Page 17 of Handling Skylar (Hope Parish #5)

SKY

I sent the last text to Jake, hoping with all my heart that he could find some common ground with his brother.

It would help to ease some of that pain I often saw in his eyes.

I would definitely have to find out more about how he felt about Chase and why.

Maybe that would help him to find a way to mend their relationship.

I had to sigh remembering how he was yesterday.

How he kissed me and told me he wanted to pursue a relationship with me.

The man really floated my boat. Physically, he was magnificent.

Big and masculine with heavy muscles, gorgeous blue eyes and a mouth I could kiss forever, but it was all about Jake and the way he was with me.

Something unspoken and deep in me began to unravel the moment I laid eyes on him, like he was the man I’d been searching for all my life.

I knew that was romantic claptrap, but it was my romantic claptrap, so I stuck my tongue out at the collective who might poke at my pretty balloons with their sharp comments.

I put up a romantic blockade around myself.

I was in it for Jake because the man made me crazy, hot, sigh and swoon all at the same time.

It was a no brainer, even if I had to pussyfoot around Anna Kate. She was a non-issue as far as I was concerned. She wouldn’t be kind to either me or Jake. I knew it. No matter how easy Jake let her down, she was going to mess with me. I wanted to shout at her to bring it on.

This shop cowgirl could take whatever that Southern Belle wanted to dish out.

I headed to the kitchen, fully prepared to work on creating some fun luxury bath melts filled with gorgeous essential oils.

The three I had in mind were Bayou Sunset with lavender, chamomile and mandarin oils for stress relief, Kayak Dreams with coconut oil, patchouli and vetiver oil for inducing sleep, and Va-Va-Voom Vermilion for a sexual pick me up with sandalwood, a powerful aphrodisiac, rose, linked with the romance-oriented heart chakra and ylang ylang oil to elevate sexual energy.

But I spied my container of Hope Parish pecans on my countertop and suddenly it was all about molasses cookies.

I opened the container and a wave mixed with memory and grief washed over me.

I gritted my teeth against a surge of tears.

I missed my mom and dad, but this time of year, going into the fall, it was even more acute.

The cookie baking and the holidays always brought back the grief that had faded some, but was always a constant in my life.

The fact that we lost Michael the year before at about the same time was also heart wrenching to me.

I’d come to Suttontowne to start new, but in the deepest part of my heart, I wanted a family again to share these moments. I wanted it more than I could even say. I had so taken it all for granted.

Immersed in the memory of baking with my mom, I got all the ingredients I would need and set to whipping up a batch. Before the first dozen were barely out of the oven, I was tossing the cookie back and forth to cool it before taking a big bite just as I heard a car pull up outside.

Savoring the delicious, melting taste of molasses, brown sugar and the pecans, I headed to the front and peeked out the window. River Pearl and Verity Outlaw were getting out of River’s sleek Mercedes. As they walked to my porch with determined strides, I felt like I was about to be double-teamed.

I opened the door as they set their sandaled feet on the worn boards. “Hey there,” I said with a smile, pushing open the screen door. “What do I owe this surprise visit from two of my most favorite customers. You do realize that I don’t cut hair on Mondays.”

River gave me a wide smile and breathed deep. “What is that heavenly scent?”

“Molasses cookies. My mom’s recipe.”

“You’re indulging in cookies first thing in the morning? My kind of gal. Let’s get some tea going. We’ll have a tea party,” Verity said.

“I have just the thing, chai. I even have some almond milk to blend.” I headed toward the kitchen and said, “Make yourselves at home.”

I brewed the tea and heated the almond milk. Setting everything on a tray, I headed back to my cozy living room.

As I came into the room, the conversation between River and Verity ceased which made me even more suspicious. I debated about telling them what had happened with Jake, but decided to wait to see what it was they wanted to talk to me about.

“I love your house. It’s so you with the western artwork, the pillows whispering “cottage”; the layered rugs so bohemian, and the simple, linen-y sofa reminds me of both Shabby Chic and farmhouse. It’s strikingly personal, interesting and storied.”

“Agreed,” Verity said. “It smells heavenly in here regardless of the molasses cookie scent. A mixture of floral and citrus and other yummy scents I can’t place.”

“Oh, that’s from my beauty products. I’m contemplating doing a line for the shop, maybe even an online business.”

“Smart idea. You’re always so clever,” River said.

“Okay, cut the bull and the chit chat, ladies. What’s up?”

River smiled and glanced at Verity. “I told you she would know something was up.”

“Something is up?” I asked.

River set down the cup and leaned forward, looking fresh and breezy in a flowered dress, a hot pink sweater, complementing the hot pink in the flouncy dress. She looked more like an ingénue than she did a mom. “We want you to apply to the Suttontowne Belles.”

I went stock still and stared at them, the bomb of River’s words exploding over and over again.

“Are you both out of your mind?” I rasped out, my voice strident.

“Join the Belles? First off, I’m not exactly high-society stock, second I wouldn’t fit in, third, Anna Kate hates my guts, and fourth, I left my parasol and lace gloves back home in my saddle bags. What? You can’t be serious.”

River looked completely nonplussed and fully in control.

She smiled softly. “Let’s deal with those compelling arguments.

One, the Belles are for everyone who wants to make a difference in Suttontowne.

We don’t discriminate. Second, you’d totally fit in because you have amazing ideas, third, you let me worry about Anna Kate.

She wouldn’t dare go against me and my momma, who loves you, by the way.

And, we’ll get you a new parasol and lace gloves.

I have tons. I’ll even throw in a tiara. ”

Verity giggled and I couldn’t help but laugh myself. “Joining would get Anna Kate’s goat,” she added with a smirk. The Pecan Festival was your idea. You should be part of the group that’s going to organize the festivities.”

“Balls and Queen Pecan? You think I could do that stuff.”

“Of course,” River said. “You can. You can do anything you set your mind to, and you’ve built a business far away from home all on your own. We’ll help, too. I think it’s the perfect foil for Anna Kate, and it will get you involved and much closer to Jake.”

“I don’t think I need Belle trappings to get closer to Jake. In fact, we’re already there.”

River’s face brightened, her eyes widening. She looked over at Verity, and they both squealed. “Tell us all the details and don’t leave out one thing.”

After I gave them a brief version of the last week, River sighed. “I so didn’t want that woman in our family. I’m so glad Jake has come to his senses.”

“So, it’s a moot point to join the Belles then.”

“Oh, no,” River said, leaning over and snagging one of my cookies. “You’re joining. It’s even more important now that you show Jake your part of the town, part of the tradition. We need you on the team.”

River was right. This was Jake’s world for better or worse.

He ran in these circles. If I wanted to be part of his life, and, I did, I would have to reconcile myself to these kinds of activities.

Joining the Belles sounded like a good opportunity to do a service to Suttontowne, my chosen home.

It’s just that I was a bit rough around the edges.

“Does this mean I have to wear pretty dresses and incredibly dainty high heels?” At their blank looks, “I said, “You know, the dress code?”

“We think you should just be yourself. We think you always look great.”

“All right. Against my better judgment, I’m in.”

“I just happen to have an application here,” River said, pulling out a sheaf of papers. “We’ll enjoy our tea and cookies while you fill it out.”

“You’re sure about this?”

She nodded and took a bite, sipping the tea, gesturing toward the papers with a determined look. “We’re sure.”

Thirty minutes later they were gone with my promise of attending the next meeting.

I still wasn’t sure how that was going to go, but I was now part of the Suttontowne Belles.

I didn’t have the pedigree, but, by God, I had gumption—the Scarlett O’Hara kind—and a paragon almost as good as Scarlett. River Pearl Sutton Outlaw.

There was simply no saying no to River Pearl.

I went back into the kitchen and made my bath melts and as I was sliding them into the fridge to harden, the sound of a car outside brought me back to the front. This time it was a Sutton again, but it was Jake.

One look at his face, I saw that the brooding Jake was back. He looked tired as if he’d been wrestling with something life-altering. “Are you hungry?” I said as he came up to the porch, and I opened the screen for him.

He nodded, his big body brushing by me, sending my senses reeling. I pressed my palms against his thickly muscled, broad back, directing him through the door and into the kitchen.

“Damn, it smells good in here.”

“Bath products and molasses cookies.”

“The hip expanding ones?” he said with a glint in his eyes.

“Yep, those would be them. I made some. You can have a few after I make you something to eat.” I walked to the fridge as he leaned his backside against the counter.