“I will.”
After my phone call with my client, my phone pings with a text.
Dilynne:Meet me at Blossom Brews at 6:30 tonight so we can talk.
Me:You really think talking about this in a public place is the best idea? And calling me your man in front of Colby? What were you thinking?
Dilynne:I’m planting seeds.Duh. BTWJustin will let us use the back room if we ask. And besides, I think if people saw us sitting together, they wouldn’t believe it anyway.
Me:So you just revealed a flaw in your own plan, genius. This isn’t going to work.
Dilynne:Stop being so negative, Grumpzilla. Just fucking meet me there or no more baked goods for you.
I should blow her off just so she will stop bringing me shit from Carolina’s bakery. But that’s when I open up the bag Dilynne brought earlier and take out three shortbread cookies, reading the words on top of each one.
I smell smoke. Were you thinking too hard again?A reluctant grin pulls at my mouth as I pick up the next one.
I envy everyone that hasn’t met you.Shaking my head, I mutter, “Fucking Dilynne.”
And then I pick up the last one.Out of all the sperm to win the race…
Tossing my head back, I laugh out loud. “Oh, fuck.”
I never knew that cookies with insults could brighten my day, and that right there is a fucking problem—because they shouldn’t, especially because ofwhothey came from.
Yeah, this is never going to work. Dilynne might think this is a good idea, but I’m not stupid. Nothing good can come from this. And later, I’ll make sure she knows exactly where I stand.
Chapter 10
Elliot
Relationship Guidelines
“Hey, Elliot. How’s it going?” Justin Cook, the owner of Blossom Brews, greets me as I walk up to the host stand, still in my suit since I came here straight from the office. It was hell trying to get any work done today after Dilynne dropped this bomb on me, so I had to stay a little later than usual.
“Well, it will be much better once I have a beer in my hand,” I reply. This restaurant and brewhouse has been a staple in Blossom Peak since we were kids. Justin’s dad opened the place, and now he runs it.
As my eyes move around the restaurant, searching for Dilynne, I ask, “Say, is—”
“Dilynne is waiting for you in the back,” he finishes for me. “She said you two needed somewhere private to talk.” The corner of his mouth lifts. “If it makes you feel better, there are cameras back there, so if she tries to murder you, I’ll have evidence to put her behind bars.”
I chuckle. “I appreciate you looking out for me.”
“Always. Honestly, it kind of surprised me that she said she was meeting you here. You two barely tolerate each other.”
I push a hand through my messy hair. “Yeah, well I was pretty surprised myself.”
I head toward the banquet room in the back of the restaurant. “Sally will be back there to help you two in a minute,” Justin calls out to me. Nodding in acknowledgment, I walk past several booths and tables filled with families and friends having normal conversations while I think about howabnormalthe conversation is that I’m about to have.
When I enter the room, I see Dilynne sitting in the farthest booth from the door, staring down at her phone. “Did they remove all of the knives from the tables?” I ask as I greet her.
Her head pops up and then she’s rolling her eyes. “Killing you would negate the reason for this meeting.”
I slide into the booth opposite her. “Are you hungry?”
“Always. I went ahead and ordered a few appetizers. Sally should be back with them soon.”
“Did you order the onion rings?”