“Well, gee, thanks. I was afraid you were going to say ‘rugged beast’ or something.”
He smiles and brushes a loose strand of hair away from my face. “I love that I give you that look.” Oh, here we go with the ring around the L-word.
“What else do you love?” I ask him, challenging him to step up to the plate. I need to nip this one in the bud, because let’s be honest, I think it’s time to put both of us out of our misery. He places his hand to my face and brushes his fingers against my soft cheek.
“Your drive. Your passion. You know what you want. This whole shop expansion. The way you are with Jake and Katie. With me…” I am full to the brim with affection. And that is the exact reason I give in.
“I love you,” I blurt out. There, I said it. Cat's finally out of the bag. No taking it back. I feel Trent tense up, eyes frozen on mine. I may have just made an error in judgment with this one.
And three, two, one…in a flash, he stands and picks me up. Like a sack of potatoes, he throws me over his shoulder. This is definitely not going the way I thought it would. He walks us back toward the bedroom. Deciding the ten extra steps it would take to get to my room is way too far, he stops, slides me down his chest, slams my body against the wall and crushes his lips into mine. His kiss is powerful and possessive and totally hot.
“Thank fuck,” he declares between lips and teeth.
“Huh?” I murmur. I really would like to do less talking and more of this kissing thing.
He lets go of my lower lip, bending to take a healthy love nip from my neck. “Finally, you said it. I’ve been waiting for weeks for you to say it.”
Again I ask, “Huh?” He is sex-tonguing my neck and it feels glorious.
“After the whole stamina comment, I couldn’t step on my manhood any more by confessing my love to you like a sappy teenager. So I’ve been waiting for you to say it first.”
I pull away. Weeks? “Wait. So you’ve been waiting for me to say it?”
“Fuck yes.”
“For weeks?”
“Babe, I think I’ve loved you since the day I set eyes on your sweet face. Your fake anger turned me the fuck on. I think I beat off to that memory of you in that tight little sugar tank top for that whole week.”
What?
Let’s be honest, folks. That. Was. Hot.
“You need to kiss me and like five minutes ago.”
“My pleasure, Sweetcheeks.”
That was the end of our talk and we spent the rest of the day doing other sort of talking.
Chapter 25
Have I ever mentioned how great it is to be in love? I mean, who would have thought it would be this much fun? I can’t remember the last time I was mad or angry at anything. The world just seems brighter, like I am now living life in high-definition or something. I think about May’s wish for me and I know she would be proud. I mean, not to beat a dead horse as they say, but they aren’t kidding when they say love makes the world go round. I could probably run out of wine again and still have a smile on face.
Okay, too far? Maybe.
Anywho, life is great. It’s been two weeks since the L-bomb was dropped and I swear, if I knew it was going to be like this, I would have said it as a welcoming speech when I opened my door that first day. The expansion project has been going awesome! The building codes were approved and they started the renovations this week. I was a wee bit nervous when the machine went to the wall, knocking a huge hole through the barrier between both shops, but once most of the wall was taken down, it was like a whole new world in there. The construction was a bit hectic, what with trying to run a business around it and all. We had to take out some seating in the already tiny space and that caused some cat fights with the regulars. Who would have known that the local customers actually had daily dibs on seating? Some of them made Betty and Mrs. Humphries look like angels.
I have the other side of the shop covered up with a tarp. I’ve caught a few customers trying to take a peak, but Katie or I jump and swat them away. I want it to be a surprise.
I have already been planning the grand opening party. Of course, wine will be served. I’ve been coming into work earlier in the mornings to get a head start on the baking list so I have more free time to play in the new space. I’ve just finished icing the last batch of almond spice cupcakes and I have to head next door to finalize the floor material going in tomorrow.
I head toward the front, passing Katie on my way out. I see her in the corner, interviewing a really cute boy. She said he may be the one. This is his second interview, and from what I’ve learned about the first one, he is a student at the local community college, plays football for their team, enjoys cooking, and the best part, he’s single. Katie’s finding, not mine. I wink at her and make my way next door.
I open the door and see Edwardo, my contractor, speaking to a woman in a suit.
Oh no. Suit equals no good. I swear everything is up to code and approved. Did I submit everything? Shit. I should have brought over cupcakes. Nothing like bribing a city inspector with sugar. “There she is.” Edwardo points to me. Gee, thanks for selling me out. There goes my idea of pretending I was Katie and taking off.
“Thank you,” the woman says and turns to me. She struts my way and closes the space between us. “Hello. Ms. Westcott?”
“That’s me. I think. Unless this is a warrant and you’re here to take me in, then I swear I didn’t do it.” Okay, I’m not sure where that awkward comment came from.
“Okay then, Ms. Westcott. My name is Silvia Weathers. I’m a reporter for WGGN News stationed out of Cleveland, Ohio. We have been getting a lot of noise from this small town about May’s. Seems your success has spread like a wildfire. “
Huh? “Come again?”
“Ms. Westcott, it seems like you have become a legend in this town. Your ability to bake a cupcake that tastes ‘better than sex’, as a”—she lifts a tiny notepad and flips it open—“a Fran Humphries stated word for word.”
Mrs. Humphries’s first name is Fran? And she thinks my cupcakes taste better then sex? I don’t know whether to be touched or grossed-out. I do not want to know anything about Mrs. Humphries’s personal activities or have her name and sex put in the same sentence ever again!
“Ms. Westcott, I was hoping to set up an interview with you. It would be an honor to have you sit down with me and let me pick your brain on May’s and your story.”
“My story?”
“Sure, your gift. It’s clear that you have one. No baker from here to two towns over could compete with you. They’ve even admitted to sending out secret staff to May’s to stock their own stores. You have a gift, Ms. Westcott, and we want to share that with the world. If you agree we, would like to set up a time to interview you. We will set up a photo-shoot and it will not only be broadcasted on the national news, but it will be in the next issue of Cooking Today Magazine.”
Holy. Crap.
I know I’m good, but not this good. This is like awesome. Like crazy awesome! Like, I’m going to be famous, awesome. Well, it sounds like, according to her, I’m already famous for my baking.
“Still with me, Ms. Westcott?” Mental smack in the head. Stay on Earth.
“Oh yes, sorry, you just are catching me off guard with all this. It’s a lot to take in. In a good way, of course.”
“I bet. Well, it sounds like you’ve earned all the press you get.”
“Thank you, Ms…”
“Silvia Weathers, but please, call me Silvia.”
“Silvia, thank you. Yes, I would love to sit down for an interview. Thanks for thinking my story and May’s is worth the air time.”
“Oh, trust me, I do. We have had some secret shoppers in your bakery all week and I’ve never seen grown men fight so much over cupcakes in my life.”
At this, I laugh. I wish we all could just get along. There are enough cupcakes for all.
Silvia proceeds to pull out her planner and we set a preliminary date for the interview. Sh
e tells me that she is going to schedule the show for right before the grand opening of the expansion for greater exposure. This gets me all sorts of giddy; there is nothing better than free advertising.
We head back to May’s and I box-up three dozen varieties of cupcakes and tarts galore for the station and her staff. I try to play it cool, but when she says her goodbyes and puts out her hand, I actually hug her, totally blowing my collected façade.
I tell Katie I’m taking the rest of the day off and I go straight home and find my boyfriend. Ahhh, love that word. Right after I tell him my exciting news, I’m going to insist he takes me in every part of the house to celebrate.
Chapter 26
The whole way home, I jam out to my old Prince CD because, let’s face it, it never loses its luster.
My throat is sore by the time I make it home. I pull into the driveway and see Trent’s Jeep parked in his driveway. I jump out and run inside my house.
“Trent?” I call his name in my most theatrical voice.
I am met with silence in return. Boo. “Trent?” I try again, and still nothing. Where is that hunk of love? Elvis pun totally intended.
He has to be next door. Without even putting any thought to it, I head next door, go straight up the steps and open the door. I don’t even hesitate as I walk into the house. Things are looking up!
“Trent?” I call out. Maybe he is in the shower and I can surprise him with a little washy washy on his wanky wanky. I’m too funny for my own good. My brilliant ideas are endless.
I walk past the kitchen and there he is, standing there, looking at me like a deer in headlights. “Hey, I was calling you. I got the greatest news toda—”
“What the hell is she doing here?!”
In my excitement to find Trent, I fail to pay attention to my surroundings and miss the other person in the room. The one and only she-devil.
“You just let her walk in the house like that?”
My elated mood and playful spirit take a nosedive at the sight of her.
“Cassie, watch it.”
Cassie? Who’s Cassie?”
“What, T? I’m sorry, but I don’t appreciate Bitter Betty over here just walking into my house. I swear, she is paying me for all the damages she’s caused to it.”
“Cass, I’m warning you,” Trent growls out.
“Don’t tell me you’re sticking up for her?” She pulls her eyes away from Trent to stare me down. She goes back and forth from my shocked face to Trent’s distressed expression.
Putting the pieces together, she suddenly stops at Trent and the questioning sneer leaves her mouth. “You’re kidding me. Are you sleeping with her?”
“Cassie, I said knock it off. That shit ain’t any of your business,” Trent shoots back, his jaw clenching.
“Any of my business?” she screeches. “This bitch has been giving me a run for my money ever since Jeff and I got together. She has been nothing but a dull fish to her ex for years. Trapping him in a loveless marriage. Now she is all bitter because he finally got out and found someone who he actually loves. May I also remind you that she keeps vandalizing my house?!” She ends that on a scoff, jerking her head at me.
The color is draining completely from my face. I am in utter shock. Jeff’s version of why we weren’t working out. Putting me in the guilty seat. Her being the victim! Her horrible words are ringing in my ear. Her translation of how our whole drama played out is sucking the battle right out of me.
“Cassie, I said shut the fuck up. If you say one more word, I swear to God—”
“T, you don’t know how horrible she was to me and Jeff. You don’t know what I went through dealing with her shit. You’re supposed to be on my side with this, you’re my brother. You need to be standing beside me in this,” she finishes.
This is when things get blurry for me. I think she just called him her brother. I look at him, mortified. “She’s your sister?” I choke out on a whisper.
“Ce…”
I put my hand up for him to stay where he is. This is simply not happening right now.
“Aw, how cute, you guys have nicknames for each other?”
Trent takes a warning step toward his sister. “Shut up, Cass,” he barks out.
She turns to me again. “Wow. Sleeping with the neighbor. Pretty hypocritical of you. Should have figured this one out when Jeff told me to come and check on things over here.”
At this point, I tune her out. I cannot take my burning eyes off of Trent.
“You knew the whole time.”
The pain bleeding from his guilty eyes confirms my worst fear. He did. He knew what I went through and never told me. His sister was the she-devil.
“Well, now that that’s cleared up, I think you should take your bitter hussy ass back next door and get the fuck outta my house.”
I wish I was a stronger person. I wish in this exact moment I do a hundred other things than I actually, physically do. I wish I would jump on Candy like a crazed tiger and rip her hair out of her scalp, possibly take a kick to Trent’s balls while I was at it. I wish I would tell them both where to shove it and that I hope they die a slow, painful death. But unfortunately, I don’t fight. I shut down and, after taking one last glance at Trent, turn around and walk out. I hear arguing behind me, and before I know it Trent is at my heels, grabbing my arm.
“Ce, please listen to me.”
“Get your hands off me.” I twist around and glare at him. I want to say more, do more, scream—anything—but I feel sick and fear I’m going to throw up all over she-devil’s living room floor. “Don’t touch me. And don’t follow me.” I spit out the words like acid bubbling up out of my throat.
I turn and walk out the door. I walk down the porch steps and across the lawn. I walk up my steps, across my porch and to my door. I know this because I am chanting the words in my head. That might have been the only way I would have made it inside without collapsing.
The second the door slams, I fall to the ground. There’s nothing more damaging than betrayal, and Trent just handed me his straight on a silver platter. He knew all along who I was and what happened. How could he not tell me his sister was the enemy? Was he setting me up? Were they in this together to get back at me? Why would he not tell me? And why was she making it out to seem like I was the bad guy? My husband cheated on me! With her! I didn’t go apeshit or make him stay with me! I walked away quietly and fair. Okay, so maybe not quietly, but I had to show some emotion at what was happening to me. And what did Cassie mean when she said Jeff was in a dull marriage? Was I a bad wife? Since when was Jeff such a poor victim in our colorless marriage? Last I checked, it takes two to tango. Both parties were at fault. All these crazy questions are flying around in my head, all making this look like it’s my fault.
No way. I’m starting to lose focus on the issue at hand here.
Trent lied to me.
Why would he ruin what we had? He knows how I feel about trust and honesty. On more than one occasion, I shared with him the whole fiasco with Jeff and the neighbor, and he just stayed quiet! He didn’t at any point step in and say, “Well, if you must know, that floozy is my sister.”
It’s like history is rewriting itself, but this time I’m the author. I knew this was a bad idea. I knew this wasn’t going to end well, and sure enough, that’s how it’s playing out. Why did I have to fall in love with the neighbor? Why does his sister have to be the she-devil? Inside my head right now, I’m screaming bloody murder. I am tearing apart my life limb for limb at the mess I’ve made. Looks like it’s come full circle with my life next door.
In this whole battle, I do not cry. I don’t know why. You would think now would be a pretty appropriate time to turn on the waterworks. I’m leaning against the door, when I hear the footsteps. I know its Trent. He has that powerful vibe that you can just feel when he’s approaching.
He knocks on the door and tries to open it but my body blocks the door from moving any further. “CeCe?”
Hearin
g my name on his lips, once a musical treat, but now a painful tug at my beat-up heart. I refuse to say broken because I refuse to admit that I am weak.
“CeCe, let me in, baby. Please let me explain.”
“Go away,” I say in a tone that attempts and fails to show no emotion.
“CeCe...” He makes another attempt to push the door but I don’t budge. It seems that my heavy heart and emotions are giving me the strength I need to stop him from getting in.
“I’m not going to tell you again, Trent. Leave. And do not come back here.”
“Babe...”
“Do not call me that. Do not call me ANYTHING!” I stand up and whip my body around, opening the door, slamming it against the wall. “I think your sister did enough talking, which definitely made me realize you didn’t do enough of it. You’re a liar, a coward for being a liar and a fucking asshole for what you’ve done.” I am pretty choked-up by the end of my tirade, but I refuse to cry. I refuse to give him that. “I hope you sleep well at night knowing you really pulled one over on me here.”
The pain flowing out of Trent’s eyes is killing me. I can sense his fear of how this is going to end. I fight to stay strong though. “CeCe, stop. Don’t do this.”
“I’m not doing anything, Trent. You’ve had the pleasure of doing it all yourself.”
He steps forward. “CeCe, goddammit, it’s not how it looks. You know I love—”
It’s amazing how your body naturally reacts to certain situations. I don’t let him finish spitting out those tainted words; my hand goes up and slaps the last of that sentence right out of him. Since I don’t think either one of us saw that coming, we both freeze at the aftermath of my actions. My adrenaline is shooting through the roof right now. My hand is tingling from the hard contact it made to Trent’s face. He makes no effort to retaliate. He just looks at me, pained, because he knows this is the beginning of the end for us.
“I’m not going to tell you again. Get off my porch. And don’t come back here.”
Life Next Door (Love Not Included Series Book 2) Page 13