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Lia was up bright and early the next morning to open the store. It was Wednesday, which meant Della would be attending the weekly prayer breakfast at her church. Lia had never been, but she suspected it served up more hot pancakes and the latest gossip than actual prayers.
Lia didn’t mind, especially this morning. She’d slept remarkably well considering she had a strange man in the office below her. Not that she’d seen Kaden after lunch. He was gone until late last night. She was upstairs baking cookies when she heard him open the back door. But the sound of his return hadn’t bothered her. In truth, with the disturbing events plaguing Pike, it was a comfort to know she wasn’t alone in the building.
Lia had just unlocked the door and turned the sign to “OPEN” when Bailey was shoving her way past her to enter the store.
She was wearing a heavy coat and work scrubs, with her hair pulled into a messy bun. Her cheeks were rosy, either from the chilled wind or from excitement. Hard to tell. It didn’t take much to get Bailey agitated.
“Is it true?” she burst out.
Lia closed the door and eyed her friend with a faint smile. “Good morning, Bailey.”
“Good morning.” She waved an impatient hand. “Is it true?”
“You’re going to have to be more specific.”
“Is Kaden Vaughn staying with you?”
Lia’s mouth dropped open. She didn’t know why she was shocked. Rumors spread like wildfire through Pike. But . . . damn, this was supersonic speed.
“Where did you hear that?”
“Della came to the nursing home last night to visit her aunt.” Bailey watched the heat stain Lia’s cheeks. “So, is it true?”
Lia silently cursed herself for sharing the information with the older woman. She should have known Della would tell everyone in town about Lia’s temporary guest.
“I let him spend the night in my office.”
Bailey made a strangled sound. “You made that gorgeous man sleep in your office? What’s wrong with you?”
Lia felt her blush deepen. A part of her agreed with Bailey. For the first time in forever she had a man under her roof and she’d kept a locked door between them. It did seem a wasted opportunity.
Another part, however, knew she needed more than a physical attraction to take a lover.
“I barely know him.”
“So?”
Lia rolled her eyes. “Did you need anything? Milk? Bread?”
Bailey glanced around the store, as if making sure they were alone. “I wanted to tell you that during my shift last night, I passed by the break room and overheard Kari Wentz talking to Megan Griffin. They’re both aides at the nursing home.”
Lia held up her hand, trying to stop her friend. “If this is gossip—”
“Gossip you’re going to be interested in,” Bailey insisted.
“Why?”
“It involves your Kaden Vaughn.”
“He’s not mine,” Lia protested, even as the words sent a thrill of pleasure down her spine.
Bailey winked, obviously aware she was rubbing a raw nerve. “Whatever you say.”
“Tell me.”
“Kari’s mom is a maid at the Pike Motel. She told Kari that the mayor showed up at the crack of dawn yesterday to tell the manager that he wanted Kaden Vaughn out of town.”
It was exactly what they’d suspected, but having it confirmed was unnerving.
