Page 59 of Sweet and Salty
For half an hour, I circumnavigate the town of St. Olaf until I end up on the strip of Cherry Lane that many of the locals refer to as The Dryden Line. Apparently, here are all the businesses owned and operated by Dryden families. Right in front of me is Sugar Kisses.
I’ve only been in the back of Laura’s bakery, but I’ve seen her setup through the front windows. She has a different vibe, one of pastels and warmth. Sugar Kisses is sleek blue and chrome, everything neatly packaged with the price list on a digital board behind the counter. Behind the store is a larger building under construction. Maybe that’s the winery the Drydens are building, the one Laura told me about.
What constitutes a betrayal? If I go inside to taste the competition, knowing it will never be as good as Laura’s, isthat still a punk move because I’ll be giving money to the competition? I don’t really have an urge to taste the food, but I’d love to be able to tell Laura exactly how much better hers is.
“Don’t bother,” a low voice says beside me. I turn to see a tanned, blond man in an expensive tailored suit standing beside me. “Don’t ever tell anyone I said this, but Sweet and Salty is better by far.”
“I agree.” I hold out my hand. “Jesse. I work at Moe’s.”
The other man gives my hand one tight shake. “I’ve heard about you. Monroe Dryden. Please don’t lump me in with my family.”
“Never.” Though I’ve heard plenty about them by now, Grandma always said to treat people as individuals.
He eyes me with curiosity. “So you’re Jesse? You know the Marshalls.”
“Doesn’t everyone?”
“Touché. I’m sorry about the cabin. Clara told me it’s not in good repair. Obviously we won’t charge you, and we apologize for the inconvenience. The person we had overseeing the rental clearly dropped the ball.”
“It’s all right.” Especially since I haven’t been back.
“Take a good offer when you can. I’ve got to get going. If you see Frannie, tell her I said hi.” He steps past me, then pauses. “On second thought, don’t. Take care, Jesse. See you around.”
He walks off down Cherry Lane, taking out his phone as he strolls like the ground is made of gold blocks instead of red bricks.
Weird. My stomach churns, but I haven’t needed much convincing to give Sugar Kisses a hard pass.
I’d rather hang out with animals anyway.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Jesse
Two hours later,I stand in the paddock with Einstein lying at my feet. He’s a floppy, happy sweetheart of a dog. Cree is still a good five feet away from me, but we’ve been making progress. Carrots help my case.
I hear Laura’s car in the driveway and my heart settles from my stomach back into my chest. I’ve felt unmoored all day, but now everything clicks into place. “Hey!” I wave to her like a damned fool, but I don’t care.
“Hey!” She walks toward me, still dressed for work in hot pink chef’s pants and a loose-fitting T-shirt with a dancing toast printed on it. “What are you doing?”
“Trying to get your donkey to behave.”
Laura snorts and swings herself up onto the top rung of the paddock fence. “Good luck. I always thought I had a way with animals, but Cree stymies me at every turn. Thank goodness you’re here, or I’d never be able to halter her.”
There is an undertone of bitterness in her voice that irks the hell out of me. She doesn’t see what I do. She doesn’t see how much Cree loves her. “Come here.”
“What?”
“Come here.” I open my arms and she hops off the fence, wary but willing. “I’ll show you all my tricks.”
“I thought I’d seen all of your tricks.” Her mouth curves in a coy smile that sends heat shooting toward my cock.
I lean in and kiss her neck, letting my lips linger just below her ear. “Not all, angel.”
She shivers but presses her lips into a prim line and points to the donkey. “Stay on task, please.”
I hand her the halter and lead rope, and whistle a little to myself.
“Is that ‘Hello, Young Lovers’ fromThe King and I?” Laura asks from the corner of her mouth.