“A what?”
The two women looked at each other. J.D. spoke up first. “You know, like—”
“Here you go,” Gabriel interrupted as he put plates of pies down. “Just a couple of slices to start with. Temperance wants your opinion about what you think of these new flavors, though I already think they’re fantastic. If you wanna order dinner now, let me know, otherwise, we’ll wait for Daniel and Damon.”
“Thank you,” Sarah said.
“I’ll wait,” Anna Victoria said.
“All right, I’ll be over there if you need me.” Gabriel grabbed the empty tray and headed back to Temperance.
J.D. cleared her throat. “So, Sarah, I hope you don’t think I’m too nosy, but you and Daniel—”
She sighed. “What do you guys know?”
“Absolutely nothing,” J.D. said quickly. “Only that you guys got married over that weekend. I was there because it was Damon’s bachelor party, and we’ve been best friends forever.”
“And Damon is my husband and Daniel’s boss,” Anna Victoria added. “And he told me about you being married, but that’s about it. Mostly it. I mean, Daniel’s not the kind of guy who gives out details about his life.”
“I know it’s none of our business,” J.D began. “But we’re just … curious, you know.”
“And if you need anything, you can ask us,” Anna Victoria offered.
Sarah knew she shouldn’t be discussing her private business with them. They were practically strangers. But so much had happened since she came here, and she had no one else to talk to. “It’s not what you think.” She told them what happened that night, that both she and Daniel had been under the influence and couldn’t remember anything, as well as their original plan of pretending to be married to avoid any scandal, and then quietly get an annulment once all the attention died down.
“Oh, wow,” Anna Victoria said. “I had no idea.”
“So … you and Daniel … you’re just pretending? Like, nothing’s happened between the two of you yet?”
“I—” She was going to deny it, then her face flushed when she remembered yesterday’s encounter in the bathroom. The two women looked at each other and smiled. Damn, she wished her brain wouldn’t short circuit each time she thought of Daniel Rogers’s mouth between her thighs.
“Oh. My. God.” J.D. exclaimed. “Something’s happened! I knew it!”
Sarah buried her face in her hands. “It’s not … it’s not that. Not that serious, I mean. Besides, we were just, uh, messing around. Caught in the moment.”
“I don’t know Daniel too well,” Anna Victoria said. “But he doesn’t seem like the type to just mess around with a girl if he’s not serious.”
“Sarah, he’s seriously a good guy,” J.D. added. “I mean, why not just see what happens?”
“What do you mean—”
The door that led into the dining room opened, and of course it was Daniel who walked in. “Hello?” he called. “Rosie said—” Immediately his silvery blue gaze landed on hers and a lazy smile spread across his lips. Those lips that were on her last night.
Heat spread from her belly to the rest of her body. Was he thinking of last night too? This morning, before Thoralf interrupted them in the hallway, she could have sworn there was a spark of something there.
“Holy shit,” J.D. whispered. “Someone call the Blackstone Fire Department, because I’m about to spontaneously combust just being next to you two.”
Oh God, am I that obvious?
Thankfully, before she could say anything else, Daniel—with Adam behind him—was already at their table. He introduced her brother to everyone and sat down on the empty chair beside her, pulling out the stool beside him so Adam could wheel in. “How was the class?”
“It was great.” Tentatively, she leaned over toward Adam. “And the hike? Was it nice out there?”
His eyes lit up. “Oh, yeah,” he said, nodding his head vigorously. “It was awesome! The trails went up so high and had these amazing views. Then we went to the station, and Daniel gave me a tour and told me all about the mountains! Did you know there are dragons around here?”
“I heard.” She sent Daniel a knowing glance. “Did you see any?”
“Not today,” Adam said. “But Daniel says he could find out when one of them is going to be out there and he’ll take me to see them.”
“That sounds, er, nice,” she answered. While she didn’t want to tell Adam they might not be around here for long, she didn’t want to disappoint him, especially now that there was no more tension or animosity between them. Again, she looked at Daniel and gave him a grateful smile.
“Are those pies?” Adam’s eyes went huge.
“Freshly-baked,” she said, pushing a slice at him. “You guys must be hungry after that hike.” She didn’t need to encourage him as Adam began to demolish the piece of chocolate ganache pie.
“Hey, how about we order dinner?” J.D. suggested. “I’m starving. Hey, Gabe, stop smooching with our baker and take our dinner order! You’re going to run Rosie’s to the ground if you keep ignoring your customers.”
“Hold your horses, McNamara,” Gabriel called as he released Temperance, whom he had pinned up against the counter. He kissed her on the cheek.
Gabriel took their order, and soon they were served up some heavenly savory dinner pies. Damon joined them in the middle of dinner, apologizing for being late as he had come from visiting a friend who lived far away.
“Are you all right?”
Daniel’s voice made her shiver, his mouth so near her ear, she could feel his warm breath. She swallowed the pastry in her mouth. “Uh, yeah. Why?”
“You seem quiet, that’s all.” He put a hand on her knee. “Everything okay with you?”
“Of course.” His hand was practically burning a brand on her skin, but she didn’t want to push it away. “I just … thanks. For whatever you said to Adam.”
He shook his head. “I didn’t say anything. I just took him up the trails and showed him around. No big deal.”
But it was a big deal. She could see that the hike up the
