Page 38 of Pinch of Love
Cash turned around and faced me. “Think lake life might ever woo you?”
I hadn’t been expecting the question. “Truthfully, I feel like I’ve been on the run since getting dumped at the altar. Today, I feel like it’s time to stop and fight back for me, but I’m not sure I can do that from here.”
A flicker of disappointment wavered through Cash’s gaze, but it was gone almost instantly. Had I imagined it?
“I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’ve been smiling more since you’ve been around,” he offered as he scooped Chewie into his arms.
I couldn’t hide my own smile as I watched Cash confidently walk into the house with his teacup dog.
“Even if you did have to hoist me out of the wall?” I teased, following him inside.
“Especially then.” He set Chewie on the couch in the family room and noticed the book my sister gave me to read.
“Have you read that yet?” he asked, pointing at the large paperback.
“Just started it, but I need to get a move on since I’m headed to the Sunshine Breakfast Club.”
His eyes widened in near horror. “You’re going?”
“Uh-huh. Is there something I should know?”
“Besides the fact that it’s a cover for what the club truly is.” His voice lowered, as did his head, while he glanced around the room like we were being recorded. “I don’t know if you truly want in.”
I chuckled and glanced around the room, ducking my head too. “Is there something I don’t know about it?”
“It’s a ruse. They might read a book now and again, but their main goal in life is to set people up.”
“Like to fail?”
Cash laughed. “Worse.”
“What could be worse than failure?”
“Somehow, the members seem to enjoy setting up potential...” He stopped and sucked on his bottom lip while he thought about how best to approach things, but the wait was killing me.
What was the Sunshine Breakfast Club?
He let out a deep breath, and his voice stayed low. “They try to make potential matches. You know, like they’re some matchmaking service of the Northwoods. They’re everywhere when you least expect them. They have spies all over town.”
I looked over at Chewie and then back at Cash. “Should I buy you both tinfoil hats or is one sufficient?”
His smile widened, and a devilish look in his eyes made my tummy feel like I was parachuting. “You know the club had something to do with your sister and Jackson, right?”
“I heard a little bit about that, but it was more their history than anything.”
Cash looked surprised. “You think?”
I nodded. “Yeah. Taking two strangers and smooshing them together is a lot harder than setting up first loves.”
“If you say so.”
I narrowed my eyes on Cash. “What are you saying?”
Cash ran his fingers through his dark hair. “Nothing. Let’s eat. I’m starved.”
“I can make tacos, spaghetti, or nachos,” I offered.
“How about I order in tacos, nachos, and anything else you want from Puerto’s?”