Delivered with a Kiss: Veteran Movers 4

by Marie Harte

“Okay. I’ll let Tilly know.”

  “Depending on her homeowner’s insurance, she might be covered for some of it.”

  They walked back to Brad’s apartment and found it locked.

  Brody frowned. “Did he leave without me?”

  Freakin’ Tilly. “Come on.” Smith led them to Tilly’s apartment and banged on the door.

  “Hold your horses,” he heard her yell.

  “You think she has my brother tied to a chair? Forcing him to do unnatural things?” Brody whispered.

  “With Tilly? Probably.” He smirked at the wary look on the guy’s face.

  Tilly finally answered the door, a flush on her cheeks, wearing a huge grin. They found Flynn at her kitchen table munching on some of Erin’s cookies.

  “Dude,” Flynn said to Brody. “You have got to try these. They’re insane.”

  Brody took one and agreed.

  Tilly beamed, glanced at Smith, and said nothing.

  Smith knew it would come out eventually, so he said, “My girlfriend made them.” He refused to look at Tilly’s smug expression, though he unfortunately heard her loud, “I knew it!”

  “You should marry her,” Flynn said as he inhaled another one. “Okay, Tilly. I really do have to go.” He stood and patted his flat stomach. Tilly, the lecher, watched his movements like a hawk.

  “You fixed Brad’s shower problem. Have a few more.”

  “I’ll grab them,” Brody said with a wide grin.

  Tilly gave him a flirty smile, and Smith wanted to gouge his own eyes out.

  “I gave Smith the details, Tilly,” Brody said with a napkin full of apricot rugelach. “You decide what you want installed and when and call us.” He glanced at Flynn and said with a sly smile, “And thank Pat for recommending us. She’s a sweetheart, isn’t she, Flynn?”

  Flynn gave Brody the same look that Smith had used earlier on Cash. Maybe it was a brother thing.

  “Oh, yes. Please thank her.” Flynn turned to Smith. “Call if you have any questions.” Then he shook Tilly’s hand, his smile sincere. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Tilly. Thanks so much for the cookies.” Flynn slapped Brody on the back, hard enough to make him stumble. Then he grabbed his toolbox and yanked his brother with him out the door, closing it behind them.

  Tilly stared after them with a sigh. “My word. What a day.” She turned back to Smith and smirked. “Now spill it, boy. What’s going on with you and that girl? She’s been dreamy-eyed all damn morning.”

  “Tilly.”

  “Don’t Tilly, me, ass-munch. Talk.”

  “Well, when you put it like that, how can I refuse?”

  * * *

  Erin had delved into her magazine edits. Not only did she work on articles concerning harvesting nuts like walnuts and pistachios, she’d just received two early December articles. One on pruning and the other on winter sanitation in the orchards for navel orange worm. She wanted to thank whoever knocked on her door to give her a break.

  “Coming.” She looked through the peephole to see Smith waiting impatiently.

  She opened up, and he tugged her close for a kiss.

  He let her go, and she sighed. “Well, hel-lo to you too.” Talk about a steamy greeting.

  “Sorry about before. I didn’t mean to be so late.”

  “You okay?”

  He followed her inside. “Yeah. Cash got chatty on the job. About drove me nuts.”

  She grimaced. “Please. Don’t say that word.”

  “Cash?”

  “Nuts.” At his frown, she explained about her articles.

  “Ah.” He glanced at her open laptop. “Nice work, Ms. Editor. But I prefer the YouTube channel.” He shrugged. “I looked you up. You’re supposed to be filming new stuff this week.”

  She waved at her kitchen. “Where would you suggest I do that?”

  He snuck a hand in his pocket and produced a key. “Well, I had a thought about that.”

  She stared at that key. It seemed to glow in his hand. She swallowed. “Is that yours?”

  “Yeah. I had another made. Don’t tell Tilly.” He chuckled. “Look, you need a kitchen. I’m addicted to your cooking. How about a deal?”

  “A deal?” He hadn’t asked her to move in. She told herself to be glad, because she wasn’t ready for that kind of commitment yet. Bad enough she thought she might love him. She needed to be smart about the falling for him part.

  “You’re looking at me weird,” he said cautiously.

  “Sorry. I’ve got nuts on the brain.”

  “Long as they’re mine, I’m okay with that.” He winked.

  She blushed and tried to cover it with a frown, which made him laugh. “The deal?” she reminded him.

  “Right. You need a kitchen. I like your cooking way better than mine. How about you use my kitchen whenever you want to do your food thing? I know it’s not super fancy but—”

  “It’s just fine. I can work with that kitchen island.” Excited at the prospect, she wanted to jump on his offer. “Are you sure this is okay?”

  “Cupcake, I’m more thrilled with the idea than you are.”

  “I don’t know about that.”

  “I do. What’s the next thing on your list to make?”

  She frowned. “I don’t know. Some kind of dessert. You keep calling me Cupcake, and now I have a hankering to make cupcakes.”

  “Awesome.” He grinned, a lot freer with his smiles than when she’d first met him. “I’ll provide the raw ingredients for dinner, you cook it up, serve whatever you make on you show for dessert, and we’re good. Yes?”

  “Oh. So like I do with Tilly.” She nodded. “That’s fair.” She went to take the key, and he closed his fist around it.

  “You have to make enough for two to eat though. We’ll be eating together. You and me. Is that okay? It’s kind of a package deal.”

  He wanted them to eat together. “Only if I can pay for half the meals. It’s only fair since I’ll be eating it too.”

  “Nope. My house, my rules. You want to pay for something? Consider whatever you cook on the show your fee.”

  “Well, I guess.” She studied him. “This isn’t you feeling sorry for me or thinking I’m poor is it? I can afford my own food.”

  “It’s actually me being cheap, because I’ll be getting amazing meals at a quarter of the price. But it’s no pressure if you say no. I’m not trying to strongarm you into being with me or anything.”

  Great. She’d tried to do the right thing by not taking over his house, and thus his life. But he seemed hurt by her hesitance. “Fine. I’m happy to cook at your place. But you have to promise that any time you don’t want me to come over, you’ll tell me. I don’t want to be so intrusive you get sick of me.” The idea that Smith wouldn’t want her anymore caused a minor sense of déjà vu—watching Cody walk away.

  Smith nodded and held out a hand. She took it, and the key, then gasped when he pulled her in for a kiss that turned her into a needy mess. He let her go, and she sagged against the nearby wall.

  “Something else I have to tell you.” Smith looked bothered, and not because of the kiss.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Well, you and I said we should be honest with each other. I’m not real good at the dating stuff. At least, I wasn’t been back when I dated.”

  “Which was how long ago?”

  “A few years.”

  She didn’t believe that for a second. “A few years?”

  “Having sex isn’t dating. I told you that before.” He gave her a small grin. “Anyway, I wanted you to know that I didn’t like those plumbers hanging so close to you. I felt…jealous.” He blew out a breath. “I also felt like a horse’s ass for being possessive. But before I could wrap my head around it, you called me your boyfriend.”

  “That was okay, wasn’t it?”

  “It was more than okay. I felt like a moron for being so happy.” He sighed. “I’ve been a moron for the better part of my day.”

  She lau
ghed and moved in for a hug. Wrapping her arms around his waist, she put her head against his chest and closed her eyes. “I like you being a moron.”

  “Thanks.” His voice rumbled against her ear, deep and calming. “I’m sure I’ll continued to be an idiot and make you deliriously happy soon enough.”

  “Smith, I don’t want you to feel jealous, but I’d be lying if I wasn’t glad you don’t like me with other people. I feel the same way about you.”

  He glanced down at her as she looked up. “You do?” The hope on his face tugged at her to promise more. But she couldn’t. Not yet. Not until she dealt with her past and figured out why she’d made such a mistake with the wrong guy—who hadn’t seemed wrong at the time.

  “I do.” Crap. With the phrase I do, her thoughts immediately flashed to an aisle, a white dress, and a sexy, scowly groom. She hurried to wipe that from her mind and added, “We should always be honest with each other.” She paused, wanting to get it out in the open. “At some point I’ll have to talk to Cody to get some closure.”

  His face closed. “Why? Because you still want him around?”

  “No. But I’m entitled to some answers. And he wants to talk to me. He’s been leaving me messages.”

  He considered her for a moment. “Makes sense. He should apologize. I can come with you. You know. For moral support.”

  “No.” He didn’t seem to like that. “I have to do this on my own. But I’m so glad you offered.”

  He didn’t seem mollified. “Just… there’s no rush to see him is there? Take your time and settle in here more. Make your videos. Get your life back on track.” His ghost of a grin started that fluttery L-word buzzing inside her. “You know, be with your amazing boyfriend and feed him all that good stuff from your soon-to-be famous show.”

  “I can do that.” She tilted her face up and accepted his kiss, wishing he would stick around to finish what he started. But Smith had to get back to work.

  And Erin had to make a phone call.

  It was time to stop dithering and make some decisions.

  She clutched his key in her hand.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “And that, friends, is how you make Carrot Cake Perfection cupcakes.” Erin smiled and signed off her cooking channel, the video one she prerecorded so she could edit before posting.

  Three days had gone by since Smith had given her his key. Three days since she’d been catching up on filming. She’d made unicorn whips, a mean chocolate mousse-inspired delight that Tilly had gobbled up in seconds, and today’s carrot cake cupcake with out-of-this-world frosting.

  Smith and Tilly didn’t have a problem with her concoctions. Tilly gobbled up anything she made. Smith complimented her so much during meals she worried she’d start believing her own “godly abilities with a spatula.” And of course, she capped off dinners by spending the nights at his place, either at his request or her own.

  His complaint that he couldn’t sleep in her tiny bed made sense. And she rationalized that she saved time and energy by staying over. Heck, they conserved water by showering together. She found it all too easy to make excuses not to leave. After they made love, they cuddled. She’d never met a man more insistent on physical affection that had nothing to do with sex and everything to do with caring.

  They talked too, about everything and anything. Smith really did know his comics. She’d learned more about the Punisher and John Constantine than she’d cared to and realized that her boyfriend was really a big comic nerd. The contrast of tough guy to geek made her love him even more. Especially because she understood why his fictional heroes continued to be so important to him.

  Like her, Smith didn’t have many friends. Yet the more he talked about how annoying Cash was or how autocratic Reid could be, the more she heard that longing to accept the idea of family in his life.

  Thoughts of family made her homesick. She missed her parents, her friends. Erin knew she needed to go out and meet people, but she had no idea where to start. Naomi, maybe? But Erin only knew Naomi through Smith. Would that be presumptuous to call Naomi out of the blue and ask her to grab a coffee some time?

  Her phone pinged, and she looked at the message, expecting Smith telling her when he’d be home.

  But it was Cody, again wanting to talk. Though Smith had told her to take her time, Erin didn’t like putting off the inevitable. She wanted to move forward with Smith, despite her fears she’d moved too fast and was on the road to another heartache. Maybe if she knew what it was about her that Cody hadn’t been able to accept, she could fix it so Smith never had that issue with her.

  No matter how much Smith insisted Cody had been wrong—and she knew cheating hadn’t been her fault—something had pushed the man to another woman. That had hurt. If Smith found someone better, she didn’t know what she’d do. Cody hadn’t mattered the way Smith did, and she needed to be sure she wouldn’t be the cause of him leaving.

  She texted Cody back. “I’m ready to hear you out.”

  “Finally.” He texted her the name of a coffee shop in Queen Anne, one Rupert had showed her over a week ago. “Can you meet me there in an hour?”

  “Yes.”

  Nervous and a little freaked out that she’d finally get to confront Cody for being such a jerk, she left Smith a note and locked up, then went home to pick the right outfit for the occasion, the one that said screw you, you could have had all this, but you blew it.

  Erin settled on jeans and a form-fitting amber sweater that brought out the golden glints in her eyes. She brushed her hair until it shone and wore her favorite gold hoops—a gift from her sister, not the earrings Cody had once given her. Though they were pretty, she’d exchanged everything he’d once given her to a nice consignment shop in Greenwood not far away for credit. Cody had to be good for something, after all.

  A short drive in the late afternoon had her arriving in time to find a parking spot. A miracle. She left her vehicle, praying it lasted another 179000 miles before she had to budget for a new car, and walked the short distance to the coffee house.

  She found Cody sitting inside, looking dapper as usual. To her bemusement, she settled down at the familiarity, no longer so anxious.

  He smiled and stood when she approached. Always the gentleman. Until he wasn’t. “Hope you don’t mind. I ordered you a cappuccino and a French macaron.”

  Her favorites. “Thank you.” She sat, draping her jacket over the back of the seat, her purse by her side. She clasped her hands together on the table and waited.

  And so it began. Polite chitchat. Manners and ladylike behavior. Wait on Cody to say what he wanted, when he wanted. Ugh. Erin was so done being what others expected her to be. With Smith she just acted the way she wanted.

  She took a sip of coffee to fortify herself. “Explain.” Ha! She hadn’t said please.

  Cody studied her. “You look as beautiful as always.”

  She had to fight the urge to thank him for the compliment. “Cody, I came because I want to put you and our relationship behind me.” He looked startled at her blunt speak. She took heart from that and continued, her pulse racing as she threw her all into the confrontation. “Tell me why you couldn’t have mentioned a girlfriend before. Why you didn’t just break it off with me when I was in Colby. That’s all I want to know.”

  He sighed. “I’m so sorry for how it went down, Erin.”

  But not sorry he’d cheated? “Went down? It’s not a crime drama. You dumped me after I’d spent a fortune to move myself out here. Why?”

  He cringed. “Not one of my finer moments. Look, you’re so sweet and nice all the time. You took care of me, made me laugh, made me happy. But I never felt good enough for you. It was hard trying to measure up.”

  She blinked. “Wait. So, it’s my fault you cheated on me and lied?” Her voice rose. People glanced at them, but she didn’t care. “That is the saddest excuse I’ve ever heard.”

  A redhead with two toddlers glared at Cody. “You tell him, honey.” She walke
d out, muttering under her breath.

  Cody flushed, hating to be the center of attention. Normally Erin would be right there with him. But she’d been hurt and betrayed by someone she’d once loved. She hadn’t seen his flaws back then. Would she be able to see Smith’s now?

  “Erin, please, keep your voice down.” He looked around nervously.

  “Why? Afraid your girlfriend might walk in and wonder why you’re with me? Or is she in the back waiting to take you to another work meeting before dinner?” Okay, that was plain bitchy, and she knew it. But somewhere Erin had started to let herself go with the conversation. She bit into the macaron. Raspberry flavored. Yum.

  “Fine, I had that coming.” He guzzled his coffee. “I didn’t want to hurt you by breaking it off. I thought if I made up some outlandish dictate you’d walk away. I honestly had no idea you’d come out here.” He looked puzzled. “I mean, who does that?” His look turned to one of fascination. Not a good sign.

  “Uh-huh.” Had he really not known she’d come out here for him? “And the girlfriend? When did that start?”

  He glanced at his coffee, toying with his cuffs. A nervous tell she used to find endearing. “Diane and I started dating a few months ago. And don’t be mad. You and I were on the outs, and you know it.”

  “How can you say that?” His clear dismissal of what they’d had shouldn’t have hurt her any more. Yet it did.

  He met her gaze. “Please. We hadn’t been together in months. And when we were, you always wanted to talk or go out.” He lowered his voice. “We rarely had sex. When we did, you made me wear a condom.”

  “So, you had needs, is that it?”

  “Damn it. Yes. And even when we were together, it always felt as if I wanted it more than you did.”

  She lowered her voice to match his. “Maybe I’d have wanted it more if I’d gotten some pleasure out of it instead of waiting for you to finish.” Oh my gosh, I said it! She couldn’t believe she’d told him the truth about their sex life in public. Her mother would be mortified, and Grandma Freddy would be turning over in her grave. A lady did not talk about sex in public. Ever.