“What are you, five? I told you, it’s not like that. I have a girlfriend,” I griped.
Tuck’s face grew serious. “Walk, you’ve had one foot out of every relationship you’ve been in since Julie.” I tightened my grip on the water bottle and tried to keep my expression passive. “I get it, I do. Her death marked us all. Hell, it’s why we’re both in law enforcement now. But just because she’s gone, doesn’t mean you can’t have that great love again.”
The water bottle in my hand began to crumple as I tightened my grip. “Julie was my one.”
“She was one of your ones. God would never be so cruel as to only give us one shot at happiness.”
I wasn’t so sure. It had seemed like a miracle to find it in the first place. A second time was surely an impossibility. I smacked Tuck’s gut with the back of my hand. “What is this? Lessons in love from Sutter Lake’s own Casanova?”
Tuck grinned. “You never know, maybe I’m hiding my true nature as a romantic. Maybe I need to meet this new neighbor of yours.”
My jaw locked, and I hated myself a little for the jealousy that flared to life within me. “You can’t. I don’t want your smarmy ass around her.”
“Afraid she’ll fall for me, huh? It’s to be expected, I am the better-looking and richer of the two of us.”
“Yes, I’m terrified she’ll fall in love with your ego and fart jokes.”
“I’ll just call up Mama Sarah or Jensen and get them to introduce us. I bet they’d be thrilled to play matchmaker.”
“Don’t.” The word came out harsher than I’d intended, surprising even me. The brief sparks I’d felt with Taylor were more than I’d ever felt with Caitlin. In that moment, I knew I needed to end things with Caitlin. It wasn’t fair to her. She wanted something I’d never be able to give her.
Tuck sobered. “All right. I’ll stay clear.” I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. “So, what’s new with the Cole family? Jensen still dating that douchebag, Bryce?”
I was grateful for the subject change. “Bryce isn’t a douchebag.”
Tuck scoffed, straightening his baseball cap.
“He’s been good to Jensen. She hasn’t introduced him to Noah as a boyfriend or anything yet. They’re taking things slow.”
“At least there’s that.”
I studied Tuck. “What’s your problem with him? This is the first guy she’s dated since that ass in college. Bryce has a good job, he’s not a player. We should be relieved there’s someone decent in her life.”
Tuck peeled back the label on his water bottle. “I don’t know, just something about him, I guess.”
“Well, get over it. She really likes him, I can tell.”
“I’ll do my best,” Tuck said, the words tight, his cheek muscle popping.
I slapped his shoulder. “Good. Now, let’s get out of here and grab a beer.”
Tuck hopped down from the tailgate. “You’re buying. You still owe me for not calling me when you knew you were going to meet Austin Lyons.”
The man had a point.
10
Taylor
The muted sounds of various conversations filtered through the air as I wiped down the counter at The Tea Kettle.
“You’re doing a great job. One more day with me here, and then I’m letting you loose on the public,” Jensen said as she refilled the bakery case with things that smelled like Heaven. Tessa really had a gift in the kitchen.
My first day had been a success so far. It had only taken me a few bumbling attempts to figure out the register, and I soon fell into a rhythm of busy bursts and lulls. Everyone who came in was super-friendly. Austin had been right. They all wanted to know my story, but I was able to maneuver the quick conversations with vague answers and half-truths.
My favorite customers so far were a group of four gentlemen in their seventies or eighties who were playing a spirited game of bridge at a corner table. Jensen said they came in every week. They were all shameless flirts, and I loved every second of it.
Turning back to Jensen, I tossed the rag under the counter. “Thanks. This is pretty fun. You’ve got some characters coming through, that’s for sure.”
Jensen let out a snort of laughter just as the bell over the door jingled. I looked up to see a handsome man with sandy brown hair and sparkling eyes enter. “Hey there, Jensen.”
Jensen’s cheeks heated. “Hey, Bryce. What are you doing here during the middle of the day?”
He grinned at her. I might as well have been invisible. “I thought I’d earned a little break. Wanted to come and see how your day was going.”
The red in Jensen’s cheeks deepened. There had to be a love story brewing here. “Things are going great. Bryce, this is Taylor. She just moved here from Texas and is the Kettle’s newest waitress.”
Bryce’s gaze finally came to mine, and a genuine smile tipped his lips. “Nice to meet you, Taylor. Welcome to town. You’re in good hands here with Jensen.”
“Thank you, I know I am.” I tilted my head towards Jensen. “I’m fine here if you want to take a little break.”
She rolled her lips together as if thinking it through. “All right. Bryce, you want a snack?”
“I wouldn’t say no to one of those ham and cheddar scones.”
Jensen nodded. “Coming right up.”
While Bryce and Jensen settled themselves at a back table, I straightened things that didn’t need straightening and tried not to look like I was snooping. I totally was. Those two had at least a high school-style crush going for each other.
I grinned at the floor. The sound of a chair scraping harshly against the wood had my head snapping up.
One of the older gentlemen who had been flirting with me earlier stood from his chair and threw his cards down on the table. “You’re a dirty cheat, Arthur, and you always were.”
I hustled around the counter as another man—Arthur I assumed—stood, as well. “I am not, Clint. Just because I’m better at cards than you doesn’t make me a cheat.”
I made it to the table just as it seemed the two might come to blows. “Now, fellas, what’s going on?”
Clint’s gaze jumped to me. “That-that no-good Art is a dirty cheat.”