“Elsie …”
I grinned at Kael’s voice behind me, but I didn’t turn around. Elsie out of his mouth touched me differently than his usual, playful Mrs. Smith. Maybe after my confession, he realized I didn’t want to be Mrs. Smith.
We didn’t exchange anymore words or glances as the line inched forward. After I ordered my soup, I moved off to the side to wait for it. A minute or so later, Kael joined me. He made a point of brushing his knuckles against mine as he turned to face the to-go counter.
It lit me on fire. I didn’t miss his smirk as I unzipped my jacket and loosened my scarf.
Again, he brushed the back of his hand against mine.
“Stop,” I whispered.
“I don’t want to stop,” he whispered back.
Then as if Karma had hopped on her high horse for the day, Tillie Cunningham waltzed through the door. I prayed for my order to be called as soon as possible, but that didn’t happen. She spotted us and beamed in response. There was very little wiggle room in the corner, so my attempts to distance myself from Kael were futile.
“Hey … just the man I was looking for.” Tillie slipped off her gloves. “Hi, Elsie.”
I gave her a stiff smile with raised eyebrows as I clasped my hands in front of me—far away from Kael’s wandering hand.
“Hey, Till … what’s up?” Mr. Nice Guy didn’t stumble for a second. It wasn’t how he acted … it was simply his natural character.
“I have pot roast in the Crock-Pot and a pie ready to go in the oven. How do you feel about dinner with me tonight?”
“Kael …” They called his name before mine.
I ordered before him. What was going on?
“That’s a great offer. I love pot roast. But … Elsie already invited me to dinner tonight.”
What the fuck!?
Tillie shifted her eyes to me holding nothing but total confusion in her glare like she didn’t hear him correctly. I could relate. It had to be a bad dream. He did not just call me out like that.
“You did?” Tillie narrowed her eyes.
“Excuse me, ladies. My order is ready.” Kael escaped the crowded corner to grab his order at the counter while my jaw unhinged, eyes unblinking.
“Elsie, are you having a dinner party or something?” Tillie tried to make sense of why Kael would be having dinner with me.
My gaze lifted past her shoulder to Kael weaving his way out of the cafe toward the door. He threw me under the bus.
Why?
I didn’t want to lie to Tillie, but he left me with no choice, and that pissed me off that he would do that to me.
“Elsie? Did you hear me?” Tillie prodded.
Bringing my attention back to her, I started to search for my voice. “Uh …” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Kael stop just before the door. When my attention shifted back to him, he turned, lips twisted in a contemplative expression.
Regret.
He regretted saying what he did. I started to blow out a sigh of relief as he made his way back toward us. He was going to make things right again with Tillie, so I didn’t have to lie to her.
Tillie redirected her attention to him as well.
Then he did what no one in my life had ever done before … he exposed me. All of me. His right hand slid along my cheek, fingers threading in my hair as he brought his lips to my opposite cheek, depositing a soft but deeply intimate kiss near my ear before whispering, “I love you, so deal with it.”
Tillie’s lips parted as her face lost all color. I didn’t have issues with color. My face felt as red as the tomato bisque soup in the bag waiting for me at the counter.
“Order for Elsie,” they called.
Kael didn’t give Tillie one single glance before vanishing out the door after lighting my fragile world on fire.
Tillie turned and shouldered past a few people as she stumbled out of the cafe. It wasn’t until I grabbed my bag that I realized a lot of eyes were on me.
Fucking small towns.
They saw everything. It was only a matter of time before everyone knew.
Bella …
She was still at school, her last day before the start of Christmas break.
Livid.
I was so livid.
Let them talk.
After throwing me to the wolves, I was in total agreement. It was time to let them talk.
“How was—” Kandi started to talk the second I returned to the store.
“I have an errand to run.” I tossed the store keys on the counter. “Can you close up?”
“Um … I’ve never closed up before.”
“There’s always a first.” I grabbed the flowers, leaving my soup behind and stormed out the door, across the square, and right into What Did You Expect?
I can say with certainty that Kael’s employees, including Rachel, and the aisles filled with customers didn’t expect me and my outrage.