She made her way back to the kitchen, and I was left alone with Jensen. She smirked at me. “Why do I have a feeling it’s not our baked goods bringing you back to our fine establishment?”
I felt heat creep up my neck. “Are you doubting the quality of your baked goods?”
Jensen scoffed. “I know lust when I see it, Hollywood. Just tread carefully, okay?”
“Is there a particular reason I should be careful?” I had no plans to be reckless with Tessa, but I wanted to see if Jensen would give me any clues about Tessa’s past.
Jensen’s eyes narrowed on me. “If you have to ask that question, you shouldn’t be sniffing around in the first place.”
I held up my hands in a placating gesture. “Fair enough.” I met Jensen’s gaze, letting her see nothing but honesty in mine. “I’m being as careful as I can.” The set of Jensen’s shoulders eased a bit. “Now, how about loading me up with some music-writing fuel?”
“That I can do.”
* * *
I scribbled furiously,scratching out a handful of words and replacing them with new finds. I was getting there. Closer, anyway. I just needed one more line in this verse—
The chair across from me scraped against the floor as it was pulled back. The bottle blonde from my first visit to the Kettle eased onto the seat. I tried to keep the scowl from my lips. I really didn’t want to be interrupted, not when I was making progress on a song for the first time in months.
The blonde…what was her name? Bambi? Barbara? No, Bridgette. Bridgette leaned over the table, giving me a perfect view of the breasts she was pressing together. “Hey, Liam.”
“Hey.” That’s all I gave her. If she’d been a true fan, I would’ve been more polite. But I knew her type, you gave them an inch, and they took a mile.
She twisted a strand of hair around her finger. “Are you settling in okay?”
“Yup.”
“You know…”—Bridgette leaned over even farther, and I worried her boobs would spill right out of her top—“my father owns a lot of rental properties in the area. Places that have more of the amenities you’re used to. He’d be happy to let you stay at one for free—"
I held up a hand to stop her. “I’m happy where I’m at. Thanks for the offer, though.”
A flicker of frustration flashed in Bridgette’s eyes. “Just let me know if you change your mind. So…” She reached across the table, picking up my pen. “Working on new music? Can I hear some?”
My back teeth ground together. Some people had no boundaries. It was like because they saw you in magazines or heard your voice on the radio, they thought they could ask you anything. It was rare that I revealed what I was working on with the people I trusted most in my life, I sure as hell wasn’t going to share with a random chick I barely even knew.
Just as I was about to tell her as much, Tessa appeared from the kitchen holding a tray of cookies. Her hair was piled on the top of her head, but some wisps had escaped the bun and framed her heart-shaped face. Her eyes seemed to glow as she laughed at something Jensen said to her.
A hand grasped my forearm that was resting on the table. “Liam—”
Bridgette’s voice was grating on my ears compared to the purity of Tessa’s laugh. It also brought Tessa’s attention to our table, and her eyes zeroed in on Bridgette’s hand on my arm.Shit.I pulled out of Bridgette’s grasp. “Are those the chocolate potato chip ones?”
Tessa straightened her shoulders. “Yep. They’ll be in the case if you want one.” And with that, she made a hasty retreat to the kitchen.Double shit.
Bridgette let out a laugh. “God, she’s so weird. Even the stuff she bakes is weird.” Her words were purposefully loud, carrying into the kitchen.
I stood from my chair. “You’re a real bitch, you know that?”
13
Tessa
Ipushed through the back door and into the late-morning sunlight. I needed air. Remnants of the jolt of jealousy I’d felt when I saw Bridgette touching Liam still simmered in my veins. I had no right to be jealous. Liam had asked me to dinner, I’d said no. Of course, he would investigate other options. Though I didn’t know what it said about his intelligence that he would consider Bridgette as one of those options.
I kicked a rock across the small parking lot and into the alley. I had wanted to say yes to his offer of dinner. That surprised me most of all. I had wanted to say yes. I was so tired of Garrett and my fears holding me back, but I couldn’t see a way around them or a path through them.
The sound of the back door closing had me spinning around. Liam stood there, looking handsome and oh so pissed. “Are you okay?”
I wiped my hands on my apron. “I’m fine, just taking my break.”
