Coming Consumed: Welcome to Carson, Book Three

by Renee Harless

  She has continued with the extension of The Grill against her own wishes. If it hadn’t been for her mother breathing down her neck about it, Sydney would have left it all alone until she found the person she wanted to work with. That right there is the problem. No one even came close to Dylan and his resume. As much has she wanted to deny the attraction she felt towards him, she knew it was the sole reason why she couldn’t bring him on. Something about him terrified her and it made her feel like she had lost all control. She felt helpless and the only other time that had happened, she was left with a rigid scar on her arm.

  Thinking back to that dreadful day still causes Sydney’s heart to pump faster and sweat to bead along her hair line. She had only seen Caleb once more after the men came to give him a message, using her as their personal drawing board.

  Sydney’s neighbor had been coming up the stairwell as the suit-clad men were leaving, and she had used Sydney’s hide-a-key to come into the locked apartment just as Sydney had passed out. Her neighbor, Joanne, had called the police and they had rushed to the complex, getting there in record time; or so she had been told when she was in the ambulance, coming back to herself.

  They had tried to convince her to go to the hospital, saying the deep cut needed stitches and she would most likely need a Tetanus shot in case the blade was dirty, but she had refused. She couldn’t have her family find out about her living off campus, or that she had a boyfriend. Reluctantly the EMT set her wound with liquid stitches and applied some butterfly bandages to hold the wound tight, then led her back to the apartment where she was told to have someone watch her for the next few hours.

  But before she could settle in for the night, Caleb had come home and, to her horror, had asked her to move out, ending their relationship. The man she was head-over-heels in love with had broken her heart while looking shattered himself. She begged and pleaded with him to give an explanation, but he simply asked her to be gone in two days. Then he left.

  Sydney was lucky that Joanne had needed a roommate and allowed her to share the apartment next door until school let out. Fortunately, she hadn’t seen Caleb again. He had moved out of the apartment at the same time that she did. As far as Sydney knew, he had left Raleigh for bigger and better things; namely, not her.

  The wound on Sydney’s arm began to throb, bringing her back to the present. The scar always seems to twinge in pain whenever she thinks of Caleb, the only other times she has felt anything else on or around the wound is when Dylan was near. And instead of spurts of pain, she felt a jerking of her nerves, as if the muscles in her arms contracted whenever he was close.

  Sydney glances once more at The Grill, then turns her attention back to the cupcakes she needs to make for the Christmas party that her mother hosts every year.

  “Come on, Sydney. Pull yourself together,” she says to herself.

  SYDNEY SITS AT HER mother’s kitchen counter, helping stir the mashed potatoes while Amy, her mother, adds the packet of powdered cheese to a small pot of Kraft mac and cheese, her half-sister Avery’s favorite dish.

  It is Avery’s first Christmas with them as a family and her mother is going a little crazy trying to make Avery and her fiancé, Logan, feel welcome. Of course, Logan had been coming to their family gatherings for the past two years, so he is already an extended member of their family, but the couple’s engagement on Thanksgiving Day only cemented that further.

  Sydney is thrilled for her half-sister and soon-to-be brother in law; they both deserve more in life than what they had been handed. But that doesn’t mean that she doesn’t ache with longing. Her heart throbs in pain when she thinks about the fact that she will never have that special someone, that her love will always be her bakery. It’s probably why she finds it so easy to keep people at a distance, she knows finding that “one-special someone” just isn’t in the cards for her. Caleb had made sure of that.

  “What do you think?”

  “I’m sorry, what?” she asks, jerking her attention back to her mother.

  “I asked what you thought about the last interview. She seemed competent.”

  “Oh, yes, well, she is competent, but she didn’t agree with any of my plans for the menu or the layout of The Grill. You know I have to have complete say over it, or they’ll just walk right over me and the next thing we know, they’ll be tearing down Wake and Bake.”

  “Sydney, you’re being ridiculous. That will never happen. Wake and Bake is an institution in Carson and the community isn’t going to let anything happen to it. But fine, if you don’t like her, we’ll keep looking. I have some time this week, so I can help out.”

  Sydney startles as anxiety surges within her chest. She does not want her mom anywhere near the shop, for no other reason than she likes to snoop. And the fact that she is retired weighs heavily on Sydney.

  “Mom, this is the first week of vacation dad has had in almost five years. You need to spend time with him.”

  Her mother laughs. The laugh is so loud it echoes off the cabinets of the large kitchen.

  “Sydney, your father and I had six kids; we’ve spent plenty of time together. Now, it was extremely kind of the Asheville Fire Department to send a man over to cover your father’s shifts, but he’s already itching to get back to work and it’s only Saturday. You know he doesn’t like being away from the action.”

  “I know, he always says something goes wrong. Fine, if you want to come help me, I could use a day to sleep in. I’m sure you remember how to make your famous chocolate chip banana nut muffins.”

  “Of course I do and it sounds lovely, dear. I’ll do it on Thursday so you can focus on the items for the New Year’s Festival. Now, let’s get everyone eating so we can open gifts.”

  Sydney nods and makes her way to the large wooden farmhouse table that was built by her father. The table top is etched with markings and scratches from years of wear and tear by the Connelly clan. Heck, somewhere on one of the legs, each of the kids had carved their initials. But it is Sydney’s favorite piece in the house. It’s a tangible display of a family’s love and devotion to one another, something Sydney desperately desires.

  Dinner is a mash-up of conversations going on around Sydney, but she sits back in her chair, listening idly instead of joining until her sister Cassidy leans in and asks if she is alright.

  “Yes, I’m fine. Just relaxing.”

  Cassidy turns a keen eye towards Sydney and rakes her gaze across Sydney’s face.

  “You look tired, Sydney. Maybe you should look for another baker, too, help ease up on those hours. It would still be your shop.”

  Sydney admits to herself that she is tired. Ever since the Dylan fiasco, she has barely slept three hours a night. Along with that notion, Cassidy’s observation is something she has been considering and it’s amazing at how well her family can hone in on a problem, then quickly offer a sound solution.

  “It’s something I’ve been thinking about, but I’d like to tackle one thing first.”

  “Ok, well, you know we’re all here.”

  She bobs her head in agreement and Cassidy goes back to chatting with their brother, Austin, while Sydney stares at the chair filled by her much larger, younger brother. Ryker had called earlier, saying his flight had been delayed and he should be arriving sometime tonight and would stay for the week. But he was lucky. The pilot on the chartered plane got them off the ground moments after Ryker had called home and he landed right before dinner.

  Of course, Ryker’s band is rising rapidly on the charts and his stay means that he is limited to areas in Carson that his security can control. They don’t want any unwanted fans learning of his location, and the Connelly family is always eager to help keep his presence quiet. They all know how much he loves what he does and they would do anything to make sure he is happy and safe.

  Sydney watches as everyone clears their plate and Avery squeezes Amy tightly in her arms, silent tears forming in her eyes. She can’t hear the conversation, but Sydney assumes it is in th
anks for the dish Avery’s old caretaker used to provide as a treat.

  Who knew a silly blue box could bring such joy to someone?

  After dinner, mayhem ensues in the large living room where the twins, Ryker and Jameson, sprawl out on the rug with the Christmas gifts and present them to each person. They look more like they are twelve not twenty-one.

  Sydney and her siblings were gifting their parents a week-long stay at an adults-only resort that they could use for their upcoming anniversary. While in the meantime, she receives a beautiful leather jacket from her sisters, Cassidy and Everleigh. She also receives a subscription to a monthly wine service from her brothers. As she opens her final gift, she is astounded to find a pair of diamond stud earrings that belonged to her mother. She stares at the box, afraid to touch them, the jewelry always having been off limits when she was a child.

  “Mom, I can’t accept these. They were a gift to you from dad.”

  “Yes you can, dear. You’ve always had your eye on them and I want you to have them. Plus, it means your father has to buy me a new pair…a much larger pair.”

  Her father chuckles and agrees, “We want you to have them, Sydney. Those earrings have always been your favorite and we think of them as a good luck charm. Those were my gift to your mother when she opened the bakery thirty-five years ago.”

  “Thank you,” she exclaims as she jumps up and rushes forward to embrace her parents, each one squeezing her tight.

  As she takes her place back on the couch next to Cassidy and Everleigh, the rest of the evening turns in to a whirlwind of commotion.

  Avery gifts Logan a surprise in the form of a physician’s jacket. It is engraved with his name, stating he is having twins. And a few moments later Nikki, Austin’s previous girlfriend, storms into the house, exclaiming that she, too, is pregnant.

  “What just happened?” Everleigh asks to no one in particular.

  “I have no idea?” Sydney responds just as Austin slams the front door.

  “These holidays just keep getting more and more interesting,” Cassidy adds.

  YLAN KNOWS AS HE travels in the car with Sheriff Fitzgerald he is in a heap of trouble. Not the kind of trouble where you end up spending a night in jail, though right now that sentence would seem mild compared to what was about to happen. The kind of trouble that flips your world upside down, and in this case, someone else’s world as well.

  He had taken a call from his boss this morning asking him to head up a quick assignment with two fellow agents, Heath and Alexis. They had wanted someone familiar with the area of Carson, North Carolina, and that left him. At first, he was weary because he thought something had happened to Sydney, but as he was briefed on the assignment, he felt slightly relieved. Someone was embezzling money from a local, multi-million dollar business and was now threatening the owner and his pregnant girlfriend

  At first, it all seemed pretty cut and dry, at least until he was given the family’s name- Connelly. He had known instantly that it was Sydney’s family. Though there was no guarantee that the family was one-in-the-same, he had a sneaking suspicion that luck wouldn’t be on his side.

  Twenty minutes ago, the town Sheriff had picked him up at the small apartment he had just rented in town and was taking him to Austin Connelly’s home. Apparently shots had been fired at his house and his family wanted to take action now – at three in the morning.

  Dylan has barely slept a wink, his mind plagued with dreams of Sydney lashing out. He knows she’ll be furious when she finds out he is an undercover agent – even more so when she finds out he was sent there originally to protect her, not just her brother. Dylan knows she hates liars, she always asks for complete honesty, and he has one heck of a lie surrounding the two of them.

  The Sheriff turns his car down a bumpy gravel road that continues for a couple of miles before ending at Austin’s home. The sight of the house startles Dylan back from his thoughts.

  As they approach the oversized farmhouse, Dylan is surprised to see so many vehicles out front.

  “They’re a well-known family and this is a small town,” the older man said in a sort of explanation. “Don’t let them scare you off.”

  “I’ll be sure to keep my cool, sir.”

  “So what are you going to do when your girl in there finds out what you’ve been up to?”

  Dylan jerks his head towards the Sheriff in disbelief.

  “Come on now, sonny. I know everything that goes on in my town. She’s gonna be madder than a swarm of hornets when she finds out what you really do. Of course, you’re much better for her than that lying piece she had back in college.”

  “Excuse me?” Dylan asks, wondering how this man knows so much about his work and Sydney’s past.

  “I make it my business to know everything about everyone in our town. Now, let’s head inside before Joseph comes up with some highfalutin’ idea.”

  The sheriff steps from his car and Dylan slowly follows behind, his heart pounding as they get closer to the front door.

  He needs to calm down. He needs to remember that he and Sydney aren’t serious, that she doesn’t want serious. Therefore, she can’t blame him from withholding this kind of information – hell, he doesn’t even know her birthday.

  His confidence waivers the instant he is introduced by the Sherriff as an FBI agent and the family turn their gazes towards him. The calm moment is suddenly shattered the second Sydney’s recognition dawns and she stares at him in disbelief and, if he isn’t mistaken, a profound hurt.

  “FBI agent?” she mumbles under her breath before rising from the table and rushing past him, exiting through the front door.

  Dylan apologizes to the group and goes after her, catching her just as she opens her driver side door.

  “Sydney, talk to me!”

  “Talk to you? I don’t even know you!”

  “Angel, please.”

  She stalks over to where Dylan stands and shoves him in the shoulder.

  “Don’t you dare call me that! You lost that privilege the moment you lied to me about who you are.”

  “I didn’t lie, Sydney. I am a trained chef. I’m just also an FBI agent on an assignment.”

  “Oh, well that makes everything better, doesn’t it? Well, news flash, lies by omission are still lies.”

  Before Dylan has the opportunity to respond, Sydney storms off and hops in her car, turns the engine, and guns it off the property.

  He knew going in that she would be upset, but he didn’t expect her to be this angry. Something deep inside him makes him think that there is more to this story. Something he’s missing. He’ll have to remember to call his boss first thing in the morning and see if there is anything more on Sydney’s case. He wants a fresh start with her and continuing down the path he is on isn’t going to help matters. He’ll help her brother and then finally consider putting in his notice with the agency. It is time he stepped away from the law and does the one thing he had always wanted – to settle down.

  After taking a moment to settle himself, he steps back into the house and divulges the plan he concocted in the car with the Sheriff. His plan includes using a fake engagement between Austin and his pregnant girlfriend Nikki at The New Year’s Festival the town holds every year. This will create a diversion, hopefully angering the person involved, and they will be able to track the culprit down. Dylan is surprised when Austin’s sister, Everleigh, steps forward and offers to act as Nikki’s double right after the proposal. It is clear to Dylan that the family wants to do whatever they can to help and protect the soon-to-be newest member of the Connelly family.

  Once everyone is in agreement about the plan, Dylan stays back while most of the family heads out to Angie’s diner to get some breakfast. He wants to get a lay of the house and check the perimeter to see if he can find any evidence from the shooting that took place this morning. He finds a few empty shells, but nothing extraordinary. At last, he heads back inside to speak with Austin and Nikki, to begin filling out their po
lice statement and gathering more information on the case.

  As the final group of people, consisting of Logan, Avery, Nikki, and Austin, all decide to leave the house, Dylan tags along, hoping to catch a bite to eat before he heads to the local police station.

  As they pull up to the diner, Dylan jumps from the car before it comes to a full rest when he sees Sydney on the sidewalk, exiting the restaurant.

  “Sydney.”

  “Leave me alone, Dylan,” she bellows in hurt.

  He takes a moment to gaze at her. She is wrapped tightly in a green pea coat, dark jeans tucked into brown boots, her long blonde hair trailing down her back. She is absolutely stunning.

  “Let me explain everything to you. If you’ll just give me a chance...”

  “No,” she replies, making to rush past him.

  He grabs her arm and spins her around, just in time to capture her lips with his. She tastes sweet, just like the coffee she loves to pour extra helpings of sugar into.

  Dylan is so lost in her taste he doesn’t recognize when her arm rears back and she pulls her mouth away. The slap across his face surprises him and he stares at her in confusion as she turns on her heels, trudging off in the opposite direction.

  He could identify that type of slap anywhere from witnessing many against his colleagues. It isn’t one of anger. No, the tears in her eyes give this one away. It is one of complete and utter betrayal – all because of him.

  YDNEY KNOWS SHE IS being irrational. Heck, if anyone asks her why she has such disdain for Dylan, she won’t be able to answer. She seethes when she thinks back to the moments where he consumed her, body and soul, in her bakery. Sydney wants to pin her infuriation on the lie of him being an undercover agent. She can probably even justify her feelings, but she knows the lie isn’t the reason she feels so strongly towards him. It is the fact that she does feel so strongly towards him, and that absolutely terrifies her.