Chasing Carly (Holiday Cove 3)

I considered her once more, my eyes lingering on the sheer edges of her robe. “And no more flirting with Nick, or any other age-inappropriate guy,” I added, bringing my eyes back to hers to make sure she wasn’t going to try and bullshit me.

Instead, I saw a spark of mischief. “Well, I can’t help if they flirt with me…”

I contained an eye roll. “Right. Cause Nick has obviously been the one instigating.”

She smirked. “He was last night.”

“What?” An explosion of panic ripped through my stomach and I was glad I wasn’t holding my coffee mug. It would have dropped from my hand and shattered on the kitchen floor. “What are you talking about? Last night?”

Alesha grinned more deeply. “When I got here last night, he was awake on the couch. I think I scared him, coming in like I did…”

“What do you mean?” I asked, too quickly.

Alesha shrugged. “I was a little tipsy and he sprang at the door and ripped it open while I was messing with my keys. Anyway, he told me that I owed you an apology—”

“Good advice,” I muttered, a sinking feeling still heavy in my chest, but grateful for his attempt to repair the situation.

“I don’t know why he didn’t tell me about what happened at the cafe. I guess we got off track.”

“Alesha, for fuck’s sake, just tell me what the hell you’re talking about!”

“We messed around on the couch.”

My stomach turned inside out. Thankfully I hadn’t had time to eat, so there was nothing to toss out onto the floor. Instead, I stood there, paralyzed, my eyes bugging out at her as she smirked to herself at the memory of her illicit night.

“That can never happen again,” I said, the rasp in my voice startling Alesha from her dreamy, far off stare. “Never. Again. Do you understand?”

She rolled her eyes, but after taking another look into my eyes, she backed down and nodded her consent.

“I’m going to the shop.” I couldn’t stand still anymore. I needed to move, to breathe, to get out of the fucking house that felt like it was ready to collapse on top of me right there at the coffee pot.

“Are you sure? You seem…off…”

“I’m fine.” I turned in a jerking sweep, dumping the coffee from my mug and clanging it down with too much force.

“Do you want me to come with you?”

Although my back was to her, I shook my head. “No. Not today. I need some space.”

“Okay…” a hint of apprehension tinged her voice, but before I turned back around, I heard her footsteps scamper back up the stairs, obviously eager to get in another hour of sleep.

A warning rang in the back of my mind, reminding me that this was the part where I needed to tell her that she wasn’t to leave the house, that she needed to be to the shop by noon for the lunch rush, or that she was grounded for the rest of the summer. But nothing came out.

None of it mattered anymore.

All of my anger had been redirected like a channel of water. And that force was all ready to slam into a devastatingly handsome man with thick auburn hair, a mysterious smile, and warm honey eyes.

I was going to fucking destroy him.

The espresso machine had barely finished going through its warm up cycle when a gentle tap sounded on the glass door. I looked up from the tray of scones I was arranging and scowled at Nick’s cheery face staring back at me. I dropped the tray, straightened, and dusted my hands on the front of my apron. With clipped, marching strides, I stalked to the front door, flipped the lock, and swung it open. “We’re not open yet,” I growling, thumbing at the vinyl lettering on the glass labeling the business hours. “You’ll have to come back later. Or not.”

Without waiting for him to gather a reply, I pulled the door closed with a loud slam, flipped the lock, and made my way back to the counter, ignoring his knocking.

After a little while, he called my name, but I didn’t look up or acknowledge it.

I was done with Nick. And the sooner he knew it the better.

He should just be glad I wasn’t kicking his balls in.

“Carly? What the hell?” He was at the side window now, tapping on the glass, trying to get my attention. I considered my options. Within a few minutes, my first wave of customers—the early birds—would be assembling outside. There was enough gossip in this town without a major scene to fuel it along. Up until this point, I’d been fortunate enough to fly under the radar. I didn’t relish the idea of an entire town full of bored retirees and housewives making me their front page, hot item news for the next month or two.