Kiss and Make Up (Bachelors of Buttermilk #3) (5 page)

He glanced around the bar, recognizing all the familiar residents he’d grown up with, as a loud country music song boomed in his ear.

Home sweet hick-town home.
God, this place never changed. He made his way through the crowd, feeling more than a little out of place in his black suit, when Rachel Foster crashed into him.

“Josh, hi.” The petite blonde stepped back, smoothing her long hair. “I’m so sorry. It’s good to see you.”

“You, too. How are you?” Josh had gotten to know Rachel over the years since she’d dated his best friend. He’d always been fond of her and had told Adam he was a bonehead for royally screwing up the good thing his buddy had with Rachel. Bending down, he picked up the bright pink clutch she’d dropped and handed it back. “Everything okay?”

“Thank you. Yeah.” She rolled her eyes. “Although you might want to tell the mother of your triplets to show some class.”

The hairs on the back of his head stood at attention. “What did Caitlin do?”

“It’s what she’s doing.” Rachel pointed her clutch directly to the bar, voice shaky. “With my ex-boyfriend.”

Josh looked over to see Caitlin in a full lip lock with Adam, his buddy’s arms wrapped around her. “I see they’ve gone public,” he said dryly.

“You’ll have to excuse me. I need some air.” Rachel pushed past him, two of her girlfriends on her heels, no doubt ready to offer their support.

It only took Josh three seconds to make his way to the bar and pull Caitlin off Adam. “What the hell do you two think you’re doing?”

“Josh!” Caitlin’s eyes widened, and she stepped away from Adam. “What are you doing here?”

He ignored her question, glaring at his best friend. Make that ex-best friend. “When did this start up?”

Adam wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and that move caused Josh to fist his own. A small town throwdown was about to happen.

“Buddy, it’s not what you think.”

Caitlin interjected, stepping in between them. “Unless, what you think is that I’m crazy about this guy.” She wrapped her bare arms around Adam and squeezed. “Because I totally am.”

“You are?” Josh glanced down at Caitlin, his gaze resting on her pretty blue sundress, her long brown hair swept up in a ponytail. He’d seen her in tighter outfits—hell, he’d peeled one off her last summer. This new look was different—not sexy—but pretty. She looked happy. Did Adam do that for her?

He needed to get a hold of the situation because all eyes were on him. This town was small and the people in it liked to talk. He didn’t need to be tomorrow’s gossip at the Star Lite diner or the Spring Curls beauty salon. “Well, that’s great.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “I’m happy for you two.”

“Honey, we should really be going.” Caitlin linked arms with Adam. “My mother’s watching the kids, and she’s probably exhausted by now. Will you be stopping by to see them while you’re here, Josh?”

“Of course.” He motioned for the bartender and ordered a Corona. “Tomorrow. If that’s okay with you?”

“That would be fine.” Her hazelnut eyes locked with his.

“Good. I’ll call you in the morning,” He added under his breath as the bartender handed him his beer, “Maybe you’ll answer.”

“What?”

“Nothing.”

Caitlin swung her purse over her shoulder. Josh recognized it as the same one she’d had the last time they’d left the bar together. Was his best friend really going home with her? Just how far had they progressed in their relationship? He took a long swig of his beer, contemplating that answer.

“Hey.” Adam tapped his shoulder. “We’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Yeah, have a great night, man. Make sure you use protection,” Josh muttered and drank his beer.

“What did you say?” Caitlin came up to him, arms folded, eyes blazing.

“Nothing. Just making sure my buddy protects himself.”

“Joshua Stevens.” Her voice rose just as the song ended. “You don’t get to saunter back into town in your designer suit and call me a whore.”

“I didn’t call you a wh—”

“Who I leave this bar with and what we do is none of your business. What? Did you think I was going to sit around and hope that one day you’d come knocking on my door and want to be in my life—in our children’s lives?”

Adam reached for Caitlin’s hand. “Caitlin, let’s go. You two can talk this out tomorrow.” He hesitated, adding, “In private.”

“Good idea,” Josh said flatly.

Caitlin didn’t budge from her spot. Her eye lashes lowered. “You haven’t changed one bit.”

Josh laughed sarcastically. “And neither have you. Guess my prediction in high school came true. At least you ditched the tight dresses, or are you having trouble squeezing into them these days?”

And that did it. The bitch slap she’d given him in high school didn’t even compare to the one she delivered in the bar. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The sting he could handle and, after his last comment, deserved.

Her scent—now swirling around him—was another matter entirely. A fragrance so powerful he’d spent countless hours in the lab trying to replicate it. He realized now that what he’d created was nowhere near as intoxicating as the real thing.

As Adam ushered an infuriated Caitlin out of the tavern, Josh turned toward the bar, ignoring the questioning stares.

Home sweet freakin’ home.

“
H
e called me fat
.” Caitlin set Jacob into an empty yellow high chair and took a seat next to him, scooting closer. She smiled wildly, bringing a spoon of the banana she’d mashed earlier to his mouth. Penny, the nanny Josh hired, was in the nursery getting the girls dressed.

“And you pretended to be my girlfriend.” Adam poured coffee into his traveling mug, his usual morning routine of stopping by to fill up before heading to work. “So, again, why did you do it?”

“Because Josh had it coming.” Caitlin shook her wrist. “My hand still hurts.”

“I’m not talking about the slap.” Adam adjusted his blue New York Yankees baseball cap and took a seat. “Why do you want Josh to think we’re an item?”

Caitlin looked away, still embarrassed by what had gone down in the bar. Last night was supposed to be about making Rachel jealous, and it had worked. “I don’t know. It seemed like a good idea at the time. I heard Rachel stormed out after we started kissing.”

Adam flashed a hopeful smile. “Really?”

“Yep.” She nodded. “Penny told me that her sister, who saw the whole thing, said that Rachel left in a total huff.”

“Good.” He laughed. “I owe you one.”

“Anytime.” Just thinking of his lips on hers made her squirm a bit. It wasn’t that Adam wasn’t attractive, because he was one hell of a handsome man. She just didn’t have romantic feelings for him. On the ride home, they both agreed it had been weird and would never ever happen again. “I’m sorry I kept up the charade in front of Josh. It’s just when he pulled us apart, all I wanted to do was make him insanely jealous. I guess I seized the opportunity.” She sighed, setting Jacob’s spoon on the table. “You can tell him the truth if you want.”

Adam jumped off his chair and took a sip of his coffee. “There’s no way in hell I’m going to admit that I’m not hooking up with the hottest chick in town.”

“I don’t think Josh thinks I’m attractive these days.” She glanced down, frowning at her light pink yoga top covered in formula and banana mush.

Adam came over and tugged her ponytail. “You’re beautiful, and trust me, I know my buddy. The way he was looking at you last night . . . Oh yeah, he thinks the same thing that every male does that lays eyes on you. He was just being an idiot.”

“Maybe . . . Man, he looked so sexy in that dark suit.” Caitlin’s phone buzzed off the kitchen counter.

“That’s probably him now. I’ve got to run.” Adam patted Jacob on the head. “See you later, little dude. Go easy on your daddy today. He got hit pretty hard last night by your mother.”

“Yeah, whatever. Now go before I slap you, too.” Caitlin rolled her eyes and grabbed her phone, not recognizing the number. “Hello.”

“Caitlin, dear. It’s Josephine. I need you to come down to the theater right away.”

“Is everything okay?” She waved to Adam from the window and then sat back down, wiping Jacob’s mouth with a moist cloth. His little, sticky hands grabbed hold of her free one.

“Honestly, I don’t know. Something strange is going on with the marquee that you really should see.”

What did the old woman mean by that? Wasn’t it broken? “I’ll be right there. I just need to finish with the kids’ breakfast and get dressed.”

“Thank you.” The other end went silent for a couple of seconds.

“Josephine, are you there?”

“Yes, dear, I’m still here. I think you should see if one of the Stevens’ girls could join you. We might need them.”

“Sure. I can ask Abby.” Caitlin ended the call and pulled Jacob out of the high chair. What could possibly have happened that she needed Abby or Emma’s help with? Peering out the kitchen window to Emma’s cottage next door, she didn’t see the baker’s car in the driveway. She must already be at the Sugar Spoon.

She sent Abby a quick text to see if she was available to stop by the theater in twenty minutes and then headed down the hall with Jacob to let Penny know that she had to run a quick errand and that Josh should be here any minute.

With no time to shower, she threw a pink-and-white gingham shirt over her pink tank top, slid into her matching pink sneakers, and headed out the door. Ten minutes later, she pulled into the parking lot behind the theater.

Abby had beaten her there and was now staring up at the marquee along with Josephine, shaking her head.

“What’s going on?” Caitlin joined them, glancing up. Her mouth dropped at the words on the brightly lit marquee. “What the hell?”

Kiss and Make Up

Starring

Caitlin Reynolds and Josh Stevens

J
osh paid
for his coffee and headed out of the Star Lite diner, wiping the red lipstick off his cheek courtesy of the beloved, old waitress, Betty, who was more than happy to see him. Her specialty peck came with a side order of “You need to move back to Buttermilk Falls, Josh Stevens, and sweep the mother of your triplets off her feet.”

That wasn’t happening, and he certainly wouldn’t be doing anything to Caitlin’s feet or any part of her body after last night. Guess Betty hadn’t gotten the memo that Caitlin and Adam were hot and heavy.

The kiss he’d witnessed between the two had caused him to toss and turn all night. He’d been such an idiot to ask Adam to look after Caitlin and the kids. What was he thinking? Of course Adam would be interested in her. Any single, red-blooded male would.

“Hey, handsome.”

Josh turned to see Rachel walking toward him, her flowery yellow skirt blowing in the warm breeze. She appeared much happier than she did last night. “Good morning, Rach.”

“Enjoying a stroll through Buttermilk Falls?” She smirked.

“That would take all of five minutes,” he joked back. “Abby just sent me a text to meet her outside the Majestic Theater.” He smiled down at the pretty blonde. “Care to join me or are you headed to your flower shop?”

“Not for another hour, and I would love to.”

They set off through the town park. Josh had always loved hanging out here growing up, whether it was catching a movie on the lawn or playing Frisbee with his pals. In the center was the blue and white gazebo he’d shared his first awkward kiss with Christine Martin the summer before his senior year. Nice girl, but he hadn’t been into her. The last he heard she was working for some accounting firm in Chicago.

“I’m sorry I was so abrupt last night,” Rachel said, interrupting his trip down memory lane.

Josh took a sip of his coffee. “Nothing to be sorry about.”

“I mean, Adam and I have been broken up for almost a year, but . . .”

“It’s hard to see someone you had strong feelings for with someone else,” he finished her sentence, knowing exactly how she felt.

“Yeah. And with
her
.” She stopped. “Oh, Josh. I’m sorry. I know she’s the mother of your children, but it’s
Caitlin
. You know what’s she’s like. I don’t understand what Adam sees in her.”

“I suppose Caitlin will never get the award for warmest Buttermilk Falls resident.” He rubbed his cheek. “But if there’s ever an award for best slap, it’s hers hands down.”

Rachel giggled. “I heard about that.”

“Already?” Why did that not surprise him?

“You know how this town operates with its juicy gossip.”

“Yes, I do.” He conceded and offered his arm, ready to stir up some juice of his own. “Care to start some new gossip.”

“Why, Josh Stevens, I could never partake in such an endeavor.” She feigned protest, but linked her arm with his just as they walked by a trio of old ladies.

“Morning.” Josh grinned. “Isn’t it a beautiful day for a stroll?”

The women agreed, smiling at Rachel. She leaned in. Her scent, though peachy and sweet, did absolutely nothing to him.

“Bet the news of us arm in arm will be hotter than anything Mel serves for lunch today at the Star Lite diner.”

Josh nodded. “I’m counting on it.” They continued to laugh at the talk that would surely ensue, crossing the street to the theater and running right smack into Abby—and Caitlin.

“What are you two doing here?” Caitlin asked, her gaze lowered to Josh’s arm still linked with Rachel’s.

“We were just taking a walk,” Josh answered. Releasing his arm, he looked up at the marquee. “Is this some kind of joke?”

Josephine shrugged. “I came here this morning to grab the last of the items I had in the office.” She shook her head. “The lights on the marquee have been broken for years. We never bothered to fix them. I threw out the lettering a long time ago.”

Caitlin spun around. “The marquee was blank last night when Adam and I stopped by, and it definitely wasn’t lit up.”

“Was that before or after your make out session at the Tavern?” Josh asked, voice low and full of sarcasm.

“It’s none of your business.” Caitlin turned to Rachel. “I’m sorry if last night upset you.”

Rachel scoffed. “I couldn’t care less.” Josh felt her hand touch his back. “I’ve moved on.”

“Right,” Caitlin deadpanned, giving Josh what he’d come to know was her “drop dead” look before turning to Abby and Josephine. “Do you have any idea who might have done this?”

“Maybe the better question is, what did this?” Abby asked, glancing at Caitlin and then Josh. “It’s the spoon,” she whispered.

“Abby enough with the damn spoon.” Josh shook his head. It was bad enough his sister brought it up in front of Caitlin, but Josephine and Rachel didn’t need to hear his family’s crazy magical drama.

“Well, just great.” Caitlin threw her hands in the air. “Tell me now. Is my theater haunted?”

“Your theater?” Josh asked, eyebrow raised. That was certainly breaking news. “Your dad bought this?”

“No, my
dad
didn’t buy this.
I
did, and I’m going to refurbish it.” She sighed. “If my guests will let me.”

Abby gave her a supportive squeeze. “Don’t you worry. This whole town knows Brandon’s inn is haunted, and he’s doing just fine. I’m sure it’s a friendly ghost. Probably a former concessions worker.”

At the mention of paranormal, Josephine excused herself to unlock the door and gather the rest of her things. Josh didn’t blame her. “You need to stop scaring town residents, Abby.”

“You don’t know what that spoon is capable of!”

“It’s a blue mixing spoon. The only magical thing that maybe it’s capable of is predicting the true love for the bachelorettes in this town. Now drop it.” He turned to Rachel. “Sorry about all of this. Should we tackle the other side of town? Maybe grab coffee?”

“Actually . . .” Rachel looked down at her watch. “I forgot I have an appointment to get to. I should go before I’m late. It was really great catching up with you, Josh.” She rose on her tippy toes and kissed him on the cheek, which he was all but sure was for Caitlin’s benefit. “Bye, Abby,” she said, ignoring Caitlin.

Josh watched as Rachel raced across the street, rubbing his face with the back of his knuckle. How much lipstick was his cheek going to wear today?

“Really, Josh,” Caitlin snapped, adjusting the black sunglasses on her head.

“What?”

“You haven’t even seen your kids yet, but you made time to stroll around town with Rachel.” Caitlin turned to Abby, not waiting for him to respond. “There’s something I need to show you.” She opened the front glass door, motioning for Josh to join them. “You should come, too.”

While Josephine busied herself in the front office, Caitlin led Abby and Josh through the lobby. It’d been years since he’d been inside. As a shy teenager, he used to love to dive into a bucket of buttered popcorn and watch some of the classics they showed.

“Wow, this place hasn’t changed at all.” The last time he’d been in here he’d come home from college to see Emma’s performance in the high school musical
Bye Bye Birdie
. His driving seven hours in a snow storm from Johns Hopkins in Baltimore to make it in time for the curtain to open had nothing to do with Caitlin having the lead role. At least that had been his story to his suspicious sister.

“Follow me.” Caitlin turned down the narrow corridor that led to the theater’s large auditorium. “So, the other day, Bridget and I were helping Josephine bring some bags inside, and she invited us to take a look around.” She pointed to the wall filled with pictures. “There’s a photograph hanging up of a woman carrying a box like the one that was in Brandon’s inn.”

“The one we found on New Year’s Eve?” Abby asked, eyes widening.

“Yes, exactly like it.” Caitlin paused. “I mean. It’s a black-and-white photo, but I swear it’s the box.”

“The one the blue mixing spoon came in?” Josh asked.

Caitlin stopped, eying him. “You’ve seen the box?”

“Emma and Abby showed it to me last night.”

“Was that before or after you called me a tramp in front of all the customers in the Buttermilk Tavern?” she challenged him, raising an eyebrow.

Abby swatted Josh on the arm. “Why would you do that?”

“That’s not what happened.” He shook his head. “Why don’t you tell us why you slapped the hell out of me?”

“You called me fat.”

“No, I didn’t, but I’m sorry for the comment. You looked great.” He corrected himself. “You
look
really great.”

“You’re just saying that.” She pulled on her pink and white top, her gaze lowered to the floor.

“No, really.” He stuffed his hands in his pant pockets, feeling more than a little uncomfortable admitting that he’d never seen her more beautiful and wondered all night if Adam was the reason behind her glow.

Abby tapped on the wall, getting their attention. “When you two stars are done kissing and making up, Caitlin can you tell us where this picture is? There have to be at least fifty on this wall.”

“It’s right over there.” Caitlin pointed to the last photo. The pretty, young woman was standing in line holding the box just as she had described.

“It
is
the box!” Abby shrieked. “When was this picture taken?”

“Opening night—1937.”

“Wow.” Josh gazed at the photo and his heart stopped. The woman in the photo looked exactly like the woman he’d had the vision of last night when he’d picked up the blue spoon. At least he thought it was. Before he could say anything, his phone buzzed. “I need to take this. I’ll be outside.”