“It’s a lucky coincidence that Jasper and I rekindled our relationship and, trust me, it had nothing to do with you. How could you do that to me?” Carissa stood quickly, her chair toppling over. Every pair of eyes in The Brewside turned in their direction. Riley could feel the heat on her cheeks.
“Car, please just sit back down and we can—”
“We can what? Talk? What can I say to you now that won’t end up in your column?” She quickly righted the fallen chair.
“I’ve never written about anything we agreed to keep secret between the three of us. I wouldn’t do that. And I never would. I keep my promises, Carissa.”
One tear spilled over, falling down Carissa’s face, a rare occurrence for her typically stoic friend. “I feel like I don’t know anything about you anymore. I need some space.” With that, she grabbed her tote bag and quickly fled the café.
Riley’s heart sank. “Aren’t you going to storm out on me, too?” she asked Elle softly.
Elle shook her head. “Don’t get me wrong, Riley. I’m furious, too. But with me, the Bayside Blogger was more of a pesky fly. With Carissa, she was a fly carrying some disease. You really hurt her. How could you do that?”
“I don’t know,” she said, her voice hitching.
The truth was, keeping something of this magnitude from her two besties was brutal. Especially since she told them every other minute detail of her life.
“The whole Bayside Blogger thing just became so much bigger than everything else.”
That was certainly true, but if Riley was being completely honest, being the Bayside Blogger offered her a respite from her real life. It was like a shield that she got to wear. An invisible shield that only she and Sawyer could see. By enabling her to concentrate on everyone else in town, she didn’t have to think about her own life.
And how empty it really was.
She didn’t have to remember how she’d spectacularly messed up in New York. Or feel the poignant sting of her heartbreak and betrayal.
“I’m going to go check on Carissa,” Elle said.
“Okay, let me know how she is.”
Elle shook her head. “You betrayed my trust, Riley.”
Riley swallowed past the lump growing in the throat. “Please don’t be mad, Elle. Please don’t hate me.”
“I need some time, too. This is a lot to take in, to be honest.” Elle gathered her belongings and walked out of the coffee shop, leaving Riley alone with a pit in her stomach.
What had she done? How could she fix this? Make it right?
Her own tears threatened, but she was very aware that people were still watching her. She felt naked suddenly. Was this how her friends had felt when she’d been writing about them?
“Everything okay over here?”
Riley startled at the sound of Tony’s voice. His eyes were kind as he looked at her.
“Uh, yeah, of course. Carissa wasn’t feeling well,” Riley covered smoothly. “It came on pretty fast. Elle just went to check on her.”
“Hope it wasn’t anything she had here.”
“Nah. She wasn’t feeling great before our yoga class, either.”
“Sorry to hear it. And even sorrier to say that you guys will probably be in the next Bayside Blogger column,” he said.
Riley didn’t have to see her reflection to know that the color had drained from her face.
“You think?” she asked.
Tony nodded. “Definitely. I don’t know if she has this place bugged or what, but seems like she always captures gossip from inside these walls.”
Riley wanted to protest. She wanted to call Tony out on his statement. She got tips and leads nonstop, every single day. And the absolute biggest contributor to her site was from the man standing right in front of her. If only the rest of the town knew how many tips Tony passed on to her, his business would be cut in half.
Her phone sat deep within the shadows of her oversize purse. She didn’t need to look at it to know that Tony had just sent her a message. His preferred method of communication was via direct message on Twitter.
As Tony returned to the front counter, she gathered up the remnants of their carb-fest. She was pretty sure that she’d never regain her appetite after what had just transpired with her two best friends.
Idiot. Stupid. Dumb. If she didn’t write about their fight, that would be as good as outing herself as the blogger to Tony—who might out her to Bayside.
Yet how could she break a promise to her best friends?
She knew chastising herself couldn’t reverse time. But, for the first time in the two-and-a-half years she’d been acting as the almighty gossiper of Bayside, she regretted ever saying anything at all.
Chapter Six
My, my, dear readers, you’ve been active this morning. Plenty of you witnessed something going down between Elle Owens, Carissa Blackwell and Riley Hudson at The Brewside. Unfortunately, no one seems to know just what set off the fireworks between these Bayside besties! But I do...
Sawyer was restless. He had six articles for the Sunday edition of the newspaper sitting in front of him, waiting for their turn under his final review, and for the life of him he couldn’t concentrate on any of them.
He had a lot on his mind. Well, that was the understatement of the year. From saving the newspaper to his mixed-up emotions for Riley to his family’s legacy and back to Riley again, his mind was overflowing with thoughts.
Leaning back, he took in his home office, his favorite spot in the house he’d purchased two years ago. It overlooked the bay and offered plenty of natural light. A large desk was set up between two picture windows. There was a cozy fireplace against one wall, and at Riley’s suggestion he’d added a comfortable recliner and table in front of it.
He crossed to the fireplace now, leaned on the mantel. The answers he sought didn’t spring up from the ashes left in the hearth.
Damn.
He returned to his desk and that’s when he noticed the date. Sawyer cringed. His wedding anniversary. Or it would have been if they’d gone through with it. But Rachel had called it off at the last minute.
He stretched back as far as his leather desk chair would allow. He’d been so bitter with her back then. And embarrassed, if he was being honest. Now he realized he owed her a debt of gratitude from saving them both from what would have been a huge mistake.
He’d met Rachel in college. They’d started dating junior year and it didn’t take long for her to take over every aspect of his life. He’d been in love in the stupid way only a young man could be. Totally, wholeheartedly, without regard to anything besides his ever-present libido.
In essence, he would have done anything she asked.
He did do anything she asked.
How could he not when Rachel was so much fun? The first couple of years they knew each other, she’d been vivacious and exciting, with a love of exploring. She could turn a simple weekend into a huge adventure.
Coming from a small town where people took life slowly, Sawyer had gravitated toward her zest for life. He’d never met anyone like her. She introduced him to new cuisines and different bands and musicians. In the middle of the night, he’d wake up to her phone call and the next thing he knew, they’d find themselves in a different state. Just for fun.
After college graduation, he’d returned home and worked for his father at the Bugle. It hadn’t taken long for Rachel to suggest they go on an adventure. She thought a move to Washington, DC, would be fun.
“Come on, Sawyer. When else are you going to have the opportunity to spread your wings and live a little? You’re only young once.”
It had sounded like a sound argument to him. So he’d quit the Bugle, abandoned his family, left his friends and moved to DC. He would never forget his parents’ faces when he’d announced that he was leaving home. Quitting the newspaper.
He’d taken a job at the Washington Post that he hadn’t particularly liked. After being the second in charge at the Bugle it was tough to become the small fish.
They’d lived in a tiny apartment they could barely afford. Rachel had loved it. Sawyer had been massively discontented. He was used to yard work and a big bay to swim in and actually knowing and talking to your neighbors.
But as long as Rachel was happy...
Of course, it hadn’t taken long for the glimmer and shine of DC to fade away. Soon Rachel became bored with her own work as a graphic designer for a small ad firm and her wanderlust returned.
She began hinting about moving again. To New York City or Los Angeles. Yet another adventure. Only, Sawyer wasn’t enjoying their current one.
He’d decided to take action. Getting engaged would fix the fissures in their relationship, or so he’d stupidly thought.
A week before the big day was set to happen, Rachel came home. She gave him one long look and admitted she wasn’t happy. She was ready for a new experience. The last he heard she’d gone to live in Prague, Budapest, and at some point, she ended up in Iceland.
He guessed her explorations weren’t quite over.
And Sawyer had had the pleasure of returning to Bayside, his family, his friends, and the Bugle with his tail between his legs and a mountain of apologies to dish out.
His parents had been saints. They’d never thrown it back in his face.
Well, Sawyer certainly had Rachel out of his system. And he had swore that he would never, ever be that selfish again.
So he’d made the Bugle his life. He devoted everything to it. That’s why it couldn’t fail now. He couldn’t fail. The Bugle was his family’s legacy and he’d be damned if he saw it wither away and die.
That’s why he had to consider all options, including Dan Melwood’s offer, no matter how extreme his demands seemed.
He reread an email exchange he’d had with the man earlier and then turned to scan the notes he’d taken during their meeting. Maybe there was a way he could convince him to move forward with his offer without bringing the Bayside Blogger into it.
Or maybe revealing the identity of the Blogger wouldn’t be that horrible. Maybe Riley was sick of living a double life. Maybe no one in Bayside would even care.
His doorbell rang. Sawyer wasn’t expecting anyone. In fact, he’d bailed on plans to meet Cam for some beers in order to brood alone.
He yanked open the door and sucked in a breath. Riley stood there, her red hair framing her pretty face. She wasn’t wearing a coat, and the athletic clothes she sported outlined to every curve of her body. But it was her eyes that really caught his attention. The green color wasn’t as bright as usual and they were puffy and red tinged. She’d been crying.
She let out a sob and he pulled her inside.
“Ri, what’s wrong? Did something happen?”
He didn’t even think. With one hand he shut the door while the other reached out and drew her to him, enveloping her in a hug. She came willingly, curling into him, pressing her face against his chest. She let out a long sigh and tightened her grip.
They stayed like that for a long time. Finally she pushed back. “Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize. Come on. I’ll make you some tea.”
She had no idea that he kept it stocked only for her. Sawyer despised tea.
They entered the kitchen and while he set to make the tea, she hopped up on the counter, a habit of hers that amused him. He had a table and a peninsula with three bar stools, but she always went for the counter.
“What’s with the outfit?” he asked. “Pretty subdued for you.”
“What?” She seemed dazed. “Oh, this. I was at a yoga class with Elle and Car—” She broke off on Carissa’s name, let out a delicate hiccup.
Ah, now he was getting to it. “Did you guys have a fight?”
“You could say that.” She looked down, studied her gray UGG boots.
She stayed quiet for another couple of minutes while he finished getting the tea ready. He handed her a mug and then leaned against the opposite counter. He could wait this out. Sawyer was patient. Luckily, Riley was not.
“It was a fight. A horrible fight.”
“That’s unusual. The three of you have been joined at the hip for the last couple of months.”
She frowned. “They’re my best friends. At least, they were.”
“Come on. What could you have possibly done that would sever that relationship?”
Riley sighed. “I really love them. They both mean so much to me, and I would never hurt either of them. But apparently I did.”
Sawyer held up his hands. “Whoa. What are you talking about?”
“We were having carbs and they were talking about much they hated the Bayside Blogger. I was shocked because I always thought I was helping them. Or, you know, the Bayside Blogger was helping them. And then...” She met his stare. “I told them I was the Bayside Blogger,” she said in a fast whisper.
Sawyer gripped the edge of the counter hard so he didn’t fall off in shock. “You did what? I thought we had an agreement. No telling anyone your identity.” As soon as the words left his mouth he felt like a hypocrite. Dan Melwood’s emails were still up on his computer in the office.
Not to mention that given the fact he was pretty sure Carissa and Elle had not reacted kindly to this news, it was doubtful that others would be fine knowing the Bayside Blogger’s true identity.
“Oh, Riley,” he said, suddenly feeling tired.
“I know, I know, I’m horrible.” She covered her face with both hands. “You hate me now, too, don’t you?” she asked between shaking fingers.
He relented. Sawyer jumped off the counter and crossed to her. Gently he removed her hands from her face and held on to them. “Ri, look at me.” It took her a long moment, but finally her gaze slid up to his. He could see the moisture pooling in her eyes.
“I could never hate you. And I certainly don’t hate you over this...incident.”
“But you wish I hadn’t told them, right?” She tried to remove her hands from his, but Sawyer held on tight.
“No. Yes. I mean, I’m not really sure at the moment. I know that I would have liked for you to give me a heads-up before you told them or anyone else.”
She tilted her head, causing a piece of hair to fall and cover her eye. “So you could talk me out of it?”
He pushed the strand of hair off her face, lingering for a moment. Her hair was so shiny and silky. And despite coming from a yoga class, she smelled fresh, like a new bouquet of flowers. “I’m not sure if I would have tried to talk you out of it. But you and I have been keeping this secret for a long time now. Maybe it’s been getting too hard to keep the truth from the people we care about.”
It was this thing that brought the two of them together. But what if it was beginning to separate them from everyone else, too?
Sawyer met her gaze for a second before taking in her perfectly shaped nose and full lips. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. She was studying him just as intensely. Her chest was rising and falling and her mouth opened slightly into an appealing little O.
Perhaps the Bayside Blogger secret wasn’t the only thing bringing them together.
He wanted to kiss her again. That’s all he’d wanted to do since the last time it happened. But there was hurt and sadness in her eyes, and that needed to be dealt with first.
“How mad were they when you told them?”
She whistled. “Pretty pissed. Carissa especially. Elle was a little more reasonable. But that’s Elle’s personality.”
“Do you think either of them will tell anyone else?”
“No,” she said quickly, the loyalty to her friends evident. “Like I said, they’re pissed for sure. But I think they get the repercussions. At least, I
hope they do.”
“Give them some time. A couple days to cool off.” A thought occurred to him. “Elle and Cam are engaged. I hear Jasper and Carissa are moving in together. What if there’s pillow talk and the guys end up blabbing?”
Riley’s face deflated. “Oh, God, I don’t know. What have I done? I’m such an idiot.”
Sawyer disagreed. An idiot? No. Impulsive and often times overzealous? Absolutely. He stepped closer to her and framed her face in his hands. “Riley Hudson, you are not an idiot. You’re one of the most caring, loving, smart, funny, loyal people I know. I hate when you’re down on yourself.”
She scrunched up her nose. “Yeah, well, I hate when I go and do something really stupid that I can’t take back.”
“Everyone has regrets.”
“Not as many as me, apparently.” She laughed lightly but there was still a hurt expression on her face.
Sawyer realized, and not for the first time, that there were things Riley was still keeping to herself. Secrets that might bring them closer if she would only open herself up to him.
He stepped even closer to her. “I wish you would talk to me, Ri.”
“I do talk to you. Like, every day.”
He placed a finger against her lips. “Really talk to me. Let me in.”
The indecision was clear as day. It was a struggle for her. Maybe it was that, or maybe it was the fact that her eyes still held so much emotion after her rough morning. Sawyer wasn’t sure. All he knew was that they were close, so close, and he gave in to his wants.
He touched his lips to hers. She inhaled a quick breath, and followed it up by lacing her arms around his neck and pulling him closer to her. The longing to feel her lips on his again subsided, only to be replaced by something much more potent. Lust, pure lust, washed over him.
His mouth moved greedily over hers, reveling in the taste of her, the smell, the touch. She made a little sound of longing in her throat and it almost undid him.
She was still sitting on the counter, and next thing he knew, he was scooping her up. She gasped when he lifted her.
Bayside's Most Unexpected Bride Page 7