realize I'd taken it one step too far. Crap.
I shook my head and glanced out to the street. "Look, I'm sorry. I just don't understand this macho thing. I don't get the need to have to prove something. I'm with you."
I didn't bother to point out how unattractive his insecurities were either.
He put a sly smile on his face. "Most women would be flattered a guy wanted to protect what was his."
I narrowed my gaze. "I'm not most women, and I'm not yours. I'm dating you, but I'm not your property."
"Of course."
I wasn't quite certain he really agreed with me though. Was Will attracted to me because my clothing style suggested I thought the 1950s was a swell time? I was sure it had been when it came to malt sodas and drive-ins, and yes, I had a deep passion for baking, but I wasn't and never would be the li'l miss, content with having a man take care of her. I wanted an equal partner.
Neither of us had anything to say after that. Well, I had nothing nice to say. So we said our good-byes, and I went inside.
The house was chilly, too chilly. I went upstairs, kicked off my heels by my bedroom door, and felt a breeze from Grams' room. Was she back? She was known for turning on a fan when it wasn't needed, like in the middle of winter. Living with her when she went through menopause had been torture, to say the least. She'd kept the AC on all the time. I'd had to put a hoodie on when I entered the house in the summer. And in the winter, I'd walked around with my comforter around my shoulders. Thank goodness that was over.
Her room was dark. I flipped the wall switch. The bedside lamp went on. Nope, she was still gone. This must've been a great friend if she couldn't return for a murder. I pulled my phone out of my purse and dialed her number.
It went straight to voice mail. I left a quick message telling her to call me ASAP, and then I texted, for the added dramatic affect.
When are you coming home?
My phone buzzed before I returned it to my purse.
Are you okay?
So she was near her phone and chose not to answer? I had a bone to pick with that woman. I replied: I'm fine, but I need to talk to you about Nathan and mom. Call me .
I stood there and waited for her response, but none ever came. That only confirmed she knew something about the two. And it was probably something I didn't want to hear, like how Mom and Nathan were involved. Eww, gross. Not because he was gross, at least not thirty-something years ago. Just because Mom getting it on with anyone contained images a child never wanted to imagine.
Chills raked up my arms, and I looked up to see the curtain at Grams' front window blow. It was open halfway. I shut it and was about to turn to go to my room when a car outside caught my attention. It was a white Toyota Camry just like Max's. Why was he here? Was he watching me?
CHAPTER SEVEN
The next day, the bakery had exactly two customers. Jared for his morning muffin and coffee before school and Elizabeth Ashby for an afternoon cinnamon bun. No one else entered the bakery, not even Officer Fred Fields, who'd never gone a day without a treat. At least we still had our custom order with Ocean View Bed & Breakfast. But that wasn't enough to pay the bills.
When Amber arrived to work, I almost told her to take the day off, but I knew she needed the income, even if we couldn't afford to pay her. Plus, and maybe this was pretty chickenshit of me, I didn't want to stay until Mrs. Hendrickson came in. My date with Will had been so weird I was certain he'd told his grandmother, and Mrs. Hendrickson would give me a lecture and interrogation. Not necessarily in that order. I doubted I'd ever understand Mrs. Hendrickson and her grandson's close bond. If Grams grilled any of my boyfriends, I'd… Well, there was no reason to even finish that thought. Grams was too busy with her own love life to butt into mine.
Before leaving, I took a quick inventory of the cookies and muffins Joe had created that we hadn't put out in the
I shook my head and glanced out to the street. "Look, I'm sorry. I just don't understand this macho thing. I don't get the need to have to prove something. I'm with you."
I didn't bother to point out how unattractive his insecurities were either.
He put a sly smile on his face. "Most women would be flattered a guy wanted to protect what was his."
I narrowed my gaze. "I'm not most women, and I'm not yours. I'm dating you, but I'm not your property."
"Of course."
I wasn't quite certain he really agreed with me though. Was Will attracted to me because my clothing style suggested I thought the 1950s was a swell time? I was sure it had been when it came to malt sodas and drive-ins, and yes, I had a deep passion for baking, but I wasn't and never would be the li'l miss, content with having a man take care of her. I wanted an equal partner.
Neither of us had anything to say after that. Well, I had nothing nice to say. So we said our good-byes, and I went inside.
The house was chilly, too chilly. I went upstairs, kicked off my heels by my bedroom door, and felt a breeze from Grams' room. Was she back? She was known for turning on a fan when it wasn't needed, like in the middle of winter. Living with her when she went through menopause had been torture, to say the least. She'd kept the AC on all the time. I'd had to put a hoodie on when I entered the house in the summer. And in the winter, I'd walked around with my comforter around my shoulders. Thank goodness that was over.
Her room was dark. I flipped the wall switch. The bedside lamp went on. Nope, she was still gone. This must've been a great friend if she couldn't return for a murder. I pulled my phone out of my purse and dialed her number.
It went straight to voice mail. I left a quick message telling her to call me ASAP, and then I texted, for the added dramatic affect.
When are you coming home?
My phone buzzed before I returned it to my purse.
Are you okay?
So she was near her phone and chose not to answer? I had a bone to pick with that woman. I replied: I'm fine, but I need to talk to you about Nathan and mom. Call me .
I stood there and waited for her response, but none ever came. That only confirmed she knew something about the two. And it was probably something I didn't want to hear, like how Mom and Nathan were involved. Eww, gross. Not because he was gross, at least not thirty-something years ago. Just because Mom getting it on with anyone contained images a child never wanted to imagine.
Chills raked up my arms, and I looked up to see the curtain at Grams' front window blow. It was open halfway. I shut it and was about to turn to go to my room when a car outside caught my attention. It was a white Toyota Camry just like Max's. Why was he here? Was he watching me?
CHAPTER SEVEN
The next day, the bakery had exactly two customers. Jared for his morning muffin and coffee before school and Elizabeth Ashby for an afternoon cinnamon bun. No one else entered the bakery, not even Officer Fred Fields, who'd never gone a day without a treat. At least we still had our custom order with Ocean View Bed & Breakfast. But that wasn't enough to pay the bills.
When Amber arrived to work, I almost told her to take the day off, but I knew she needed the income, even if we couldn't afford to pay her. Plus, and maybe this was pretty chickenshit of me, I didn't want to stay until Mrs. Hendrickson came in. My date with Will had been so weird I was certain he'd told his grandmother, and Mrs. Hendrickson would give me a lecture and interrogation. Not necessarily in that order. I doubted I'd ever understand Mrs. Hendrickson and her grandson's close bond. If Grams grilled any of my boyfriends, I'd… Well, there was no reason to even finish that thought. Grams was too busy with her own love life to butt into mine.
Before leaving, I took a quick inventory of the cookies and muffins Joe had created that we hadn't put out in the
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