“Maybe there’s hope for me after all,” Rachel said.
“Are you talking about Sam?” Judy asked. “Surely you know he’s crazy about you.”
“I—,” Rachel faltered, then bobbled her spoon. “Sorry. I … Chloe,” she said, shifting the focus. “Are you okay? You look clammy.”
Chloe stepped away from the cooking island. “Just need a drink of water.”
“Casey mentioned she saw you coming out of Doc Worton’s office yesterday. Did you catch that bug that’s going around?”
“You didn’t tell me you went to the doctor.” Monica joined her friend at the sink. “What gives?”
“Nothing. I’m fine. Really. Please stop fussing.”
“I’m not fussing and you’re not fine. You’ve been shaky for a couple of weeks,” Monica said. “I thought it was the stress of opening the café. But that’s not it, is it?”
“Let it go, Monica.”
“Why? What’s wrong? You can tell us. You can tell
me,
for God’s sake.” Monica jammed a hand through her spiky hair. “Jesus. Is it serious?”
Chloe wrung her hands and Rocky got a bad feeling.
Rachel and Judy abandoned their baking efforts, their attention riveted on the heated scene between two friends.
“I’m not sick.” Chloe looked Monica square in the eye. “I’m pregnant.”
Rocky gasped—she couldn’t help herself—as did Judy and Rachel. Rocky really wanted to squeal with joy, but the devastated look on Monica’s face shut her down.
Oh, crap.
Chloe shifted. “Monica, I—”
Someone banged on the front door of the closed café.
“Must be Tasha and the film crew,” Monica said.
“Send them away,” Chloe said, seemingly frozen in place.
Monica bolted from the kitchen, and Rocky and the other two women converged on Chloe.
“Dev must be thrilled,” Rocky said with a quick hug.
“Congratulations, sweetie,” Judy said.
Rachel teared up as she squeezed Chloe’s hand. “So happy for you.”
Monica burst back in with Tasha and crew before Rocky and immediate friends had a chance to retreat to their mixing bowls. “I was just telling these guys the great news,” Monica said, hustling over and hugging Chloe with a big,
ready-for-my-close-up-Mr.-DeMille
fake-ass smile. “My best friend’s having a baby.”
* * *
“It was awful, Devlin. The way she acted all happy and carefree.” Fatigued by an extralong day and the pressure of having to put on a cheery front for Tasha and crew, Chloe fell back on the bed fully clothed. “I know Monica was hamming it up for the camera crew, but even as we cleared out of Moose-a-lotta she gave me another huge hug and smile and told me how happy she was for me.”
Dressed down in sweats and a tee, Devlin sat on the bed and tugged off Chloe’s shoes. “Maybe it wasn’t an act.”
“I’ve known Monica all of my life. It was definitely an act. It’s not that I doubt her sincerity. I know, deep down, she’s genuinely thrilled for me, us. It’s the fact that she’s pretending it doesn’t hurt.”
“Sounds to me like she’s putting your feelings ahead of hers. A sign of a good friend.”
“But I don’t want the pretense between us. I want her to know I feel her pain. I know how badly she wants a child and how disappointed she is that it hasn’t happened yet. How frustrating it must be to learn about two other pregnancies in the space of a week, both accidents, one of them being her best friend. We need to talk about this.”
“Can I make a suggestion?” Devlin asked as he pulled off her socks.
“Sure.”
“Let Monica come to you.”
“But—”
“Give her some time, Chloe. Let her process, come to terms, maybe talk to Leo for perspective—”
“That’s if they’re speaking.”
“They’re going through a rough time. They’ll work it out.”
“You keep saying that. Such faith.”
The bed dipped as Devlin moved up and stretched alongside her. “That’s because I have faith in true love.”
She smiled up at the father of her child. So handsome. So strong and kind. “You say the most romantic things.”
He smiled back and smoothed her hair from her face. “Setting aside the issue with Monica, how did it feel sharing the news?”
She beamed. “Great. I know the rest of the girls were dying to gush, especially Rocky. I couldn’t get a read on Tasha—what was real or fake—because she was ‘on’ for the cameras. She pretended like she was happy for me anyway. She spun the news in a way that made ‘good press’ so to speak. A future Cupcake Lover in the making. The tradition lives on. Yada yada. Scandal averted.”
“What about the fact that we’re not married?”
“That didn’t come up.”
“Chloe—”
“I was thinking,” she said, cutting off marriage talk. “Now that the news is out, I’d like to share it with the world. Especially your parents.” She pushed up to one elbow and locked gazes with Devlin, determined to banish another secret from their lives. “I think we should fly down and tell them in person. As soon as possible.”
“The timing—”
“Is perfect.” She reached over and squeezed his hand. “News of a grandchild might do your dad a world of good.”
He raised a brow. “Gram told you.”
“I pried it out of her. Part of it anyway. I know your dad’s fighting a life-threatening affliction. I don’t know what specifically.”
Devlin blew out a breath and rolled onto his back.
“Are you angry?”
“Relieved.” He jammed his hand through his hair. “You don’t know how much I wanted to confide in you, Chloe.”
Heart pounding, she snuggled against Jerome Monroe’s eldest son and hugged tight. “I understand. You promised your mom and dad to keep his illness secret, and promises are sacred.”
“Dad’s a proud and stubborn bastard. He didn’t want pity and he didn’t want family to worry.”
“Having to keep this from Rocky and Luke must be killing you.”
“I regretted the promise soon after making it. If Dad’s health had taken a turn for the worse—”
“But it didn’t,” Chloe said, feeling his unease. “Your dad’s on the mend.”
“Thanks to radical treatment and top-notch specialists. He’s hoping to come home for Christmas.”
“Is he ever going to come clean about whatever he’s been fighting?”
“Prostate cancer. I don’t know. Puts me in a hell of a spot with Rocky and Luke either way.”
“This family’s like an artichoke,” Chloe said. “You peel away one layer, one secret, only to find another.”
Devlin laughed. “Leave it to you to compare my family to food.”
“At least it’s one less layer between us,” she said, playfully tugging up his shirt, then sliding her hand down his sweats.
“Are you trying to distract me with sex?”
“Is it working?”
“Hell, yeah.” He rolled on top of her, sliding his hands over her curves, then framing her face and seducing her with a scorching kiss. “I love you, Chloe.”
Her heart pounded and her soul sang. “I love you, Devlin.” She quirked a gentle, teasing smile. “So are you going to introduce me to your parents, or what?”
“One stipulation.”
She braced for a proposal.
“Pack a bikini.”
Chloe blinked, then laughed. “You’re such a guy.”
“You’re quite the girl. My girl.”
He kissed her again, infusing her with love and hope and a sense of family.
Their family.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Day by day, little by little, Jayce was making peace with his dysfunctional childhood or at least with the house he’d grown up in. Living within these rooms, rooms Rocky had miraculously transformed with eclectic art and furnishings, infusing the space with the positive interactions between warm, caring people, not to mention an affectionate, animated dog, worked wonders in obliterating any lingering negativity. Facing Jayce’s demons head-on had been a wise move, although he’d yet to slay the biggest monster. He’d wrestled with confiding in Rocky regarding the night his parents died—maybe verbalizing his guilt would exorcise that ghost. Although he’d purged his soul to Dev’s dad plenty that night and had only felt worse. Bottom line, Jayce didn’t want to talk about it. Not yet. Maybe not ever.
Just now he had bigger worries: Rocky’s stalker.
To Jayce’s amazement, she wasn’t concerned or was doing a damned good job of pretending not to be concerned. The night before, she’d talked about anything but—the cupcake video shoot, the news that Chloe was pregnant, and her fear that Monica was heading toward a total meltdown. This morning Rocky had kicked off their morning with a round of hot sex followed by a run with Brewster. The sex had been amazing. Jogging through the woods that ran behind Jayce’s house would’ve been more enjoyable if he hadn’t had one eye peeled for a thong-stealing bully. Throughout the run Jayce had been primed to spy some nut job hiding behind a tree. Worse, he imagined the bastard making a grab for Rocky or taking a potshot or … Christ, the possibilities were endless and troublesome.
But the run had been uneventful, as had, in truth, the past couple of days.
There’d been no more threats, no evidence of anyone lurking outside Jayce’s house. And the whole of Sugar Creek knew Rocky had moved in with him, at least temporarily. Jayce had made sure of it. All it took was a casual mention to Marvin, Vince Redding’s son and the acting manager of Oslow’s General Store, when Jayce and Rocky had dropped in for groceries. And another mention when he’d visited the hardware store to pick up supplies enabling him to rig the Red Clover with security.
Sugar Creek was a small town with small-town sensibilities. News spread fast and stories tended to mushroom as gossip rolled from one person to the next. Even though Rocky kept telling those who commented that this living arrangement was temporary, just until construction was complete at the inn, most folks already had them married off. Fine by Jayce. Not so fine with Rocky. As much as he admired her independent streak, it irritated him at the same time. Two strong personalities vying for control. The only time and place Jayce truly dominated was whenever and wherever they were having sex. He understood that compromise was the key to any successful relationship, but when the subject of their battle was Rocky’s welfare he had a hard time bending. So did she. As much as he loved Brewster and as obedient and loyal as the dog was, Jayce worried he’d instilled Rocky with a false sense of security. As if nothing could touch or harm her with that dog by her side.
Jayce glanced in his rearview mirror as he backed his car onto the road. “You’re obsessed, Bello.” To the point of pushing her away. He knew it and was trying to get a damned handle on it, but given his past experiences on the force and as a PI working the city, he couldn’t dismiss his deep-rooted concerns. That damned note attached to her thong had sent him over the edge. She kept playing it down, but he couldn’t. His latest clash with Rocky had happened over breakfast when he’d tried to convince her to allow him to download an app to her phone that would allow him to track her location via GPS.
What, so you’d know when I was in the bathroom or having a beer at the Shack?
It isn’t a camera, Rocky. It’s a locator. And not so specific as to know what room you’re in.
You’re smothering me, Jayce.
And with that he allowed her to drive off to Maple Molly’s with Brewster but no tracking app. Now Jayce was on his way to J.T. Monroe’s Department Store to speak with Dev. Jayce needed some help, and in this instance his friend was the best source.
Pulling into Sugar Creek, Jayce noted more traffic—foot and vehicle. Traditionally, the town always buzzed more on the weekends, but especially during special events such as the Spookytown Spectacular. Honeysuckle Street had been blocked off. Instead of cars, carnival rides took up the length of that road. Food and artisan booths of various sizes crowded the sidewalks of both Honeysuckle and Main Street. Business owners all over town had decked out storefronts with Halloween decorations and, just as they did every year, Sugar Creek Elementary School had converted their gymnasium into the always popular Spookytown Haunted Hall.
On the one hand, Jayce looked forward to this weekend. As a kid he’d always loved the Spookytown Spectacular. The corners of his mouth twitched as memorable “scares” via Haunted Hall flitted through his mind.
On the other hand, it would be harder to protect Rocky during an event that attracted hundreds of people. Yes, she’d be working the Creepy Cupcake booth, but not all the time. Just like most everyone in Sugar Creek, she wanted to enjoy the many festive aspects of the Spectacular. Jayce couldn’t deny her that, and he’d stay with her as much as possible. The chaotic crowds just made it harder for him to spot trouble.
By the time he parked and made his way into J.T.’s, Jayce was pretty worked up. He was heading for Dev’s office when a text came in from Rocky.
BREW & I AT MOLLY’S. GOOD 2 GO.
Jayce blew out a breath. At least she wasn’t too pissed to check in. He thumbed in a reply, resisting anything that might make her feel smothered. Instead of
I love you
he typed:
Have fun.
Which earned him a smiley face.
That was something.
He knocked on Dev’s door, poked in his head. “You busy?”
“Always. Come on in, stranger.” Dev swung away from his laptop and motioned Jayce to sit. “Coffee?”
“No thanks.”
“Problem?”
“Couple of concerns.” Jayce took a seat and absorbed his friend’s easy manner. Hell, Dev almost seemed relaxed. Not his normal aura, especially during working hours. Jayce smiled. “Let’s backtrack. Congratulations.”
Dev smiled back. “I figured Rocky would tell you. By the time I learned Chloe had spilled the beans, it was a little late in the night and we were preoccupied.”
“I can imagine. So you’re happy about the baby?”
“Thrilled. Once Chloe agrees to marry me, I’ll be the happiest man on earth.”
“Did you ask her?”
“She won’t let me.” Dev waved off the topic. “It’s complicated.”
“Speaking of complications.”
Dev raised a brow.
“Stone called. He heard a rumor about me running for sheriff, asked if there was any truth to it. I said no, and the conversation was short-lived. Regardless, I figured I better address this with Daisy. Took your advice and texted her:
Not running for sheriff. Stop pushing, gorgeous.
”