Page 8 of Hold Me Tight

I clear my throat, all the while trying not to stare. The tension that crackles between them is thick enough to choke on.

“Coffee?” I offer.

When Hugh turns that charming smile on me, my knees nearly weaken. He’s that good looking. I never thought I was into silver foxes, but…

We’ll just leave it at that.

“Please,” he says. “Black. No sugar.”

Evelyn releases a sound that’s more of a hiss. As she crosses her arms against her chest, the diamond bracelet at her wrist glints in the sunshine that pours in through the picture windows. “Don’t you have somewhere else to be? Our meeting isn’t for another hour.”

His fingers brush against mine as he takes the to-go cup, and a shiver shoots through me. It has nothing to do with the touch and everything to do with the way Evelyn looks ready to rip him to shreds with her bare teeth.

“Actually, no,” Hugh muses, taking a slow sip of his coffee. “It’s nice in here. Warm and cozy. Not to mention, it smells delicious.” His gaze slides to me, then to the display case. “Callie, I didn’t get a chance to talk to you the night of the event, but a few of our sponsors were impressed with Lakeshore Sweets. I wouldn’t be surprised if it leads to several business ventures moving forward.”

“Thank you, I really appreciate that.”

He flashes another dazzling smile in my direction that nearly knocks me on my ass. “If you need anything, just let me know. Once you’re part of the Railers family, you’re always part of it.”

From the corner of my eye, I watch Evelyn’s expression relax.

Marginally.

Or maybe it’s a trick of the light, because when I look again, she’s back to scowling.

Sloane sighs into her latte.

I have no idea how to respond. As much as I appreciate the sentiment, the Railers don’t feel like family. More like something to be avoided.

Then again, that does sound like family.

Evelyn steps closer. “You’ve pushed your luck enough for one day. I think it’s time for you to leave.”

Hugh leans in and murmurs, “And yet, you continue letting me do it.”

It feels like I’m watching a chess match where I don’t understand the rules. What I do know is that this isn’t romance.

Not really.

This is something far messier.

Darker.

Evelyn looks like she’s fighting for air in a room Hugh controls.

Sloane nudges me and whispers from the side of her mouth, “You’re seeing this, right? I’m not hallucinating?”

“No,” I whisper back. “You’re not.”

As Hugh raises his cup in a mock toast to Evelyn, I can’t shake the feeling that whatever’s going on between them is on the verge of exploding.

We engage in stilted conversation for a few more minutes before the older woman leaves as gracefully as she entered. Hugh follows her out with a hint of a grin. It’s like there’s an invisible thread binding them to one another.

As soon as they’re gone, my muscles loosen. “Well, that was certainly interesting.”

Sloane cracks a smile. “I’m dying for the backstory.”

The edges of my lips lift. “Same. We’ll have to pump Lilah and see what she knows.”