Treat with Caution (Treats to Tempt You Book 1)

by Serenity Woods

  “Yes. Of course. Why shouldn’t I be?” She spoke more sharply than she’d meant.

  He held up a hand. “Okay, just asking. You want a coffee?”

  “Sure. Thanks.”

  He nodded and walked off.

  Cursing herself, she rose and visited the bathroom, dressed quickly, and went into the kitchen. He turned from his computer as she came out and gestured to the worktop. “Coffee’s in the pot.”

  Silently, she poured herself a cup. Her heart hammered, but she forced herself to keep her cool. “You’re up early.”

  “Thought I’d get started on the wedding pics, plus I have an appointment at nine.” He glanced at her, sipped his coffee, then returned to the screen.

  “Oh.” Yesterday, she’d thought maybe they’d have a quiet Sunday morning together, maybe even start talking about what had happened, and where they would go from here. But clearly, that wasn’t going to happen.

  Holding her cup, she wandered out onto the deck. The harbor was already busy, fishermen going out for the day on the boats, holidaymakers catching an early breakfast before heading for the beach. She couldn’t quite see the part of the waterfront where the shop was, but she could imagine Andrew, newly returned from Peru, opening it up, walking through rooms, checking it was ready for the new tenant.

  It should have been her. Her stomach clenched. Maisey was going to kill her. What were they going to do for a shop now? Her eyes filled with tears, and the harbor blurred.

  Foosteps sounded on the floor behind her, and then Kole appeared at her side. He stood next to her, coffee in hand, looking down at the harbor, his arm only an inch from hers, but it felt like a mile. He’s withdrawn, she thought sadly. She could feel him pulling further away from her with each passing second. It had all been a sham, a fabrication, carefully engineered so he would get the shop.

  Ice settled around her heart.

  She finished off her coffee, blinking away her tears. “I’d better get going.”

  He looked at her, eyebrows rising. “You sure?”

  “Well, you have an appointment, and I’m sure I have stuff to do.”

  His eyes met hers, cool and indecipherable. “Okay.”

  She bit her bottom lip. Disbelief made her head spin. Was this really how it was going to end? All that passion, the magic that had hung in the air the night before like fairy dust, had vanished in the morning mist, just like in the Shakespeare play.

  Tasha turned and went back into the house.

  Leaving her cup on the counter—he could damn well wash it up—she quickly stuffed her clothes and bathroom bits into her bag, shouldered it, and walked back into the living room.

  He stood by the front door, his arms folded. “Are you still going to Aqua Blue at one?” he asked as she approached.

  Clenching the bag handle tightly, she put on a breezy voice. “Of course. See you there?”

  He gave a sharp nod.

  She hesitated. She couldn’t leave like this. Okay, she might have lost the bet, but even so, she’d meant everything she’d said over the past eight days, even if he didn’t. Pride stopped her falling into his arms and declaring how she felt, but she did walk right up to him, stretch up on tiptoe, and press her lips to his.

  To her relief, he wrapped his arms around her and returned the kiss, and even when he finally pulled away, his arms remained there for a while longer, holding her tightly. But eventually he dropped them, and she gave him a bright smile, walked out of the door, and got into the car.

  This is what shock feels like. She felt cold, even though the sun beamed down on the small town and the tarmac ahead of her shimmered as she pulled away. Her head ached, and she felt slightly unwell.

  Of course you feel unwell, she thought angrily, swerving to avoid a bird of prey that hovered over a dead possum on the road. You’ve made a fool of yourself, and you’ve lost the one man you’ve ever really loved. No wonder she felt like she might throw up. Her throat was tight, her eyes stinging with unshed tears. She had to get home soon, or she’d end up breaking down in public, and she’d never forgive herself for that.

  She arrived home in one piece and let herself in. The sound of Maisey’s singing echoed from the shower, so luckily Tasha didn’t have to speak to her. She scribbled her a quick note, “Maisey, I’m home, dead tired, gonna catch an hour or two before we go out for lunch,” left it on the counter, and went to her room.

  She stripped and pulled on an old pair of pajamas, climbed into bed, and pulled the duvet over her, even though it was a bit stuffy in the room. Her old childhood bear sat on the bedside table, and she reached over and hugged him to her, the first time she’d done so in years.

  “I’ve been stupid, Bear,” she whispered, as the tears finally began to fall. “What am I going to do?”

  *

  She dozed on and off for a couple of hours in the end, and awoke with a muzzy head and a dry mouth. She wandered out into the kitchen and helped herself to some orange juice.

  “Oh, you’re up.” Maisey appeared around the corner, looking like one of the fairies from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, dressed in a beautiful floaty blue skirt and a white top, her hair full of sparkly silver clips. She stopped and stared at Tasha. “Jeez. What happened to you?”

  Tasha ran a hand through her hair. “I may need a shower.”

  “You think? You look like you’ve been pulled through a hedge backward.”

  Tasha mumbled something and walked back to her bedroom.

  Maisey followed her and leaned against the door. “So, today’s the day, eh?”

  “I guess.” Tasha opened up her wardrobe and pulled out a pair of jeans.

  “You all ready for the final dénouement?”

  Tasha bit her lip, opened a drawer, and pretended to be choosing a T-shirt. She was not going to cry in front of her best friend. “Yep. All ready.”

  “Tash?” Maisey spoke softly. “Are you okay?”

  Emotion washed over her in an inexorable wave, and she pressed a hand to her mouth.

  “Oh no.” Maisey ran over to her and enveloped her in a hug. “No, no, no.”

  “I’m sorry.” It came out as a squeak, and she buried her head in Maisey’s shoulder. “I’m sorry I’ve lost the shop.”

  “Fuck the shop,” Maisey said fiercely. “What are you doing falling for my idiot brother?”

  “I couldn’t help it.” Tasha took big, gulping breaths. “You were right. He did have a secret weapon.”

  “I really don’t want to hear about that.”

  Tasha would have laughed, but she felt so sad she couldn’t even raise a smile. “The whole thing was idiotic, and I shouldn’t have done it. I should have realized I didn’t stand a chance.”

  “Ssh…” Maisey rubbed her back. “It’s okay, everything’s going to be okay…”

  “It’s not. I’ve fallen for him, and he’s never going to settle down. He’s taken the shop and my heart, Maisey. And he was so cold and calculating about it.” Tasha couldn’t believe how much it hurt. “I really thought he was starting to feel something for me, but it was all an act. I feel so stupid.”

  “I’m going to have words with him about that.” Maisey spoke sharply. “But look, you really mustn’t worry. You’ve done nothing wrong, all you did was open the doors to feelings you’d obviously been hiding for a while. It’s not surprising; you’ve been friends for a long time.”

  Tasha rested her cheek on Maisey’s shoulder. “But how come I was the one who fell in love? Why didn’t it happen to him?”

  “I don’t know, honey. You know Kole. It’ll have to be someone special to capture his heart. Look, why don’t you go and have a shower? We’ll do your hair nice, get you dressed in something fancy, and show that idiot brother of mine what he’s missing?”

  “Okay.” Tasha pulled back and wiped her face. “Maisey, I know he’s your brother. And I know we made that stupid bet. But as you say, we’ve been friends for a long time. And he’s been exceptionally cruel to me. I’ll never
be able to forgive him.”

  Maisey’s gentle face creased with concern. “Don’t say that.”

  Tasha turned away. Of course Maisey would defend her brother and be on his side. It was going to make things very awkward in the future. Because Tasha wasn’t sure she ever wanted to see Kole again. “I’ll go and have a shower.”

  She spent a long time under the hot spray, then took time to cut and paint her toenails before coming back out to the bedroom. Maisey dried her hair for her, and then braided it in a French pleat, fastening the end with an elastic band topped with a red rose.

  Tasha chose a scarlet T-shirt to match the rose and slipped it on. Part of her wanted to wear black, because it made her feel protected, as if it somehow shielded her emotions, but the other half agreed with Maisey. She wanted to show him what he was missing.

  She’d already decided that once Maisey and Joss had made their decision, she’d take Kole to one side to talk. She wanted him to know exactly how much he’d hurt her, and explain to him that even though they’d made the bet, he should have realized she’d fallen for him.

  A voice nagged in her head, Didn’t you tell him, You really think men are the only ones who can have a fling without getting their emotions involved? Yes, she thought, I did, but even so… He should have known the way she was reacting to him wasn’t fake. Hadn’t he said to her, I don’t want you faking anything, physical or emotional? Did he really think her so manipulative she could have put on an act like that?

  She added a touch of powder and lip gloss, but decided to keep it natural. And then she was ready.

  “We might as well walk down,” Maisey said, checking her watch. “It’s half twelve.”

  “Okay.” Tasha’s heart thumped madly while her stomach churned, and she realized she hadn’t eaten anything all day. But it was too late to think about breakfast now. She’d force down some lunch, and then this stupid farce would all be over.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Kole saw Tasha even before she opened the door to Aqua Blue, spotting her curvy form as she walked along the waterfront with his sister, approaching the restaurant.

  His heart gave a massive thump, but he stayed where he was, sitting back in the chair, feet resting on the seat in front of him, crossed at the ankles. Next to him, Joss also saw them coming and glanced over at him.

  “It’s D-Day, mate.”

  “Thanks. That’s just what I need.”

  Fox, standing next to them, gave him a wry look. “Good luck.” He walked back into the kitchens, leaving them to it.

  Tasha pushed open the door and entered, held it open for Maisey, and walked forward. She stopped as she saw him sitting to one side, and her breasts rose as she inhaled sharply.

  He lifted a hand. “Hey.”

  She shoved hers in her pockets and walked up to the table. “Afternoon.” Behind her glasses, her polished mahogany eyes met his, carefully blank. Her face was pale, her hair drawn back, but in the scarlet T-shirt she looked the most beautiful creature he’d ever seen.

  He removed his feet from the chair and gestured to it. She glared at him, bent down and dusted it carefully, then sat. He bit back a laugh. Keep it cool, dude.

  Joss smiled at Maisey as she took the seat beside him. “Everything okay?”

  “All good.” Maisey looked at Kole. There was an element of steeliness to her gaze, and doubt flickered inside him. Why was she mad at him?

  Tasha said nothing. She adjusted her cutlery, then rearranged the salt and pepper pots. He let a small smile touch his lips, his gaze caressing her ear and the curve of her neck. He saw a faint mark where her neck met her shoulder—the hickey he’d nearly given her the night before. She’d obviously forgotten about that. Luckily, he hadn’t sucked harder.

  Conscious he was going to give himself a hard-on if he continued down that road, he wrenched his thoughts away and smiled at Fox who’d approached with an open bottle of champagne in a bucket of ice. “To celebrate,” Fox explained, adding a wink at him.

  “Thanks.” Kole lifted the bottle out and began pouring them all a glass.

  He stopped, however, when Tasha covered her glass with a hand. It was only when he looked up at her that he saw her face was like thunder.

  “You have a fucking cheek,” she said in a menacingly soft voice. “Pouring champagne? Celebrating even before having the courtesy to at least listen to their decision?” She sat back, shaking her head, and looked out of the window. Anger radiated from her, pure and hot.

  He looked at Maisey, who pulled an eek face then silently made the gesture of a cut across her throat. He caught the meaning. Let’s get this over with.

  Pouring himself a glass of the champagne, he nodded to Joss.

  The doctor cleared his throat. “Okay. So today’s the day. And it’s time for Maisey and me to announce our decision.”

  Tasha didn’t look around, but continued to stare stonily out of the window.

  Joss glanced at Kole, then carried on. “It wasn’t easy. It was quite clear to us you’ve both had a profound effect on the other. But we have to say, the winner is…” His eyes met Kole’s and his lips curved. “Tasha.”

  Kole looked at Tasha. She blinked several times. He could almost see the news sinking into her brain like a hot stone into a pile of snow.

  Eventually, she turned her head and stared at Joss. “What?”

  He just smiled.

  She looked at Maisey. “What?”

  Maisey shrugged, and then she smiled too.

  Finally, Tasha turned to look at Kole.

  He met her gaze, and then slowly let the smile that had been waiting in the wings spread across his face.

  Her lips parted, but for a while no words came out. Then, after about twenty seconds of silence, she said, “What?”

  “Ever the poet,” he said wryly. Pushing himself to his feet, he held out a hand. “Come on, Titania.”

  Clearly puzzled, stunned into silence, she stood, took his hand, and let him lead her out of the restaurant. The sun dazzled them for a moment, and she shielded her eyes, blinking furiously.

  He led her along the waterfront about twenty yards, then stopped and turned her toward the shop they had both wanted so badly.

  Kole studied the temporarily sign above the window that read “Treats to Tempt You”, hastily constructed by Maisey and Joss. In the window, he’d stuck a blown-up version of the photograph he’d taken of Tasha on the beach the day they made the bet, of the moment when he’d caught her laughing.

  He turned to look at her. Her jaw had dropped again. Complete confusion shrouded her features.

  She looked up at him. “What?”

  He started laughing. “It’s yours, Tasha. Yours and Maisey’s, and Elle’s and Caitlin’s. You won, sweetheart.”

  Her jaw snapped shut, and she frowned. “I don’t understand.”

  He moved closer toward her and cupped her face in his hands. “You won the bet. I’ve completely fallen for you.”

  Her lips parted again, and her gaze searched his face, her eyes wide, disbelieving. “You’re teasing me.”

  “I’m really not.”

  “But…this morning…” She looked completely baffled.

  He stroked her cheek. “I’m sorry. That was unfair, and Maisey’s going to bollock me for it. But I needed a few hours to sort things out. I wanted to surprise you. Maisey and I went to see Andrew, and she’s signed all the documents. The shop’s yours.”

  “But…what about your studio?”

  “I’ve decided to stay working in Annie’s sleep-out. She never uses it anyway. I’m going to pay her rent and do it up properly, and she’s going to help out as my assistant. I like it there. I don’t really need a new place—people are just getting used to me being up there. And besides…” He kissed her nose. “I want you to have it.”

  “But…” She continued to look nonplussed. “I saw you standing there looking at it the other day. You looked so determined.”

  “Thursday, you mean? I went
for a last look at the shop, and came to the conclusion I could do just as good a job at Annie’s place.”

  “You decided that on Thursday?”

  “Yes.”

  She shook her head as if she didn’t believe him. “What about…” She bit her lip.

  “Me and you?”

  She nodded.

  He pulled her into his arms. “I think I’ve tried to ignore how I felt about you because you were so young before. But spending so much time with you all week, having you in bed, letting myself think about what might be… I finally realized.”

  “Realized what?”

  He gave her an exasperated look. “Are you really not catching on here, Wilde?” He kissed her lips. “I love you.”

  Her eyes widened. “What?”

  “Jeez, don’t start that again.”

  “No, but… Are you joking?”

  “No, Tash. I’m not joking.” He knew Maisey, Joss, and Fox were watching from the restaurant, but he didn’t care. He wrapped his arms around her and gave her a long, slow kiss.

  She stood stiff in his arms for a moment. And then, obviously realizing he was telling the truth, she melted against him and returned the kiss.

  When he finally lifted his head, she swayed a little in his arms.

  “Are you swooning?” he asked suspiciously. “Because if so, I want it noted on the record.”

  Her lips curved into a huge smile. “I might be, actually. Kole, are you sure? About me?” Her voice was breathless, full of hope.

  He nodded. Then he took a big breath and summoned the strength to be honest. “I can’t say I’m not scared. You know how I felt when Harry died. Falling in love frightens me, because you might not return the feeling, and that leaves me vulnerable. But Annie told me carpe diem, and I know she’s right. You do have to seize the day. So here I am. Seizing.”

  “You don’t have to worry,” Tasha whispered. “I do love you.”

  His heart swelled. “Really?”

  “Really. And Kole—there’s no rush. We don’t have to leap into anything. We don’t have to move in together all the time, or make any long term decisions. I’m just happy knowing there might be a future for us.”