Tangled Up (Bachelors of Buttermilk Falls #2) (12 page)

Her smile grew wider by the second. “I’m just looking out for that trim six-pack you’re covering up.”

“This is about what I agreed to do for you, isn’t it?”

“Maybe,” she said coyly before snapping her gum. “But after Monday, you can eat whatever you want.”

“Care to tell me why I’ll be dieting until then?”

“Let’s just say, you are going to make this Christmas really special for all the ladies in this town.”

His eyebrow raised. Betty was certainly good at drawing out the suspense; he’d give her that. “Is it legal?”

She let out a hearty laugh. “Just be at the animal shelter on May Street this Monday at four p.m.” She turned to leave, but spun around. “Oh, and don’t do anything to ruin that perfect six-pack you’re sporting. We need it.”

“Well, please add a tuna sandwich to that order.” He paused and added, “Hold the fries.”

“You got it, sugar.”

He shook his head but couldn’t help but laugh. The fact that Betty—and pretty much every woman in this town—had gotten a good look at his abs was entirely his fault. Maybe next summer he should try being a little more modest during his runs and put on a shirt.

What on earth would he be doing for her that would involve Christmas, kittens, and his abs? He was afraid to find out, but he’d do it because Brandon Swift was a man of his word, and last night’s date had definitely been worth whatever humiliating thing he’d gotten himself into.

Maybe he could figure out a way to involve Abby and make a date out of it. Get her under some mistletoe.

He didn’t even want to think about Christmas yet when he had a Halloween party to finish planning. He’d talked to a DJ friend of Mitch’s earlier this week to spin the tunes. It was coming together nicely. Abby was eager to try out some recipes for that night and had probably already stocked the kitchen this morning with everything she’d need to cater the party.

Taste the Magic.
It really was the perfect name for the catering company, and he couldn’t be happier for both Abby and Emma. He loved that Abby had confided in him about her always wanting to start a business and also how nervous she was to go through with it.

She wouldn’t fail—not with him by her side. That’s exactly where he wanted to be. Besides her motivating him to go after his dreams, her entrepreneurial spirit was contagious. It made her sexy as hell.

Glancing at his watch, he hoped Caitlin would get here soon. She’d sounded so desperate on the phone to meet in person. She probably wanted to tell him off one last time. Whatever she had to say, he’d let her get it off her chest, and then he’d apologize for leading her on last summer. It was the right thing to do.

They’d had some fun, but that’s all it was. It had never been serious. He knew that now.

Picking up his straw wrapper, he twirled it around his fingers. He wanted more, and he was pretty sure he wanted something along the lines of what he was feeling for Abby.

“But that’s not real.” He broke his straw paper in half.
She’s having another man’s baby and could possibly still be in love with the chump.

“What’s not real?”

Brandon looked up to see Caitlin smiling down on him. At least she was in a good mood. The pretty brunette was dressed more conservatively than he’d ever seen, wearing a red coat, her long wavy hair flowing down on both sides.

“Hi. Welcome home.” He started to slide out of the booth, but she motioned for him to stay seated.

“It’s good to be back. How are you, Brandon?” She continued to stand, not making any move to sit down.

“I’m good. Real good.” Was she not planning on joining him for lunch? If that was the case, he’d get out of here a whole lot sooner. He leaned back and added, “I don’t know if you’ve heard, but I bought the inn on the south end of the lake.”

“I did hear that news. What inspired you to do that?”

A beautiful redhead whom he enjoyed cooking breakfast for this morning.
“Just ready to do something new. I’m still working on my novel, too.”

“Wow. You’ve been busy. You must be so excited.”

“I am.” He chuckled and reached for his shake. “Though I hear the inn’s haunted.”

“Well, I’m sure the Stevens girls can help you there. Perform an exorcism or séance or something.” She rolled her eyes. “It’s probably one of their dead relatives, anyway.”

Brandon knew that snide remark came from the fact that there wasn’t any love lost between Caitlin and Emma. They’d been rivals since high school, and the story he’d heard from Jason was they’d dated the same guy. That guy had helped him take a drunk Caitlin out of the fairgrounds last summer when she had attempted to stir up trouble between Emma and Jason.

She began to unbutton her coat. “There’s something I need to discuss with you.”

Oh, boy. Here it comes.
He had no doubt that she was going to lay into him for dumping her. Settling further into the booth, he surrendered to the fact that he probably wasn’t leaving the Star Lite anytime soon. “Have a seat. I’m all ears.”

“Well, I think we’ll start with your eyes.” She peeled off her pretty red coat and his jaw dropped.

Either Caitlin had eaten a lot of éclairs during her time in Paris or her little round belly sticking out from her sweater—coupled with her eagerness to talk to him—might mean he was in trouble.

A
bby flew
through the bakery’s kitchen trying to get her mind off this morning’s turn of events. If only Brandon hadn’t checked his phone. Why did Caitlin want to have lunch with him?

Did she want Brandon back?
Abby bit her lip a little too hard while contemplating that answer.
Of course she did.
The day after Abby’s name had appeared in Brandon’s Batter Up cake batter, Caitlin had stormed into the bakery pretty much declaring that the fight for him was on.

Abby remembered how it all went down as if it were yesterday. Brandon had sauntered into the bakery during Emma’s Monday night magic ritual and tried to sweet-talk her into performing the Batter Up spell on him. When his charm didn’t work, he’d forked over cold hard cash.

Emma had been tight on funds that week, so she did it. He’d been so confident that he’d see Caitlin’s name in the batter that he was going to snap a selfie with it and show it to her before he proposed. When Emma tilted the bowl and Abby’s name appeared in pink cursive writing, it had been a toss-up between who was more mortified by that news—Brandon or Abby.

While Brandon had bolted for the exit, Abby had declared that she had no intentions in getting between whatever was going on with him and Caitlin and that the batter was absolutely, one hundred percent wrong this time. It didn’t matter that Emma had a perfect record when it came to predicting true love—all marriages and no divorces. Brandon was not Abby’s soul mate.

Shortly after that night, Brandon had done the oddest thing. He ended whatever he’d been doing with Caitlin and started coming around the bakery, sending compliments Abby’s way. It was only a couple weeks later that they started hooking up.

Now that Caitlin was back, was this lunch date her attempt to start fighting for him?

“This can’t be happening.” Abby twisted the industrial-size flour container and measured what she needed for the pie crust.

“What can’t be happening?” Emma sauntered into the kitchen and slid on her pink apron. Her cousin looked stylish in a pretty lavender dress and matching flats.

“Oh, nothing.” Abby sighed and started to cut the butter she needed for the dough into small cubes. She waved the knife in the air and then let it come down, spearing a cube. “Okay. Possibly everything.”

“Why don’t you put down the knife, and we’ll talk. Did you and Brandon have a fight?”

Abby laughed sarcastically. “If only. That I could deal with. No, last night was amazing. He planned the most romantic date I’ve ever been on in my life.”

“Really?”

“Yeah . . . His plan . . . our plan . . . whosever plan it was, it was working.” Abby sighed. A few days earlier, she’d filled Emma in on Brandon’s proposition to help make her baby’s father jealous while getting him off the hook in having to date all the bachelorettes in this town.

Emma had loved his idea, believing that what he’d suggested was exactly what Abby needed to show Brandon just how good they were together.

Abby appreciated that Emma was so supportive and wasn’t quick to judge her for the horrible mistake she’d made in casting the reverse attraction spell on Brandon in the first place. Her cousin would always be by her side the way Abby had been for her when Caitlin revealed to the whole town that Jason was going to expose Batter Up night.

That wasn’t exactly his intention, but Caitlin had snatched a story he’d written and called him out on it in front of Emma and all their friends. Luckily, everything worked out the way it was supposed to in the end for Emma and Jason. Would Caitlin spin her web of crazy to get Brandon back? Abby was all but certain of it.

“So, what did you and Brandon do on this romantic date?” Emma asked, jarring Abby out of her thoughts.

“He borrowed Mitch’s boat, and we stargazed and talked while docked in front of the inn. It was the perfect place to spend the evening. I learned so much about him that I never knew.”

“That sounds awesome.”

“It was.” Abby nodded in agreement.

“Then why are you assaulting my butter?”

Abby glanced down at the chopped butter pieces. She may as well tell her cousin. Caitlin would parade around town soon enough. “Your high school nemesis has returned and is having lunch with Brandon at the Star Lite at this very moment.”

Emma’s forehead wrinkled at that news. “When did Caitlin get back?”

“Who knows? She called Brandon this morning and asked if he’d meet her for lunch.” Abby picked up her knife and went back to slicing the butter. “He practically bolted into the shower this morning to go get ready for his date.” That admission caused her to miss the butter and strike the counter with her blade.

“Let me do that,” Emma offered and finished what Abby had started. “So, let’s look on the bright side.”

“Which is?”

“Well, first you had a great time with him.”

“Yeah, it was nice.”

“Hmmm . . . judging that you were in Brandon’s cottage this morning to witness him getting Caitlin’s call, I’m guessing it was more than nice.” She lifted an eyebrow. “Was it more than nice?”

That got a sarcastic giggle because Abby knew what Emma was implying. “We did not have sex.” She leaned against the counter and straightened her legs, looking down at her brown flats. “He carried me in from the boat and put me to bed. I woke up alone and found him in front of the stove.” She sighed, adding, “Making me spooky pancakes.”

“Spooky pancakes.” Emma chuckled. “He’s definitely a keeper.”

“I don’t know if he’ll ever be doing it for me again. Not if he’s having lunch dates with his ex.”

“Let’s get something straight.” It was Emma’s turn to wave the knife in the air to reinforce her point. “Caitlin was not an ex. She was merely a distraction.”

“He was ready to propose to her!”

“Because he was being stupid. Jason knew Brandon wasn’t really going to go through with it even if he’d purchased a ring.”

“Really, Jason said that?”

“Yes, and he also told me that Brandon knew deep down she wasn’t the one, and I’m sure he knew it even before he saw your name in the batter.”

“Maybe.” Abby wasn’t so convinced.

“So, let’s stop talking about her and finish our conversation about your dates. When’s the next one?”

“Tonight. We’re going to dinner and then the movies, and he did suggest that we should take our PDA up a notch on camera.” She quickly added, “But I think he only suggested it because he thinks I’m in love with the baby’s father and wants to help me get him back.”

Emma began rolling out the dough. “Um . . . you are in love with your baby’s father, aren’t you?”

In love with Brandon
. Was she headed in that direction? If she was perfectly honest, she’d already arrived to that conclusion and was setting up camp, waiting for him to get there and feel the same way about her. “I think so.”

“Then let Brandon help you get
him
back.” She winked.

“Easier said than done now that Caitlin’s graced this town with her presence. Do you remember how mad she was when she found out my name appeared in Brandon’s batter?”

“You mean her storming into the bakery and saying she’d fight for him? Yeah, I remember that. Funny how she skipped town shortly after. There wasn’t a lot of fight in her.”

Abby pushed off the counter and peeled her apron off. “Oh, God. I just thought of something. What if she tells Brandon?”

“Tells Brandon what?”

“He doesn’t remember Batter Up night and your prediction. What if she brings it up?”

Emma stopped kneading the dough. “That is a problem. Maybe she won’t say anything.”

Abby shook her head, knowing that probably wouldn’t happen, especially if Caitlin wanted Brandon back. “Emma, I hate to do this, but there’s something I need to do. Can you handle the pies?”

Emma’s eyes narrowed. “Where are you going?”

Abby grabbed her coat and threw it on, searching her pockets for her car keys. “To make sure Caitlin keeps her mouth shut.”

B
randon finished
his conversation with the painters, said a quick good-bye, and went to the kitchen for a drink. It was almost 3 p.m., and he was looking forward to spending the next couple hours setting up his office.

What a freakin’ day.

Seeing Caitlin sporting a baby bump had made all the hairs on his arms stand at attention.

She reassured him that it wasn’t his, but she didn’t offer up a name to whose it was either.

Brandon opened the refrigerator, grabbed a water, and unscrewed the top. Her news still shocked him. She must have gotten pregnant shortly after they stopped sleeping together.

After she finally sat down and joined him for lunch, she explained that she wanted him to hear the news from her first because half the town would probably suspect it was Brandon’s, and she didn’t want him thinking for a second that it was his.

That had been a relief. They’d always been careful. Listening to her talk about how excited she was to have the baby made him wonder if this was exactly what she needed to finally grow up and become a responsible adult.

Maybe it was a one-night stand that had got her in this situation, but she seemed thrilled about becoming a mother. Well, good for her—and good for him that it wasn’t his. He wasn’t ready for that kind of responsibility with any woman and definitely not with one who would never have his heart.

Speaking of hearts, he grinned down at the grocery list Abby had left on the kitchen island. Little pink hearts watermarked the slip of paper she had used.

She was starting to make herself at home in the kitchen, and judging by the full refrigerator and stocked pantry, she’d had a successful shopping trip this morning before work. Her plan was to start cooking tomorrow in preparation for Thursday’s Halloween party. He couldn’t wait to see her in action, tasting all the delicious appetizers she’d no doubt whip up for their guests.

He should have offered to help her shop before heading to the Star Lite. That was a bonehead move to not even offer.

He was really looking forward to whatever she had planned for them tonight and couldn’t wait for five o’clock to get here.

His thoughts drifted back to his earlier conversation with Caitlin. Before he left the Star Lite, he’d asked her if she needed anything. The same question he’d asked Abby when he’d found out her news. Were all the bachelorettes of Buttermilk Falls headed straight for motherhood?

He’d invited Caitlin to his Halloween party, and she’d promised she’d try to make it. Then she’d done the strangest thing—she asked him how Abby was doing?

Maybe the two were friends and that question wasn’t all that strange. He didn’t think so given Emma and Caitlin’s animosity toward each other, but what did he know? He said Abby was doing great and that her new catering company would work out of the inn.

That news had gotten a sarcastic laugh, and he decided their talking about Abby was over. Abby’s own pregnancy wasn’t something he needed to broadcast.

His phone buzzed, but he didn’t recognize the number. “Brandon, here.”

“Hi, Brandon. It’s Emma.”

“Emma, what’s going on?” He leaned against his kitchen island.

“Is Abby with you?”

“No.” He straightened. Emma’s voice had an uncomfortable amount of concern. “Everything okay?”

“I’m sure it is. Abby was supposed to be back here for her baking lesson with the after-school program kids, but I haven’t seen her, and she isn’t picking up her phone.”

At that moment, Brandon heard a crash in the background followed by Emma demanding someone back away from the stove.

“Sorry, I have all these pies to deliver and twenty kids running around the bakery ready to make cupcakes . . .” She added in a lower voice, “and most of the mothers came, too.”

Brandon sprung the idea that popped into his head into action. “Have no fear. Young moms love me. Have them bring their kids to the inn. The kitchen’s ready for use, and Abby bought some things this morning.”

“Are you sure?” Emma asked. “I mean . . .” She paused. “. . . it’s
twenty
kids.”

“It’ll be fine. I’ll be waiting for them, and I’ll make some calls and try to track down Abby, too.”

“Thank you, Brandon. You’re a lifesaver. I’ll give a couple of the moms all the supplies, cupcake pans, and ingredients for the recipe. If I get ahold of Abby, I’ll send her to the inn to take over.”

“Sounds good, and if you could send over mixing bowls and spoons that would be great. Just not your enchanted one.”

“Wouldn’t think of it. Oh, thank you, Brandon. How can I ever repay you?”

“Maybe I could be your bachelor one Batter Up night.”

“Again?” she asked, sounding distracted. “Alex, please don’t stand on the stool.”

“What do you mean by ‘again?’” He waited for her to answer his question. “Emma?”

“I’m sorry, Brandon. What did you say?”

“You implied that I’ve been to Batter Up night, but I haven’t.”

“Oh, that’s right. Sorry. I got you confused with someone else. I’ve got to run, thanks again.”

Brandon hung up and stared down at his phone.

He hit his contacts app and tapped on Abby’s name. It rang a few times and then went to voicemail. Where the devil was she? It was so unlike her to disappear, especially when she’d mentioned this morning how much she was looking forward to this afternoon.

He rolled up his sleeves and inspected the kitchen. Was he—the swinging bachelor of Buttermilk Falls—really going to spend the afternoon baking with twenty elementary school kids? Maybe he should have asked Emma to mix up a little bit of magic to pull that off.

Speaking of mix up, Emma mistaking him for some other guy whom she’d performed the Batter Up spell on was a little weird. He’d never attended Batter Up night, let alone been one of her infamous bachelors to get a glimpse of the name her batter spelled out announcing his soul mate.

Maybe he could talk her into giving it a whirl for him sometime soon. He raked his fingers through his hair. There was only one name he’d like to see in the batter, and he was pretty sure those four letters weren’t going to happen.