Add Romance and Mix

by Shannon M Harris

  “So, you want her to taste your cream filling, huh?”

  “What?” Briley spluttered. “Grow up, Kat.” She flipped her off, never taking her eyes off the road.

  “Oh, God. You should see the look on your face.” At the stoplight, Briley turned to glare at a laughing Kat, who took the opportunity to lift her phone and snap a picture.

  “You are such a shit.”

  “Oh, Bri, I think it’s admirable you want her to taste your cupcake considering who she looks like.”

  “Keep your mouth shut about that. Besides,” Briley said, pulling into the parking lot of the grocery store, and parking the truck. “She doesn’t look exactly like her.”

  “Whatever you say, sis.”

  Briley fought the urge to pull away from her when Kat slipped her arm around her waist but decided it wasn’t worth the effort. She scanned the parking lot, then came to a complete stop when she spotted a familiar SUV parked close to the store. Plenty of people owned Escalades in Garriety, but Leah was the only one that owned a burgundy one in their neighborhood. Her heart pounded when she took in the familiar license plate to confirm her suspicions. Really? What were the odds she’d be here today? At this hour?

  “Bri?”

  “I…” Of course Leah would be here before Briley started phase one of avoiding the woman. Why didn’t the universe just take her now?

  Kat saw where she looked, grinned, and slapped her back. “Perfect. You know she has to eat too, and if you’re lucky, she’ll find something else just as tasty.” She steered Briley toward the grocery store, ignoring the pout on her face.

  “I can’t go in there.” She stepped away from Kat. “There’s another grocery store across town.”

  “We are here now.” She grasped Briley’s shoulders. “Take a deep breath. Now another one. Good.” She dropped her hands from Briley’s shoulders and pointed to the store. “Don’t be a baby. Isn’t that what you told me? Let’s go.”

  “Boy, Kat. I always look forward to your pep talks. So inspiring.”

  “Damn straight. I can record you a bunch, if you like. That way you’ll never forget.”

  Briley rolled her eyes and avoided Kat’s arm, bypassing her and entering the store. Kat grabbed a cart and followed behind her. It only took twenty minutes for Briley to find the items on her list, and she hadn’t seen Leah once. Considering the store wasn’t that big, she would chalk this up to a miracle. Briley: One. Fate: Zero.

  When she turned around after grabbing two cans of pumpkin to place them in her cart, Kat had disappeared with it. “She was just here.” Her grumbling came to a halt when she turned the corner toward the produce section. She backpedaled and plastered herself against the closest shelf, heart pounding in her chest. Leah and Mrs. Hanlin were talking by the produce section.

  The first step to avoiding your prey is to know where they’re located. Step one, check. Now she had to find Kat before Kat found Leah and Mrs. Hanlin. All she had to do was make sure they were still there, then she would head in the opposite direction, looking for Kat.

  A few deep breaths later, Briley peeked her head around the shelf and gulped, dread filling the pit of her stomach. Kat had stopped beside Leah and Mrs. Hanlin at the apples. Okay. She was a grown woman. She could do this. Maybe. Before she could escape, Kat caught her eye and Briley shook her head, mouthing ‘no’ to her. When Kat smiled, and lifted her phone, both Leah and Mrs. Hanlin turned in her direction, but she quickly moved out of sight.

  “Hey, Briley. Come say hello.”

  Kat’s voice carried further than it should have in the small store. Crap. Why hadn’t she thought just to call Kat? She would have to say hello now. I can do this. All she had to do was pretend she hadn’t seen them or wasn’t avoiding them so as not to look like a complete idiot. Piece of cake.

  Briley glared at the old woman giving her dirty looks by the canned peaches, took a deep breath, then rounded the shelf. With more confidence than she felt, she walked toward the three women that watched her approach. Mrs. Hanlin looked genuinely happy to see her. Leah smiled at her and Kat had an evil grin on her face.

  “Hello. I didn’t see you all over here.” She set her two cans in the cart then gripped the handle. “It’s such a pleasant day to grocery shop.” As soon as the words left her mouth, a huge clap of thunder shook the building. “I just love a good thunderstorm.”

  Disbelievingly, Leah eyed her. “We saw you peeking around the corner over there.” She pointed to the aisle Briley had hid in.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She pushed her glasses up higher on the bridge of her nose even as Kat shook her head at her. Briley had always been a terrible liar.

  “Oh, Bri, here you go.” Kat lifted her phone and showed her a picture of her peeking around the shelf with a strained look on her face, then proceeded to show it to the other two women. Briley kept her cool and ignored the pointed stare Leah aimed her way.

  “Thanks, Kat.”

  “You’re welcome. What are sisters for?”

  “Briley.” Mrs. Hanlin touched her arm. “We were just talking about how Leah resembles some of the actors you’re fans of.”

  Briley gulped and avoided Leah’s gaze; she instead focused her death glare on Kat. “Really?”

  Kat shrugged. “Mrs. Hanlin brought it up. She has been in your house, you know?”

  “That’s good,” Briley said.

  “So, Briley, who is it I resemble?” Leah asked. It took all of Briley’s self-control not to fidget at the look in Leah’s eyes. How could just a glance from the woman throw her in a tailspin?

  “Oh.” Mrs. Hanlin tapped her fingers on her cart. “What’s her name? Cal…Calista Flockhart and Kyra Sedgwick. I was always a fan of The Closer.”

  “Who isn’t? She’s amazing.” Briley wanted to crawl under a rock and die. She decided to downplay it and turned to Leah. She looked at her without really looking at her. “I don’t see it.”

  “I’ve been told I favor them before,” Leah added, but continued to stare at Briley as if she was trying to figure her out.

  “No.” Briley shook her head and wiped her brow. Jesus. Did they have the heat on in this store? “I still don’t see it.” Of course she saw it. How could she not? Leah was a dead ringer for Flockhart. The woman whose face, along with Sedgwick’s, plastered her entertainment room. Her most prized possession was an eleven by seventeen-inch poster of Cat Grant autographed by Calista. It had taken her forever to get it signed and that was only from sheer dumb luck.

  “Hmm.” Kat fingered her phone’s number pad then walked around Mrs. Hanlin and stood beside Leah. She raised her phone that showed a picture of Calista and placed it by Leah’s face. “Do you see the resemblance now?”

  Briley was going to kill her when they got home, slowly, and with a blunt knife. She leaned forward and squinted. “I guess there’s some likeness.”

  Kat nodded, then slipped her phone back in her pocket. “Are you ladies making anything special or just doing a bit of shopping?”

  “I always do my weekly shopping on Friday morning,” Mrs. Hanlin said.

  “I just needed to pick up a few things,” Leah said.

  Briley glanced in Leah’s cart. Chicken, fresh fruits, vegetables, a pack of Oreos, and several other items.

  “What about you, Briley?” Leah asked. “Doing a bit of light shopping?”

  “Actually, she’s…”

  “Yes,” Briley blurted, before Kat could finish. “Just picking up a few things.”

  Leah eyed Briley’s cart then her face. “Are you going to bake something?”

  “Oh, I hope so.” Mrs. Hanlin clapped her hands.

  “She’s going to bake a batch of cupcakes,” Kat rushed out before Briley could cut her off.

  “Cupcakes.” Briley nodded. Oh God. Did Leah just take a step closer to her? Stupid crush and stupid Kat. “That’s what I’m going to make.” She couldn’t help the blush that raced up her neck. Now every time she thought of cupc
akes she would think about what Kat said.

  “Are you all right?” Leah asked, placing a hand on Briley’s forearm.

  Briley fought the urge not to pull away from her. For one, it would be rude and the last thing she wanted was to hurt Leah’s feelings. Leah hadn’t done anything wrong.

  “You do seem a mite flushed, Briley, dear,” Mrs. Hanlin said.

  Briley waved her free hand in the air as if she was swatting flies. “I’m fine.” She laughed. “F…fine.”

  Kat snickered and the other two turned to her. Briley warned her with her eyes not to say anything, but she knew it was a losing battle. She would poison her dinner tonight. “She’s just nervous about what her cupcake tastes like,” Kat said.

  “You sure you’re all right, Briley? You’re even redder now.” Leah looked between them and squeezed Briley’s arm.

  Kat leaned close to Leah. “I think she’s just worried about whether someone will like the filling of her cupcake.” Kat winked at her.

  “Oh, my God.” Briley hung her head.

  Leah’s eyes were on Briley and she patted Briley’s arm before pulling her hand back, placing them on her own cart. “What kind of cupcakes?”

  “Turtle,” Briley muttered, thankful Leah had changed the subject.

  Mrs. Hanlin placed a hand over Briley’s that clutched the cart. “If I’m not mistaken, the last time you made them was a few years ago, and you were trying to woo Beth without really wooing her. Weren’t you?”

  Briley opened her mouth then clamped it shut. She hadn’t remembered that. Come to think of it, the only time she did make them was to impress someone. Mrs. Hanlin was as old as dirt. How could she remember so much? “Yes, it was. But this time,” she turned to Leah, “it is a gesture to forge the divide between us.” Oh, for fuck’s sake. Did those words really just come out of her mouth? One look at Kat’s face confirmed that, yes, they had. The faster she got this over, the quicker she could get her first murder out of the way. “I am really sorry for the way I’ve treated you.”

  “Apology accepted, just like last night. Let’s put all that behind us,” Leah said and Briley nodded in agreement. “I’ve never had turtle cupcakes before. So, since you apologized twice, I hope I’m still getting some?”

  “Oh, Leah,” Kat said. “I don’t think that’s anything you have to worry about. You will definitely be eating her cupcake.”

  “And with that,” Briley said, her stomach doing some weird flip flop movement she’d never felt before when Leah tilted her head and smiled at her, “I think it’s time to go. Kat, you can either come with me, or stay here and walk home.” The faster they got away from Mrs. Hanlin and Leah, the better.

  Kat’s eyes widened. “That’s fifteen miles away and it could start raining at any minute.”

  “It would be good exercise and you could get a free shower. I’m trying to save money since the city jacked up our water bill.”

  “It is a shame. Seems every month they up it,” Mrs. Hanlin threw in.

  “I’ll see you ladies later,” Kat said.

  “Briley,” Mrs. Hanlin called out. “Why don’t you and your sister join me for brunch next Sunday?”

  “We would love to,” Briley said, pushing her cart away and toward the register. After she paid for her things, loaded them in the truck, then strapped herself in, she turned to Kat. “What did you think you were doing in there?”

  Kat flinched. “You’re not really mad, are you? Bri, I love you. She likes you. While I think you need to take your time getting to know her, I do believe she really likes you, but is probably scared. You just need to talk to her. Spend time with her.”

  “That’s easier said than done.” Briley thumped her forehead on the steering wheel. “When every time I look at her I want to kiss her.”

  “She is a looker. Besides, you can think of brunch as your second date if you don’t manage to spend any time with her between now and then,” Kat happily threw in.

  “What?” Briley whipped her head around. “Second date. What are you talking about? What did you do?” She poked Kat on the shoulder.

  “Me?” Kat pointed to her chest. “I didn’t do anything. You’re the one who agreed to brunch.”

  “Well, hell. You played me again.”

  “Not just me. Mrs. Hanlin also believes you two would make a good pair. We only want what’s best for you.”

  With a sigh, Briley rested her forehead on the steering wheel. “I understand you both wanting to help, but Kat, please don’t interfere. For now, she just wants to be friends. We should respect that. If I push, I could lose the right to even be her friend.”

  “I promise,” Kat said.

  Briley lifted her head and started the truck. “Pinky promise.” She held her pinky out.

  “We’re not kids anymore, Bri.” Briley wiggled her pinky and Kat grabbed a hold of it. “I promise.”

  “At least I won’t have to poison your dinner tonight.”

  Kat did a double take. “Wait…what?”

  Chapter Five

  After ten minutes of driving around, Briley finally found a parking space that was only a few blocks away from the art festival. Briley hadn’t made up her mind whether she wanted to come, but once she mentioned it to Kat, Kat made up her mind for her.

  The cool night air, along with the sounds and smells of the festival, gave her a second wind. This was the second year for the festival and, by the looks of it, they were well on their way to outpace the attendance of last year. Briley tapped her foot to the drumbeat, as Kat used her phone. A few local bands were performing.

  “Ready?” Briley stretched her arms above her head and waited for Kat’s reply.

  Kat slipped her phone into her pocket. “I’m glad we decided not to have dessert at the house. Whatever that delicious smell is, I want some.”

  “Me, too.” The sidewalks weren’t too crowded and Briley waved at a few people she knew as they made their way to the first tent. Local artists of all ages were sectioned off along the downtown streets, selling their wares. The food vendors were allocated to a street over, and the band had erected a small stage at the town square.

  They browsed the first few stalls until something caught Kat’s eye down the road. “What is it?” Briley asked.

  Kat whipped back around. “Oh, nothing.” She rocked back on her heels and Briley knew something was up.

  “Nothing?”

  Kat crossed her arms and if Briley didn’t know her, she would be intimidated, but Briley knew she was a big mush ball.

  “That’s what I said.” Kat grabbed Briley’s arm and steered her toward another stall. This artist made tiny creatures out of scrap metal. Briley picked up a grasshopper, turning it this way and that way when she sensed she was being watched. Kat stood to her left, so she knew it wasn’t her. She paid for her three creatures, tucked the small bag into her purse, then turned around.

  It only took a second for her eyes to latch onto Leah, who, by this time, was turned away from her at another stall.

  “Go talk to her,” Kat said, quietly.

  “Should I?” Briley gnawed on her bottom lip.

  Kat gave her a slight push in Leah’s direction. “Yes.”

  She pushed Kat’s hand away. “I’m going.” After brushing the non-existent lint off her shirt, Briley walked toward Leah, then stepped up beside her, glancing at the small paintings on the table.

  “I like this one.” Leah said, pointing at one painting while not looking up. “What do you think, Briley? Do you think it would go with the decor in my living room?” Leah turned her head and directed her attention to Briley.

  Why did this woman have to be so pretty? Briley’s breath caught in her chest. Get a grip. “Which one?” Leah pointed it out. Briley tilted her head, thinking back to Leah’s living room. “It will.”

  Leah picked it up and handed it to the artist, who quickly wrapped it and rang up the sale.

  “Thank you. You two enjoy your evening,” the artist said.
r />   “We will.” Leah touched Briley’s arm and they stepped onto the sidewalk. “Are you here with your sister?”

  “Yes. She’s around her somewhere.” Briley looked to the stall they’d left, but Kat had vanished. Figured. She turned back to Leah. “Having fun?”

  “I am. I read where this is only its second year.”

  “They have double the vendors this year than last year.” Why was this awkward? That would never do. “Want to explore?” Briley caught Leah’s eye.

  “I would like that.” They set off and Briley stuffed her hands in her pockets to fight the urge to hold Leah’s hand. As they walked, Briley commented on several vendors she knew.

  The closer they got to the music, the louder the bass was, and the faster her heart pounded. Leah slipped her arm through Briley’s, who almost stumbled at the contact.

  “Let’s sit and listen to the band,” Leah said. Once seated, Briley bounced her knee up and down and kept her hands to herself, afraid of touching the other woman. Leah moved an inch closer and their legs were touching. “Do you know the band?”

  The poster was located to the right of the stage, The Longhorns. “Can’t say that I do.” She’d never heard them before. “They’re not bad.” She’d check to see if they were selling any CDs when they left. Supporting the local talent was important to Briley.

  “Is it only country music that will perform tonight?” Leah touched her arm.

  Briley narrowed her eyes at Leah, but fought the urge to go on the defensive. “Do you not like country music?” Briley had no problem with differing views on music, but she’d argued with quite a few people over the years who constantly had a negative attitude toward the genre.

  A smile played on her lips. “It’s not my go to genre, but I have nothing against it. Almost looked like you were ready to fight me.”