Honey laughed. “Oh, you’re good.”
Kit beamed and curtsied. “I sold a lot of pie in my day.”
“So I heard. I’m sorry, about what happened with your family’s business. Alva mentioned it to me,” Honey said by way of explanation. “That’s brutal.”
“It was,” Kit replied readily. “In some ways, I can’t believe it’s been less than a year ago since I came here and took Lani’s job offer. I feel like Atlanta was a lifetime ago. A very different lifetime.” She smiled, clearly happy and content. “If you’d told me I’d come here and find not only a new career path, but a family, a community, a home—I wouldn’t have believed it possible. Part of me feels like I’ve been here forever, but Sugarberry is like that.” She gave Honey a reassuring look. “You’ll understand. You’ll be so glad you came here, Honey.”
“I already am. At first I was ready to turn around and head back home.” Honey smiled. “It was probably a good thing my car broke down, or I might have. But I already do understand what you’re saying, and I am glad I’m staying. Everyone has been so . . . just so great. I wasn’t expecting that. Other than my parents and Bea, I’ve never had people be so welcoming, much less so understanding, or . . . or open to dealing with my—
“Oh crap.” She reached up and dabbed at the tears that had sprung to the corners of her eyes. “I never cry. Now I swear I do it all the time. I’m going to ruin my makeup.” She laughed and hiccupped. “I never wear makeup.”
Kit came bustling around the corner and handed her a few napkins with the Babycakes logo on the front. “Here, here. I’m sorry.”
“No, don’t be. Good tears.” Honey laughed as she was forced to sniffle. “You have no idea what it’s meant for me. You all have accepted me so openly and willingly. Even the parts I was fully prepared to hide at all costs.”
Kit gave her an understanding smile, but her eyes sparkled. “Well, I’m not going to lie. I’ve been dying to ask you all about your secret talent. I didn’t have the chance to know your aunt, I’m sorry to say, but I’ve heard so many amazing things about her. And Barbara Hughes can’t stop talking about how you saved her husband’s life.”
“Well, I wouldn’t go that far. It was—”
“It was amazing is what it was. She didn’t even realize you’d had a vision, and right there on her porch. Alva is beside herself that she didn’t get to break the news in her column, you know.”
Honey’s expression fell. “She asked to interview me, but . . . I didn’t even think about that when I was talking to Barbara. I mean, I wasn’t planning on telling her, I was just following up because Dylan had talked to Frank to make sure he didn’t go out on the boat when that storm came, and I wanted to make sure—what?” Honey broke off when she saw Kit was obviously trying to swallow a knowing smile.
“Oh, nothing . . . except . . . we’re all dying to know how you got Dylan Ross, man of few words and even fewer social appearances, to do that. I mean, he gives new meaning to tall, dark, and brooding.”
Honey sniffled and sputtered out a laugh at the same time. “You know, that’s exactly what I thought when I first met him, almost verbatim. And, you’re right, he’s not exactly the chatty type, not normally anyway. But when he does talk, it’s because he’s given it a lot of thought. And he means what he says. He does sincerely care about this island and the people on it. He helps out where he can, doing what he can do. I still don’t know the whole story about his family history—and I don’t need to. He’ll tell me if he wants me to know. But I know it was a rough one and that he’s had his share of being in a spotlight he never asked for. I completely understand how that feels.
“Still, it hasn’t stopped him from being loyal, or from caring,” Honey went on. “Do you know he spends personal time tracking down old tractor and lawnmower parts for the older men on the island who don’t get around well or don’t understand how to use computers to do vintage parts searches? Dell told me Dylan helped him find that old motorbike and track down parts for it. He even took Dell out and introduced him to the salvage guys he works with, taught him how to search old junkyards. Dylan might pretend that Lolly is some kind of obligation, but he ran into a burning building to rescue her, then paid what had to be a crazy vet bill to have her—” Honey broke off and a little heat climbed into her cheeks as Kit stopped trying to hide a wide grin.
“It’s okay. You like him. And what’s not to like? He might be tall, dark, and mysterious, but no one has anything bad to say about him. They just . . . no one here seems to know him very well. But it sounds like you’re getting to and that he’s a pretty good guy. Also sounds like the feeling is mutual. From what I understand, he’s very protective of you.”
Honey bristled a little at that. “He doesn’t have to be. I’ve taken care of myself all this time, and—”
“No, no, I didn’t mean it like that. Well, I did, but not because he thinks you need protecting. And . . . well, it’s kind of nice, isn’t it? To have someone who wants to stand up for you, even if you don’t need him to?”
Honey heard the emotion in Kit’s voice, and realized she was talking from personal experience. “Is that how it is with you and Morgan?”
“We have each other’s back, yes, and we seemed to have a need to do that for each other. I don’t know why or how two people connect. I never had before. But when you do, it’s natural, and instinctive. Riley and Quinn are like that. In spades. Completely adorable together. Have you met them yet?”
Honey shook her head, but Kit kept right on talking. “Listening to you talk about Dylan, it’s clear you two have the same thing.” She laughed. “I’m betting he’d be just as bristly at the idea that you’re protective of him. You know he doesn’t need it, but you’re in his corner all the same.”
Honey hadn’t thought about it like that, nor had she really examined what she thought about the dynamic of her relationship with Dylan. But, maybe Kit had a point. “I really don’t know what we have. I-I’ll be honest, I haven’t had a relationship, or tried to have one, since I was in college, so to say I’m out of practice—hell, I never even had practice, not really.”
Kit nodded and lifted her hands and bowed a little. “Sister, you’re talking to a woman who was married to pie for her entire life. Trust me. In this case, it’s not like riding a bicycle. In fact, no previous experience is required. When the right person comes into your life, you figure it out as you go along, because you can’t imagine doing anything else.” Kit gestured to Honey’s stitched floral skirt and rose colored, cap sleeve sweater. “Which is why you need to get out of here and go start your date. Start figuring it out.” She folded her hands and braced them under her chin and batted her eyelashes. “Then come to Cupcake Club tomorrow night and tell us every last detail. Not that we’re begging you. We’re above that . . . except we’re totally not.”
Honey laughed. “I don’t kiss and tell, but—”
“So, you’ve kissed him? I mean, Morgan thought you might have been . . . you know, when he walked up on you two in the alley that night. Seriously, is it as smoldering as we all know it has to be?”
Honey’s laugh spluttered. “You’re actually not kidding, are you?”
Kit shamelessly shook her head.
“You forget, I’ve seen Morgan,” Honey said. “He’s . . . well, he’s stunning.”
Kit beamed. “True, all true. I am the luckiest girl in the world, trust me. Plus? He’s a great kisser. But Dylan is something of an island legend, an enigma, the ultimate mystery man, at least when it comes to members of the opposite sex. I’m told he never dates anyone who lives on the island. Not that it’s stopped women of all ages from trying. Then you’re here for five seconds and wham! I hope you’ll forgive me for saying this, but we didn’t peg you as his type. Not that anyone really knows what his type is. But we figured the cliché—blond, fake boobs—because we’re shallow and unimaginative. But you’re cool and interesting, and this kind of wild mix of ethereal with those eyes, and funky-bo
hemian with your clothes and awesome glasses. Honestly, don’t tell me you made that skirt, because that stitch work is amazing. If you did, then why you don’t sell stuff like that in your catalog, I have no idea. Anyway, everyone is curious. How did you do it?”
Honey’s mouth had long since dropped open, but when Kit ran out of steam, she snapped it shut again. “I . . . well, thank you. About the skirt. I did make it, and no, I hadn’t ever thought about including clothes in my catalog.” She smiled. “But I might now.”
“So, how did it start with you and Dylan? I mean . . . did he flirt with you? Because I can’t even picture that. Not because of you,” Kit rushed to add. “He just doesn’t seem the type to do anything overt like that. I figure he never had to, since women probably throw themselves on him. At him, I mean. Well, probably on him, too.” She laughed, even as her fair skin turned a little pink.
Honey laughed, too, mostly because from the moment she’d laid eyes on Dylan, she’d wanted to jump him. “Actually, he wasn’t remotely attracted to me. In fact, I’m pretty sure he thought I was nuts. But then, when I think how I leaped out of my skin around him, it’s not a surprise. I was a little bit nuts.” She gave Kit a self-deprecating smile. “I hadn’t been around people for a long time, and he was . . . a lot to be around. So I was kind of jumpy. I guess it started because I had a vision when he grabbed my arms to keep me from dropping stuff I was getting out of my car. And . . . I don’t know, things changed after that.”
“Well, I guess they would! Was the vision about him? Of course it was,” Kit answered herself. “Did it freak him out?”
“No, that’s just it. It didn’t freak him out. In fact, he was really matter-of-fact about it, and . . . it stunned me to have someone sort of shrug and accept what had happened for what it was. I mean, he asked some questions and tried to understand it better, but then we sort of moved on as if it was just one of those things you make allowances for. Like being allergic to stuff, or . . . you know?”
“I don’t,” Kit admitted. “I mean, I understand it, but I can’t imagine dealing with it.”
Honey shrugged, feeling a little more self-conscious, but it was more a kneejerk reaction than because she felt uncomfortable. “He told me I should just own it. Put it out there as if it were just a natural part of me and expect folks to deal with it. And so . . . I have been doing that. Well, little by little. I think that’s why I told Barbara Hughes.”
“Normalize it. I do get that. Well, Barbara thinks you’re the best thing since guardian angels. You’ve seen her B&B, so you know she has a thing for angels.”
Honey laughed. “You know, I hadn’t really thought about that, but you’re right, she does have a few pillows and stitched samplers with a running theme.”
“Well, I understand more now why Dylan is protective of you. He might want you to own your special skills, but after being up close and personal with what happens when you have them, it’s natural he wants to make sure you’re protected while you do. And the more we get to know you, the more we’ll be able to take care of you, too, if it happens when he’s not around.” Kit lifted a hand when Honey started to respond. “I know you don’t want us to take care of you, but—”
“No, I wasn’t going to say that. I mean, I don’t want you to have to do anything. But . . . I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a little freaked out wondering what will happen when I have one in public. It’s just a matter of time. I do pretty well at maintaining my personal space and it’s been truly wonderful that you all have respected that. But stuff happens, visions happen. I’ve had three since I’ve been here, and he’s been there for all of them. So—”
“So, he wants to take care of you.” Kit smiled. “I say, let him. Men like to feel like they’re taking care of their own, you know? And we want to take care of them right back. Nothing wrong with that.”
“You know, you make a lot of sense.”
Kit’s smile grew wider. “I’m scary like that.”
Honey laughed. “It is a little scary, to be honest. I’m looking at things from such wildly new perspectives. Bea tried to tell me, I guess, but with my limited experiences, I couldn’t begin to dream of how things could be. I have a good imagination when it comes to creating fanciful creatures, but not so good when it comes to imagining an equally fantastical world where people might actually accept me, weird crap and all.”
“Well, if you’ve been made to feel like an outsider your whole life, it’s kind of understandable that you wouldn’t be wildly enthusiastic about reaching out to anyone else. I think it’s amazing you even tried. You just have to tell us what we can do to make it easier, and we will. Not that we won’t screw up.” Kit leaned in closer. “And not that there won’t be a few who totally won’t get it. But they’ll be easier to deal with when you have a posse of folks who do.”
“My own posse, huh?” Honey grinned. “I kind of like the sound of that.”
“I do apologize for grilling you,” Kit said. “When I first got here and started seeing Morgan—who was like the black sheep of the island because of his family—I got subjected to the same thing. I hadn’t dated in like, forever, and he was part of the family who’d ruined my business, so . . . I had questions, too. It was complicated.”
Honey’s eyes widened. “Wow. I didn’t know that part.”
“Well, he wasn’t personally part of it, but it took some sorting out. Have you met Lilly yet?”
“That’s his little niece, right? So sad about his brother and Lilly’s mom, but really amazing and wonderful that he’s taken on raising her.”
“She’s resilient and wonderful, and well—you’ll love her, everyone does. Not that I’m biased or anything.” Kit’s smile was bright.
Honey thought Lilly was a very fortunate little girl indeed, because she clearly had two people who loved her very much.
“I can’t wait for her to see your work, by the way. Alva said something about how you may be teaching classes? If you’re thinking of having any clay building type things for children, or maybe children-adult combo classes, sign the two of us up right now.”
Honey blinked. “I can see why Lani hired you to launch Babycakes. I’ll keep that in mind, about the adult-child classes.”
“Perfect! Well, anyway, I’m just trying to warn you. Sugarberry and the people on it . . . we’re like the Borg. We’ll assimilate you. Lani says it’s like living inside the best group hug ever, and I haven’t heard it described better than that. And, well . . . who doesn’t need that kind of support, right?”
“Right,” Honey said, slightly dazed and more than a little dazzled at the same time.
“Great! So, tomorrow night. Cupcake Club. Be there.” Kit pointed at Honey. “And you’re baking this time.”
“I almost burned down the bookstore today just making breakfast. I really don’t think you want me to—”
“Yes. We do.” Kit started to reach out, take Honey by the hands, then remembered and smiled as she lifted her hands, palms out. “We want you to, okay? Any of it, all of it.” She leaned in and lowered her voice slightly, even though they were the only two people in the shop. “And if you don’t feel like talking about Dylan, that’s fine. For now.” Her blue eyes sparkled. “Instead, you can just tell us all about how this vision thing works.”
“Oh, you really don’t want to—”
“Yes, we do. Really.”
Kit had cut her off again, and Honey began to see how she’d run an entire family empire single-handedly.
“Like it or not, Honey, you’re one of us now.” Kit grinned. “Be afraid. Be very afraid.”
Honey was still smiling as she left the shop and headed back across the alley to the bookstore. She should probably stop thinking about it as the bookstore, she realized, and that had her shaking her head.
“What’s so funny, sugar?”
She looked up to find Dylan leaning against his pickup truck. She was surprised she didn’t trip over her own feet . . . or drool all over them.
<
br /> Wearing black jeans and a blue polo shirt, he was freshly shaven. His hair, still a little damp, curled over his ears and against his neck. His lips quirked in that way they did, right before that sexy-as-sin grin slid across his handsome face.
Even though she’d anticipated it, it still gave her knees a bit of a wobble, and made her heart skip a beat.
“I was just realizing that I should probably stop thinking about the bookstore as the bookstore, and that led me to thinking about Sugarberry and books. I can’t decide if I’m Alice, and have fallen down the rabbit hole, or heading to Oz on the yellow brick road.”
“I’m afraid to ask what that would make me, in either scenario.”
She stopped walking just in front of him and let her satchel slide down her arm so she could set it by her feet. “You’re the Tin Man.”
His eyebrows lifted. “You think I’m heartless?”
She smiled up at him. “No, silly. I think you’re the one who thought he didn’t have a heart, when it was right there, bigger than life, inside you all along.”
He did that thing where his gaze went from casual and flirty to intense and probing. Or maybe it was always probing, but the flirty part distracted her. She felt heat climb in her cheeks, thinking perhaps she’d said too much or hit a sore spot. “I’m sorry, that was out of line. I don’t even know—”
“You know me, Honey.” He said it quietly, watching her from those steady gray eyes of his. “Better than you realize.”
She smiled briefly. “Yeah? Well . . . ditto.”
“You ready for dinner, Dorothy?”
“Oh, I’m not Dorothy.” Her smile came back stronger. “I’m the Cowardly Lion, wishing for courage.”
Cupcake Club 04 - Honey Pie Page 22