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“It shouldn’t have happened,” he interrupted, stealing the words right from my lips. “It was a lapse in judgment, and it should never happen again.”
“Oh,” I gasped, and he looked at me. “You’re my daughter’s best friend, Leah. That makes this inappropriate and you are completely off-limits. Danielle and I might not be on great terms but I …”
“That’s because you never care to talk to her though,” I muttered beneath my breath, but he heard my words and raised a brow.
“What did you just say?” he queried.
“I mean, Danielle always wants to talk to you, but you never seemed interested in anything she has to say, and you completely cut her off simply because she chose to leave Dallas instead of staying here with you. You shut her off because she always blamed you for leaving her mom.”
He scoffed and blinked. “Is that what you think happened?”
“I don’t know … is it what happened?”
“Right, and you’re painfully honest, aren’t you?” I didn’t miss the sarcasm in his tone as he asked.
Tommy got on his feet and picked up his plate. “I don’t have to defend myself to you,” he said as he turned his back to me. “You know nothing.”
I didn’t argue with him. I simply got on my feet, picked up my plate, and dropped it in the sink. He walked out of the kitchen and left me to do the dishes.
The rest of the day while I worked on rearranging the bedroom, I thought about our conversation in the kitchen and wondered what exactly he meant by me not knowing anything.
I knew Danielle well. I was right there when her mother left, and I saw how broken she was after the divorce. All Danielle wanted was her mother, but after the divorce, Tommy shut her out and everyone else entirely.
He made sure Danielle never spoke or asked of her mother again, and that hurt. Being the outsider watching it all unfold, I hated that he treated Danielle that way, especially since the divorce was his fault, after all.
Danielle told me all about it. I remembered her exact words.My mom’s leaving because my dad cheated, and she never wants to see him again.
That night I cried with my best friend because I felt sorry for her. I experienced it too. So how could he say I knew nothing?
My thoughts spiraled, and somehow Tommy’s kiss managed to slip in at intervals. In the end, it left me hot, and bothered for him, with no clue how I could resist and banish him from my mind for good.
Tommy
Onmydrivebackhome from work that evening, Leah, and Danielle’s last single ‘Texas Star’ was playing on my radio. I turned up the volume so I could appreciate their voices and their skill with their instruments. Both girls were talented, and extremely happy whenever they played.
I still wondered why Leah was here in Lakewood and not on stage with the rest of her crew. Peter mentioned their Europe tour. Were the rest of her band going on that without her? Why?
I hated that I thought of Leah Maureen, and worse wanted to kiss her again. That kiss had been inappropriate, but still, it warmed my insides and made me feel things I hadn’t experienced in a long time.
Leah made my heart flutter, and knots formed in the pit of my stomach. Since my divorce, I hadn’t cared to feel anything for any other woman till now. Constantly thinking about Leah made me uncomfortable and it was worse because she wasn’t leaving the cottage either.
How can I get her to leave?
I had thought about locking her out the previous day, but that was too mean, and I worried she was serious when she said she had no other place to go.
My hands gripped the steering wheel tighter, and I swerved to the side of the road when I approached Belly Row’s. The walk from the side curb to the bakery’s main entrance was short, and I could already inhale the sweet, savory scent of whatever was baking in there.
Once I got in, the first person I spotted behind the counter was Leah.
“Hi, welcome, what would you like?” she asked without raising her gaze from what she was doing. When she finally looked up, I arrived at the counter and stared hard at her.
“Tommy,” she whispered. I saw a crimson color form on her cheeks, and I couldn’t refrain from staring at her for a long moment. Leah was a beautiful woman, with a radiant smile and brown eyes that made my pulse skitter.
She was young, and full of life too. There was so much energy around her, and it was infectious. If I let her, she could turn my entire place upside down and make it match her personality. I liked my surroundings plain and unchanging. I preferred not to make memories that would end up haunting me again.
“Coffee cake please,” I answered then scanned the dining area. “I don’t see Cherry around.”
“Yes,” she replied enthusiastically. “She had a doctor’s appointment so I’m in charge for the day. Why don’t you try our scones? They are amazing and it’s a new recipe I shared with Cherry. The customers love it so far.”
