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ChapterTen
SPENCER
I’ve barely begun to compute how it feels to have Tess’s body pressed against mine when she blurts, “Nothing, we have nothing.” She leaps two feet away like I’m a cattle prod and she’s…
Cattle?
No. That’s not right.
She’s small and jumpy, and she smells like cantaloupe. Which it turns out, I like a lot. I just hope I didn’t do anything wrong. But, hey. Tess is the one who initiated the whole arm thing. She looped hers in mine, and then told my brother she likes being around me. Actually, she saidlove. And even though I know she didn’t mean it—she just wanted to get Frank’s goat—I still appreciate that kind of loyalty.
I appreciate a lot about Tess.
What are you thinking? This is Tess McCoy. You can’t start noticing stuff like that. Focus on the part where she’s a wildcard, while you’ve always been in charge of your life. You follow a plan. You know what comes next, step by step. One, two, three. Tess may be cute, but she’s completely unpredictable.
Speaking of which.
“Hello, Mrs. Lockhart,” she gushes. “What a surprise to seeyouhere!”
The mayor appraises us both and purses her lips. “I like coffee.”
“Of course you do!” Tess grins. “That’s normal. Kind of like this entire situation. Totally normal. And to go with your totally normal coffee, might I recommend the chocolate croissant? I’ve got one coming now, myself.”
“I was the one who ordered it for her,” I pipe in, as a subtle reminder to Frank that I’m here with Tess. Possibly as her date, but Tess ignores the comment. Not helpful.
“Chocolate croissant,” Tess repeats. “Sounds sommmmscrumptious,doesn’t it?” She presses a palm to her stomach and starts rubbing in a circular motion. “Mmmm. Scrumptious!” Whoa. On a regular day, Tornado Tess is more enthusiastic than your average human being. But repeatingmmmm scrumptiouswhile rubbing your stomach is next-level Tess.
NLT.
“I already ate.” Mrs. Lockhart sniffs, then her eyes dart my way again. Her brow is furrowed. Did I leave water spots on her car last week? Based on her current expression, she must really dislike me. Or croissants.
“Well, it’s too bad you’re not in the market for food,” Tess says. “Otherwise Spencer and I would ask you to join us. Especially since we’re only here because of you!”
The mayor cocks her head. “Me?”
“That’s right!” Tess beams at her. “We just stopped in for a little snack before heading over to the campsite. I wanted to show Spencer around the ranch before Monday. You know. Since we’ll be working there together. In an extremely limited capacity, of course. Just at night. While we’re both sleeping. And nothing else.”
“Ah, yes.” Mrs. Lockhart nods, but she seems more confused than ever.
That makes two of us, Mayor Lockhart.
Also Frank’s smirk is back. Which is less than fantastic for me.
“So Spencer and I met here at the coffee shop,” Tess continues, “and by total coincidence, Frank showed up with Alice. At the exact same time!” She sweeps a hand to indicate my brother and his girlfriend. “I mean, what are the odds that we’re here, and you’d end up here, and they’re also here? Life’s just one crazy coincidence.” Tess’s eyes are wide, and her tone is extra loud.
“The odds are pretty good,” Frank says, “since Alice and I come here every Saturday after work.” Frank tosses a frown my way. “Spencer knows that.”
“Do I?”
Luckily Tess is too busy acting strange around Mrs. Lockhart to put two and two together and come up with four.Fourbeing the fact that Iwantedmy brother to find us together.
This wassupposedto be Stage One of Frank thinking Tess and I might be dating. I was taking baby steps. Letting him draw his own conclusions, without actually lying. But now those baby steps are blowing up in my face.
I’ve got to take some action to get Frank back on track.
So I move closer to Tess, inch by inch, until I’m standing right behind her. At first, she’s too focused on Mrs. Lockhart to notice. I stand my ground. A stone wall. Unmovable. Until Tess steps back, bumps into me, and yelps.
We’re back to cattle-prod status now.
