Page 21 of Peach Cobbler Confessions
“All right, boys.” I narrow my eyes over at Everett. “Why is it that all roads lead back to Cormack?” I lean in. “And why is it I get the feeling she knows your deep, dark secret?”
Everett’s lips twitch and I can tell I’ve struck a nerve.
“Not here, Lemon.” He sighs as he pulls his coffee back to himself. “Let me get you some decaf. This is leaded. It’s not good for the baby.”
He takes off and Noah leans in.
“How are you feeling, Lot?” He picks up my hand and kisses it. “Is the baby still making you feel bad?”
“I feel fine.” I glance in the direction Everett went in. “It’s Everett and his big secret that’s making me feel bad.”
“Big secret?” Noah mumbles under his breath as he watches Everett in line. “You want me to get to the bottom of it?”
“Iwant to get to the bottom of it.”
Everett lands back at the table and slides a cup of iced coffee my way, and I quickly suck down half of it.
“Everett,” I say as I come up for air. “Lay it on me, right now. I can’t take another minute of this.”
His lips curl into his cheeks. “I love it when you talk dirty to me.”
Noah groans. “You wish.”
“I don’t have to wish.” Everett blinks his way before pulling my hand forward. “This isn’t the right time. We’re all headed off to work. We’ll get together soon when we all have time to process it. Maybe later this weekend.”
“We?” Noah seems amused to be included in the equation and Everett nods.
“That’s right. I want you there, too.” He blows out a steady breath. “And with Lemon’s delicate state, I think she’ll appreciate all the support she can get.”
“Why am I going to need support?” Of the emotional variety, I assume. And then I remember my not so delicate state and close my eyes. “Never mind. I’ll have some news to share myself. I think you’re right. The weekend is perfect—after the filming at my mother’s place.” And that’s when I’ll break both of their hearts and let them know I’m not carrying anyone’s baby.
But what in the world is Everett going to share?
And does it have the power to break my heart?
Bizzy thought so when she read Everett’s mind.
Everett seems to think so, too.
Chapter 8
After my littletête-à-tête with Noah, Everett, and poor Brandy, I kissed Everett goodbye, Noah kissed me, then Everett offered me a far juicier kiss that was sealed with a promise of far juicier things to come—then Noah declared his love for me and the child in my womb, and Everett did the same. A peal of thunder went off and a sprinkling of rain broke the membrane of the sky, and by a sheer miracle, they both insisted I get back to Honey Hollow.
The Cutie Pie Bakery and Cakery is just getting through with its morning rush as I make my way through the door. A full-blown thunderstorm has erupted, and I doubt anyone will complain. The summer heat can get pretty awful around these parts.
“Finally.” Keelie waddles in from the Honey Pot with raindrops pimpling her skin. “I just had to step outside and, boy, was it refreshing. Peach cobbler, please,” she says, taking a seat. “The whole pie, Lottie.” She gives me a stern look as if I were thinking of cheating her.
Lily laughs. “I’ll get that for you, Keelie.”
I follow Keelie to a table with my laptop and a cup of coffee.
“It’s decaf,” I say, pushing it her way. “How are you feeling, Keels? Hey, you’re not working today, are you?”
“No.” She scowls as she takes a careful sip from the coffee I just slid her way. “I just had nothing else to do. Bear wants me to stay home, watch TV, and eat bonbons, but I ran out of bonbons, so I thought I’d come here and stock up on something better.”
Lily lands an entire peach cobbler and a few forks in front of Keelie and me as my bestie gets right to work.
Lily takes a seat. “So, are you scared, Keelie? An entire person is about to expel from your bottom. It’s gonna hurt something awful. Have you thought about asking Bear to knock you unconscious when the first pangs of torment begin?”