Page 117 of Hometown Hottie

57

NOVA

Carson, Ryan, and I left the sheriff’s department three days after the fire, all of us tense about the outcome of the investigation but relieved to have given our updated statements. After all the questions we’d been asked, it had become clear that the investigators needed to know about any possible enemies or recent disputes.

We’d sat on it for a couple days since we didn’t have any evidence, but we’d all gone through every other encounter we’d had with everyone else in and around the town, and nothing else made sense. The only person who had a bone to pick with us was Frank, so we’d finally gone to the authorities with it.

After all the conversations we had, we came up with two possibilities. If Frank didn’t know about Carson’s investment, burning the bakery down would put pressure on us to sell. With no money coming in, we’d have no other choice. Alternatively, if Frank did know Carson was investing, maybe burning the bakery would make Carson pull out. Or maybe he’d simply wanted to make us hurt. Whatever his twisted motives, Frank had to be the culprit.

When we stepped out of the police station and into the sunshine, Carson squeezed my hand and slid his sunglasses back on. “You doing okay?”

I shook my head, sliding my own sunglasses over my eyes. “I’m not going to be okay until they arrest him, but for now, at least we know we’ve pointed them in the right direction.”

Ryan didn’t even grimace at us for holding hands. His gaze dropped to our entwined fingers before he gave me a reassuring smile. “They’ll get him if he’s the one responsible for this. Just keep your chin up and your eyes open.”

“Yeah, you too,” I said, frowning when he stopped walking. “Where are you going? I thought we were all headed out to lunch.”

“I can’t. I’ve got that contractor coming in to talk about building a new bakery and I’ve got to fill Mom and Dad in about this morning before I meet with him. Have fun, though.”

Carson grinned at him. “Oh, we will.”

Ryan groaned. “Too soon, man. Too soon. Just promise me you two will stay in public, with chaperones, and not make me an uncle any time soon.”

My cheeks flushed, but Carson shrugged at him. “I don’t make promises I can’t keep. You don’t need me to be there for the contractor, right?”

“Nope. I only needed your money to pay him, and now that I’ve got that, I can take it from here.” He smirked at his friend. “You had it coming.”

Carson laughed, not seeming offended in the least. “Yeah, I guess I did. Are you sure you don’t want to join us for lunch?”

“Sorry,” Ryan said, motioning at us and waving his hand in a circle at our chests. “I’m not sure I can stomach seeing this for more than an hour at a time just yet, and I really do need to get home. Mom and Dad will be waiting and that contractor is coming at one.”

“Do you need me to be there?” I asked, amused as I glanced between them. “It’s nice of you both to think that you need to be present for the meeting, but it’s my bakery.”

Ryan smirked at me. “Sure, it is, but I designed the building when we remodeled and I’m pretty sure it worked out well for you, so I’ll take care of it again.”

“Fine, but remember what we talked about last night. This design needs to be open to possibilities for growth in the future.”

He saluted, then waved and strode toward his truck. Carson watched him go with a smile on his lips, only turning to lead me down the street once Ryan was gone. “He’s taking this much better than I thought he would.”

“He really is,” I agreed. “I think I’m still waiting for him to change his mind. Every time you touch me in front of him, I wonder if he’s going to snap.”

Carson chuckled. “Nah, I think he’s learning to live with it. So, what do you feel like for lunch?”

I lifted my free hand to check my watch and groaned. “Takeout from the Greek place on the corner? We have to be at the library in thirty for our reading session.”

“Shit. Is it that late already?”

“Yep.”

He only let go of my hand when we reached his truck. He opened the door for me, leaned in to plant a kiss on my lips, and shut it. As he jogged around the truck, I brought my fingers up to my still tingling mouth, smiling as I all but melted into the seat.

It had only been three days, but they had been three of the best days of my life. Now that we didn’t have to sneak around anymore, Carson was proving to be quite a boyfriend. Without either of us having to get to work, we were spending almost all our time together.

So far, it had mostly been in bed, but I wasn’t complaining. He helped out with chores on the ranch while he was there, and then we went back to my cottage, locking ourselves in and finally getting to spend some time as a couple.

It was great. He glanced at me as he climbed in behind the steering wheel. “God, that smile does things to me. Please tell me I put it there.”

“Of course, you put it there.” I turned to face him. “Are you staying over again tonight?”