AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I do have a full staff of amazing people you know.” She casts me a wry smirk.
“You’ve always had that,” I snort.
“Yes, but I’m a different person now.” She hooks her arm around mine as we walk back to the main room. “I’ve learned to trust my staff instead of feeling like I have to do everything myself.”
“We have Axel to thank for that.” I nudge her with my elbow, my way of acknowledging what a good influence her boyfriend has been on her.
“Speaking of… Andrew has a shift tonight. I was going to suggest to him that he ask you out.”
I pull my arm from Lennon’s as we reach the bar and face her with a wary look. “Actually, I’m having second thoughts about that. I don’t have a lot of free time, and I want to put it into this idea I have. To see if it really has any merit.”
Lennon’s silent as she studies me. “You know I’m fully supportive of women calling their own shots—it’s why I was such a workaholic for so long—but I basically put my life on hold for my business. Without Axel, I’d probably still be missing out on life. I don’t want you to repeat my mistake.”
“I don’t want to repeat that either, no offense.” I offer a weak smile. “It’s just that right now I’m more passionate about this idea than Andrew, and I don’t want to be unfair to him.” The weight in my chest lifts as the words leave my mouth, probably because they’re true. I am more excited about creating something than dating Andrew, and even though Deacon is a big part of that, it’s not inaccurate to say my passions don’t include the boy she wants to set me up with. Pretending they do would be unfair.
“Say no more, I totally get it.” Lennon pulls me in for a hug. “Although, I’m going to need to hear about this idea if it’s so exciting you’re willing to put your love life on hold for it.”
“What love life?” I play the role she’s used to seeing me in.
“Exactly my point. Spill,” she instructs, and I spend the pre-dinner prep telling her all about my plans.
Chapter 21
Deacon
“What’sthisaboutyougetting coffee with Tiff?” Cade asks from where he’s reclining against the bumper of my truck, arms crossed in front of his chest as he waits for me to approach.
“You drove over here to ask me that?” He’s got a project across town from my job site, which is really only two miles or so, but worth pointing out since the personal touch is overkill. Or more accurately, it’s easier to lie to him when I’m not looking at him. “You could’ve just called.”
“A few weeks ago, you stayed the night at her house, and now you’re getting coffee together. I’m worried.”
“You’re worried that I’m being nice to her?” I open the door—gently to disguise my anger—and toss my bag inside.
He shifts so he’s leaning against the bed, facing me. “I’m worried because I know for a fact you haven’t hooked up with anyone for nearly a month.”
“It’s mud season. No one is passing through town to hook up with.” I figure it’s safer to agree than deny since the lack of tourists would normally make that true. It brings up a new complication though, one I hadn’t thought of until just now. There will likely be just as much talk about what I’mnotdoing as there could be about what Iam. That’ll be a problem when the next tourist season kicks in. Fuck.
“That’s exactly my point. There’s no one around to occupy your time.”
“Which happens twice a year every year,” I point out.
“True. In years past you haven’t hung out with Tiff though.”
“What are you saying?” I’m being difficult, forcing him to spell it out, but so is he. And yeah, maybe he has reason to be a dick right now, but he doesn’t know that. Yet he’s still treating me like I’m guilty before knowing I am.
“Look, Deacon. I know how you like to spend your free time. Hell, I’m the one that taught you that shit. And—”
“And what? I’m not capable of being a nice guy unless there’s pussy involved?” Yes, I’m being a hypocrite, but again, he doesn’t know that. And in my defense, I wasn’t the one to initiate things between me and Tiff. On that count, I’m guilt free.
“Come on, Cuz. I’m worried for my sister. Tell me I don’t need to be.”
I open the driver’s door, so I don’t have to look at him. “You don’t need to be.”
As far as I’m concerned, that’s the God’s honest truth. Contrary to what he might think, I didn’t chase after Tiff with the intention to defile her. And I have every intention of doing right by her, including letting her go when she’s done with this… Done withme.
“Then what was the coffee for? People are saying you had your arm around her.”
My brows draw together as I try to recall whether or not I touched her. I don’t think I…oh yeah. I turn back to look at him. “I put my arm on the back of the booth to lean closer to her computer. I was looking at the screen.”
