be reciprocated.
Kate had watched Allison interact with her family and heard all the adults present mention how much of a catch Allison was. Kate echoed their sentiments, but a ball of guilt sat heavily in her stomach as she continually pictured herself in Tracy’s place.
"Some sister that makes me," Kate muttered.
Kate made her way to the shower. The weekend had been an emotional rollercoaster, and she was more than ready to jump into work. Kate's job was enjoyable and straightforward. There, she didn't have to worry about setting a foot wrong. She had her place, and she felt comfortable in it.
Kate stepped into the shower and let the tension in her shoulders melt under the gentle stream. As it did, she remembered she was supposed to start work on a retirement party cake for one of the teachers in town.
While both Kate and Jamie were proficient bakers, their strengths lay in different areas. Jamie was a master when it came to pastry, and Kate could decorate with the best of them. Heck, she kept her TV parked on the food channel for inspiration and information on new techniques.
Kate stepped out of the shower with a spring in her step. She had a few new techniques she wanted to try on the cake, and the loose brief the client had given meant she had room for creativity.
Kate quickly dressed and made her way to the kitchen where the smell of eggs and bacon greeted her.
"Glad I timed everything right," Allison said, shifting her attention to the bacon she was frying.
“Oh God, you must have gotten up super early. You didn’t have to do this.”
"I wanted to. You letting me stay here is a pretty big deal—one I appreciate."
Allison took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. “I’m afraid I made too much. I hope you’re hungry.”
“I’m famished.” Kate cocked her head. “Did Tracy call you last night?” Her sister had promised she would.
"She did, but I still had a rough time falling asleep. I know it's dumb, but I can't stop thinking that someone could break into the house."
Kate wrapped an arm around Allison’s shoulders, giving her a gentle squeeze. "It's your mind playing tricks on you. Don't worry about it. Besides, Rose Lake has a low crime rate, and I'm pretty good with a bat. Cue lesbian softball joke."
Allison chuckled and looked up at her. “Thanks for being here for me.”
Kate's eyes dropped to full, pink lips, and her breath hitched as she realized what she was doing. She scurried to the kitchen table, picked up a slice of toast, and buttered it.
"You're welcome," she said, trying to force as much normalcy as she could into her voice. Thankfully Allison was focused on her cooking. It seemed that the magnetic moment had only happened in Kate's mind.
Thank God.
“So, what plans do you have for today?” Kate asked.
“None. Getting ready for the move and meeting your family have kept me pretty busy, but when I woke up, it hit me that I don't have a job. There are no architectural firms in Rose Lake, and even if there were, I'm not sure I'm ready to dive into work. My job was pretty stressful, and I don't know how well I'll handle that. Having Tracy gone is hard enough. I'm not sure I can cope with much else."
Kate passed the butter as Allison settled into the seat opposite her. "I think you should take more time to ease into everyday life. As you said, there's no telling how you will react to a stressful environment. It's better to be safe than sorry."
"I agree, but that still leaves me with entire days to fill." Allison set her fork down and held her head in her hand. "I'm worried all that spare time will allow dark thoughts to creep into my mind again. I quit my job for my sanity, but I wonder if I made the right decision. I was the youngest partner in my firm, and I had loyal clients. What if I never get to that level of success again? I could've asked for a leave of absence, but I didn't. All I could think about was never walking that same street
again. That's starting to look like a flimsy reason compared to the possibility that I may never get an opportunity at partner again."
"Hey," Kate said, reaching for Allison's hand. "Doing what's best for your health is always the right decision. You're still the same talented architect you were before. Any firm would be happy to have you. Brighton's two hours north of here, and it's a large town. I'm sure there's some fancy architecture firm over there. Or you could start your own business right here. Who knows? But don't you go doubting yourself. You needed a change of scenery. You'll be fine."
Allison stared down at their hands, and Kate noticed that she had interlocked their fingers. She needed to get a grip. It wouldn't be long before Allison started reading into her actions.
Kate hastily withdrew, and a gentle blush settled over her cheeks. "Sorry."
“Don’t be. You have a way of calming me down and helping me see sense. I need that right now, especially with Tracy gone.”
Kate took a massive bite to keep from answering until she'd gathered her thoughts. "Good to know. The food is well spiced, by the way. Thanks for cooking."
“It’s eggs and bacon. Anyone can make that. Besides, you helped me kill at least a couple of hours.” Allison smiled wryly. “I only have a dozen or so left to go.”
Kate's heart went out to the older woman. Leaving her old life had been necessary for her mental health, but now she was stuck with nothing to do. She had no friends in Rose Lake, and her girlfriend was gone. And to add insult to injury, she had nothing to do.
I can’t let her fall into a depression.
“How do you feel about helping out at the bakery?”
Allison gasped. “Me?”
"Yes, you." Kate laughed. "You've proven that you have some decent skills in the kitchen. I could use your help with certain tasks. Or if you prefer, you could help Jamie at the counter. You've got such a warm personality; I'm sure you’ll be terrific."
Allison bit her bottom lip and stared at Kate for a good minute. "Are you offering out of pity, or could you use the help?"
"I'm not one to hand out pity gifts. Two women running a bakery is a lot of work. We can get by, but having a third party there would ease things all around for both of us. If you're not into it—"
“I am,” Allison cut in, getting up to hug Kate. “I wanted to make sure I wouldn’t be inconveniencing you. I would love, love, love to help out at the bakery until I find a job or something else to do.”
“If you plan on being with us for more than a few weeks, we’ll need to discuss compensation.”
“Pshaw! Forget about it. You’re doing me a favor. I’d be more than happy to work for free.”
Kate grinned. “In that case, welcome to Patsy’s Bakery.”
A few hours later Kate stood in the kitchen of Patsy's Bakery, humming to herself as she spread buttercream frosting over the first layer of the cake. It would take a good ten minutes to ice the entire cake to her level of perfection, and then the real fun would begin. Kate had taken the first five minutes of her workday to sketch out an ambitious design, and she hoped she would get it all done before the client came to pick the cake up tomorrow morning.
"Okay, missy." Jamie burst into the kitchen, shutting the service door behind her. "I’m going to need a lot more information on why a hot blonde is suddenly helping us out."
Kate placed the icing smoother down and folded her arms. She knew there was no way she could concentrate with Jamie here, and with the way her best friend was practically bouncing on her toes, she knew she was in for a long conversation.
"First off, I don't think Marsha would appreciate you ogling other women. Secondly, Allison is Tracy's girlfriend. She was bored, and I offered to let her help out. How's everything going out there?"
"Unreal." Jamie’s face brightened in amusement. "I do my best to be polite and smile, but her people skills are on another level. Do you know that Mrs. Müller had an entire conversation with her?"
“Wow! Next time she comes in, call me so that I can see this miracle in person.”
“Oh, I will, but there’s more. Mrs. Müller invited Allison over for dinner. She said she wanted to give her a proper welcome to town!”
Kate smiled. “Allison is something else.”
“That she is. So why is she with Tracy?”
Kate’s eye’s bugged out. “What did you say?”
Jamie placed her hands on her hips. "I'm not being mean or anything, but Tracy's pretty intense and in love with her work. Allison seems like a warm, fuzzy person. I don't get what they have in common."
Hope swelled within Kate's chest. She had been thinking along the same lines over the weekend. Sure, Allison and Tracy were both successful businesswomen, and they both seemed like people who hated to sit around and do nothing, but their personalities were so different. Tracy put work first, and Allison was gracious enough to let her pursue her dreams, but how long until she got tired of doing that?
It doesn't matter whether they make it or not. Allison is not an option, and she never will be.
With that thought, Kate dropped down to reality.
“They manage to make it work somehow. Six months is no joke. Besides, I think Tracy’s changed.”
Jamie scoffed. “I’d say. She moved home. With a woman! She’s never had time for either.”
"Maybe Allison's got something to do with it. After dinner on Friday, Tracy called to apologize for getting on me about the business."
“Oh my God! It’s like I’m living in a parallel universe.”
“Tell me about it.”
Jamie stuck a finger into the bowl of frosting and scooped a bit into her mouth. Kate smacked her hand. "Don't do that. It's unhygienic."
"What did you do to make the cherry flavor more intense?"
“I added a squeeze of lemon. It tends to brighten everything up. Now will you please keep your filthy hands out of my frosting,” Kate said, moving the bowl as Jamie reached for another taste.
"Fine. I know when I'm not wanted." Jamie pouted, and Kate got a spoon, scooped up some frosting and handed it to her.
“Big baby.”
"Meanie." Jamie stuck her tongue out. "So, when are you going to tell Allison you have feelings for her?"
“Keep your voice down,” Kate hissed. “I told you. Allison is with Tracy.”
"I'm sure what they have is… nice, but I saw the way you looked at her when you two walked in this morning. There was this energy between you. There’s no way she’s going to be able to ignore that forever."
“You’re talking nonsense. Please get out so I can get some actual work done.”
Jamie raised her chin defiantly. “Are you honestly telling me the thought of you two together hasn’t crossed your mind?”
“It doesn’t matter what I think.”
Kate picked up her icing smoother and worked on smoothing down the next tier. "Allison loves Tracy. I watched them together all day yesterday. I saw the subtle touches and the secret glances. What they have is real. It's not going to disappear because I have a crush on Allison. You also forget one crucial fact. Tracy is my sister. If I went after her girlfriend, it would ruin our family."
“Or it could strengthen it. Let’s face the facts here—Tracy is who she is. She’s proven that by leaving her hot girlfriend behind. She may have been able to play house for however long they’ve been together, but I don’t think she’ll be able to do it much longer.
"I saw Allison cooing over the Andersons' new baby. She strikes me as the type of person who will want to settle down one day. I don't think Tracy's into that kind of thing. If I had to put my money where my mouth is, I'd say Tracy and Allison will fizzle out in a few months. When that happens, I suggest you do what's best for you. You deserve someone as warm, gorgeous, and exciting as Allison."
Kate shut her eyes and tried to force images of Allison holding a child out of her mind. She would make the best mother and a standout partner. Kate wished she'd met Allison first for the hundredth time
, but the fact was that she hadn't. Tracy was making an effort to rekindle their relationship. She couldn't respond to that by stealing her girlfriend.
Kate took a deep breath. “Thank you for sharing your theory. Could you please go out there and make sure Allison’s okay? I’ve got a lot of work to do on this cake.”
Jamie exhaled. “I’ve always loved how loyal you are, but I’ve got a feeling when it comes to Allison, none of that is going to matter. You can’t stand in the way of true love.”
"And you're the expert on that?" Kate guffawed. "How many times have you tried to play matchmaker and failed?"
“Now you’re being hurtful.”
Kate rolled her eyes and pointed firmly at the door. “Get.”
“Okay, okay. Someone’s grumpy,” Jamie muttered as she exited.
Kate shook her head and dove into her decorating.
5
“Morning,” Jamie sang as Allison stepped into the kitchen of Patsy’s Bakery two days later.
“Morning. You’re happier than usual.”
Kate reached for Allison's apron which sat on a hook beside her and handed it to her. "That's because of Marsha. She's flying in today."
"Aww, it's adorable that you are so excited to see your girlfriend."
"More than excited," Jamie said. "As soon as the morning rush is over, I'll be picking my baby up from the airport and taking her straight home. I can't wait to get out of here."
Kate rolled her eyes. "Way to show some team spirit. You're lucky I don't have any custom orders. Otherwise, you wouldn't have been able to take the day off."
Jamie waved a dismissive hand. "I would have been able to take the day off even if you had a custom order. Allison can handle the till on her own."
“Whoa,” Allison said, tying her apron. “I may have had a couple of successful goes at it, but I’m nowhere near as good as you are, Jamie.”
“Maybe it’s time we up your training.” Jamie’s green eyes sparkled with mischief. “I might want to take tomorrow off, too, if today goes the way I think it will.”
Love Me True (Small Town Romances Book 5) Page 3