Cherice Sinclair by Master of the Abyss

Author:Master of the Abyss
Format: epub
Published: 2013-08-13T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Kallie smiled at the pies lining the kitchen counter, brought by the townswomen. On the first Fourth of July party, her uncle had been overwhelmed by offers to bring food. A man who loved rules, he created guidelines for what people should bring. Like the party itself, the guidelines turned into tradition. Women brought desserts, men over forty brought beer, men under forty brought munchies. Teens brought soft drinks. The Mastersons provided hamburgers and hot dogs, baked beans, and an appalling amount of potato salad. She found a cherry pie and cut a hefty slab for Jake, smiling a little. He"d not greeted her coldly today—he"d kissed her in front of everyone. She pressed a hand to her chest. That had been a great kiss. He"d noticed her shirt too. If he hadn"t coaxed—bullied—her into changing how she saw herself, she"d never have considered wearing it. But I"m really not just one of the guys.

Jake had cared enough to bully her that way. Did that mean he cared a little bit for her? Dammit, she wanted him to, because he was sucking her willpower away. He made her feel safe. Wanted. Cherished. And dammit, how would she ever find someone like him? She didn"t need gorgeous—although that was wonderful—but who else would have his strength, his intelligence, his sense of humor and honor? She glanced out the window to indulge in another look at him, and her breath caught. Virgil stood in front of him in a posture that said her cousin wasn"t being polite. He must have seen Jake kiss her, she realized, and her stomach sank. She"d dated off and on over the years, had a few lovers, but she never, ever brought them back here. It just seemed…safer…to downplay her love life. She didn"t want her cousins to be disappointed in her, to think she didn"t belong with them. She"d sure never tested them with someone who would blatantly kiss her in front of everyone. When Virgil"s face suddenly turned hard, the air left Kallie"s lungs as if she"d slipped off a trail and belly flopped onto a slab of granite. She took two steps toward the door and stopped. Nothing she could do would keep Virgil from trying to protect her. And Jake would go his own way no matter what Virgil said. Having lived with a bunch of obstinate men, she knew that intervening only made things worse. Unable to watch, she abandoned the pie. Heading down to the creek, she was intercepted. Gina grabbed one arm, Serena the other, veering her off to one side. Hands on hips, Serena gave her a spill-it look. “Okay, girlfriend, it"s confession time.” Oh, hell. “Well…” “I"ve never seen Jake come on to someone so blatantly,” Gina said. “Not since his girlfriend died. He"ll buy someone a drink at the tavern and take her home, and that"s about it. He doesn"t attend parties or anything.” “Died? His girlfriend died?” “Yeah. Don"t you remember the big deal…? No, you were still in Alaska,” Serena said.

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