Kiss and Make Up (Bachelors of Buttermilk #3) (6 page)

Heading down the corridor and out the front door, Josh answered the call from his boss. “Hey, Bill, what’s going on?”

“Josh . . .” There was a pause, which always meant Bill had bad news to share. “I know you’re taking a few days off, but I really need you back in the lab.”

“Why? What’s up?” He walked over to the empty bench facing the theater and took a seat.

“The executive team wants a sample of your next scent to unveil at the upcoming stakeholders’ meeting. It’s got to be ready to ship off by Monday.”

By Monday.
That wasn’t going to happen. Staring up at the marquee, his gaze rested on the uppercase “C.” The new fragrance was far from done. “It’s not ready yet.”

“Which is why we need you back in the lab. I can buy you some time, but to justify an extension I really need you back here.”

As Bill continued to talk, Abby and Caitlin exited the theater. His sister gave him a short wave and took off in the direction of the Sugar Spoon while Caitlin came over and sat down on the bench. Her delicious scent enticed his nostrils, causing his lower region to stir.

There was something mixed in to her familiar soft vanilla fragrance—something sweet that he just couldn’t put his finger on. He inhaled deeply. If only he could figure a way to bottle her up.

He watched as Caitlin whipped out her phone and placed a call. Probably to Adam. God, it was killing him that they were together.

He finished his own conversation, telling Bill he’d call him back this afternoon and shoved his phone in his pocket. Caitlin ended hers, too, all grins.

“How’s Adam?” he asked.

“I wasn’t talking to him. If you must know, that was Penny. Apparently, Cassie rolled over.”

“No way! Isn’t she too young to do that?”

Caitlin’s eyebrow shot up. “You know that?”

He chuckled, conceding, “I read some things on the Internet. My mom sends me articles.”

“Well, it was kind of a half roll.” She moved her shoulders. “Okay, more like a quarter one.” She slid her black sunglasses off her head and put them on. “We’re taking them to the park this afternoon. Would you like to join us?”

“That sounds great.” More than great. He was excited to see the triplets and hold each one in his arms.

“So, you seemed chummy with Rachel this morning,” Caitlin remarked, leaning back on the bench and stretching her legs.

“Just catching up with an old friend.”

“Don’t let Adam see you ‘catching up,’” she scoffed, looking down at her phone.

That sentence caused his eyebrow to shoot up. “Why would he care?”

“No reason.” She sighed. “I bet Rachel gave you an earful this morning. I know what she and all of her friends think of me.”

Josh studied Caitlin for a second. The town’s princess he knew—or thought he knew growing up—didn’t give a rat’s ass to what others thought of her. Never had. When did that change?

“Just once, I want to prove to everyone in this town that I’m not the spoiled rich girl who got knocked up.” She gave a short, sarcastic laugh. “Well, I mean, I guess I am.”

“Caitlin . . .” He shifted on the bench to face her. He was partly responsible for the knocked up part.

“I know that people think I’m a total has-been that can’t take care of myself let alone three kids.” She turned, looking him square in the eye. “This theater is my chance to prove that I have what it takes to build a life, contribute to this community, and be a role model for the triplets.”

“This really means a lot to you?” he asked.

“It does.” She pointed to the entrance. “The minute I walked in there I knew it was meant to be mine. I could feel it. I can’t screw this up.”

“You won’t. If I know you, this theater is going to be a huge attraction.”

Her face brightened. “You really think so?”

“You can slap me again if I’m wrong.”

She laughed. “Deal.”

It was nice that he could bring out her dimples. He leaned back on the bench and pointed to the marquee. “So, what do you make of that?”

Caitlin shrugged and looked up. “How should I know? You’re the magical one.”

“I’ll stick to perfume.” Reaching over, he tapped her knee. “I really doubt it’s magic. You know how dramatic Abby gets. Someone’s probably playing a prank, but if it is a ghost, it might be my great Aunt Beatrice. Rumor has it she was pretty theatrical back in her day.”

“Well, at your next séance, please tell your Aunt Beatrice that I won’t get in her way.”

“Will do.” He grinned, taking in her beautiful tanned face and the cute freckles that dusted her nose. If only things between them could always be this relaxed.

“I hate to play Nancy Drew, but even if this was a prank, it still doesn’t explain the photograph, the box, or the mysterious enchanted spoon,” Caitlin said.

“Good point.” It also didn’t explain his vision of the woman in the picture, but he was going to keep that to himself for the moment. He snapped his fingers. “Maybe the woman in the photo was a guest at the inn and accidentally left the box there all those years ago.”

“And the magical spoon inside it, what about that?”

“Its enchantment properties are still up for debate. Other than Abby’s crazy talk, I haven’t actually seen it do anything. I’m sure there’s a logical—non-magical—explanation for the spoon, the box, and the photograph.”

“I hope so.” Her gaze lifted up to the marquee. “So, when does my co-star head back to New York City?”

“Depends.”

“On what?”

“How we do opening night.”

Caitlin laughed again just as Adam came around the corner.

“Well, look at you two.”

“Hey, Adam.” Caitlin stood. “Why aren’t you at work?”

“I’m picking up some supplies for my dad at the hardware store,” Adam said, looking up at the marquee. “What’s that all about?”

“Nothing.” Josh got up and slapped his buddy on the back. “Some prank. It’s good to see you, man. I’m sorry about last night.”

“Me, too. Maybe we can grab a beer later?” Adam turned to Caitlin. “Want to show me what you want done to the lobby while I’m here?”

“Yes! Great idea.” She clapped her hands and headed to the door, but turned. “Josh, I’ll see you in the park at two. We’ll be near the gazebo.”

“I’ll be there.” Josh nodded and watched Caitlin and Adam disappear into the theater.

Glancing one last time up at the marquee, his heart squeezed. If he hadn’t been such a bonehead these last few months, insisting that staying away from Caitlin was for the best, would he have had a real shot at becoming her leading man?

“
W
hat’s up
, Abs?” Josh handed a fussy Lily over to Caitlin to take his sister’s call. After a wonderful afternoon spent in the park, Caitlin had invited him to have dinner at her place.

He’d even helped. Well, if wearing baby spit counted as helping out. Still, the simple spaghetti and garlic bread he made for Caitlin, Penny, and him to eat after the babies were fed beat any evening in the finest Manhattan establishment.

This afternoon had been terrific. The kids had all grown so much since the last time he saw them. He turned and smiled at Caitlin who had placed Lily in her crib and was now removing their daughter’s lavender bow. He couldn’t deny it was great to be around the triplets’ mother, too.

They’d spent a lot of time today discussing her plans for the old theater, turning it into a place not only to show movies but to offer acting classes and live stage productions. He hadn’t realized just how business and marketing savvy Caitlin was. It made her even sexier.

“Josh, are you there?”

Right. His sister was still on the phone. “Sorry, sis. What’s going on?”

“I need you to get down to the Sugar Spoon, stat.”

Not the blue spoon again.
He wasn’t going anywhere, not when he spent a wonderful day with his kids. It killed him that he’d have to go back to Manhattan tomorrow. He’d work something out to get back to Buttermilk Falls as fast as he could and not let months go by again.

But that was tomorrow. Tonight, he wanted to help Caitlin put the triplets to bed and then suggest they share a bottle of red wine on her deck. It was a gorgeous night, and there was no sign of Adam.

Come to think of it, his buddy never called about getting together for that beer he’d suggested earlier. That was fine by Josh.

“Listen, Abs, now isn’t a good time.” His gaze rested on Caitlin who’d returned to the room with a sleepy Jacob, Penny close behind with Cassie.

Caitlin laid Jacob down in his crib and motioned to Josh. “I’m going to jump in the shower and freshen up. Do you mind helping Penny?”

“Not at all.” He turned and spoke into the phone. “Abby, I’m kind of busy right now. What exactly is it that you need?”

“What I
need
is for you to get down to the bakery. There are over fifty single women in here demanding the names of their soul mates.” She paused, shouting over the noise. “Ladies, hold your horses. Even if you get a name, it’s not like anything is going to happen tonight. Your knights in shining armors are probably at the tavern getting tanked at this moment.”

“Abby, what’s happening?”

“It’s mayhem. I’ll explain everything when you get here. Can you hurry?” She lowered her voice. “I don’t know how much longer we can hold these women off with cupcakes.”

“Fine. I’ll be there as soon as I can.” Just then, Jacob began to cry. “I’ve really gotta go. Bye.” Josh clicked off the phone and reached down into Jacob’s crib, picking up his son. “What’s the matter, little buddy?” He held the infant up to his chest, rubbing his back. He needed more of these moments holding his children in his arms, soothing their tears.

Caitlin came rushing in in a ruby red bathrobe, her long hair wet and falling below her shoulders. “What happened?”

“Nothing. Maybe he wants his mother.” He started to hand Jacob over to Caitlin, but she stopped him.

“I think his daddy is doing fine.” She grinned as Josh continued to comfort Jacob. A few minutes later, he set the sleeping baby back in his crib.

“See. You’re a natural. Thank you for today, Josh.”

Josh smiled down at his son. “I didn’t really do anything.”

“You were here for us . . . um . . . I mean . . .” she stammered, “. . . for the kids.”

“Today was nice.” He grinned. “Now I need you to get dressed.”

“I’m sorry.” She tightened her robe. “I didn’t mean to rush out of the shower indecent; it’s just I heard Jacob crying and—total instinct.”

“No, that’s not what I meant. Emma and Abby have some baking crisis going on at the Sugar Spoon. She wants me to stop by.”

“Crisis?” Caitlin repeated. “What’s going on?”

“Not sure. Apparently half the female population in this town had a sweet tooth tonight. I thought maybe you’d like to go with me. Maybe we could grab a drink and dessert at the inn afterwards?”

“Really?”

“But if it’s too late, I understand. You’re probably exhausted.”

“No!” She shrieked then lowered her voice. “I’d love to. Give me ten minutes.” She hightailed it out of the room, and seconds later Josh could hear her blow dryer.

He took his time saying good night to the kids and then thanked Penny for all her help, promising Caitlin wouldn’t be out too late. She chuckled and told him Caitlin wouldn’t turn into a pumpkin if he had her out past midnight.

Heading into the living room, he couldn’t help but notice how charming the cottage was with rustic accents. A real home. He liked the fact that Emma and Jason were next door if she or Penny needed anything. Who would have thought that Caitlin and Emma could be neighborly?

He reached for a framed photo on the fireplace mantle of Caitlin and the kids taken at the park. He was starting to see what Abby had been trying to tell him over the last few months. Maybe Caitlin had changed. The vulnerability she’d shown earlier today outside the theater was a side he’d never seen. He’d always pegged her for someone who couldn’t care less what others thought.

While he returned the picture to where it belonged, Caitlin emerged wearing dark skinny jeans and a dark blue top with white polka dots that fell below her shoulders. Josh let out a low whistle. “Wow.”

“Wow, I look great or wow, you can’t believe you’re going out in public with me?”

“Definitely not the latter.”

“Why, Joshua, if I didn’t know better, I’d think you were flirting.”

“Guilty.” He grinned.

She smiled and slid her feet into the strappy black heels she’d brought down with her that now showed off her perfectly pedicured red toes. “I can’t believe I’m going out twice in one week. This never happens anymore.”

He twitched at her mention of last night. “Adam doesn’t take you out?”

She looked away. “Not really.”

“I’m sorry I was such a jerk at the bar.”

“It’s fine.” She pulled out a tube of lipstick from her purse and swiped her lips red, checking out her complexion in the mirror above the fireplace.

“Heat me up.”

She capped the lipstick and blinked. “Excuse me?”

He smiled. Yeah, that’s exactly what he wanted her to do to him but with Penny steps away, it probably wouldn’t be appropriate. He pointed to the lipstick. “It’s Heat Me Up. Our classic lipstick.”

“Oh, right.” She laughed, and he could see a little pink in her cheeks.

“So, when did it start?” He shoved his hand in his pocket and reached for his car keys. That question had been needling him all day, and he was glad he finally had the courage to ask.

“When did what start?”

“You and Adam.” They exited the cottage and headed down the path to his rental car.

“Oh, that. Recently.” She hopped into the passenger’s side, not offering any more on that subject.

As they drove in awkward silence,
Josh scolded himself for ruining an otherwise perfect day. A few minutes later, he turned the corner to the bakery and spoke, “I’m sorry. It’s really none of my business who you are seeing. If you and Adam are happy then I’m—”

“Oh, my God!” Caitlin interrupted, eyes glued straight ahead.

Josh shoved the car into park and leaned against the stirring wheel. Abby hadn’t been exaggerating. The bakery was packed with women.

“What do you suppose is going on?” Caitlin asked.

“There’s only one way to find out.” He opened the door and hopped out, noticing that his passenger hadn’t moved. Going around to her door, he tapped on the glass. “Are you coming?”

She rolled the window down. “I think I’ll wait here.”

“What? Why?”

“Most of those women in there hate me.”

“Oh, come on. That’s not true.” He glanced over his shoulder, catching sight of Rachel and her friends from last night. Okay, Caitlin had a point. “Don’t let them ruin your evening. You got all dressed up, or do you wear that bright red lipstick every night?”

“No.” She laughed then sighed. “Not anymore.”

He reached for the door and opened it, offering his hand. “I’ll protect you.”

Before he knew it, she’d put her hand in his and that touch sent an electrical shock through him. The last time she’d touched him like that it had led straight to her bed. He doubted the same outcome would happen tonight, not with her admission that she’d recently started dating Adam. Still, he wasn’t ready to call it a night. “We’ll only stay for a minute. Then we’ll head to the inn, I promise.”

“Okay.” She let him help her out of the car and then stared straight ahead, giving the briefest of smiles as they headed toward the entrance.

Josh opened the glass door. Once the female patrons got sight of him, a large cheer erupted followed by the women chanting his name.

“Good evening, ladies.”

Abby ran up and grabbed Josh by the arm. “Kitchen now.” She turned to Caitlin, handing her a chocolate cupcake with vanilla icing. “Here, have this.” She waved her hand over it. “Emma and I just need to borrow him for a minute.”

Caitlin glanced around, looking as uncomfortable as he was sure she felt. She peeled the cupcake wrapper. “And here I thought, Abby, that I wouldn’t have a cupcake today.” She turned to Josh. “Your sister has been feeding me cupcakes all summer.”

“You’re welcome,” Abby said and grabbed Josh’s arm. “Kitchen. Now!”

“Hold on.” Josh pulled free, turning to Caitlin. “It will only be a second.”

“One.”

“Okay, one hundred and thirty seconds.”

“Fine.” She took a seat at an empty booth, placing her cupcake in front of her. “I’ll be right here.”

Abby ushered him into the kitchen where Emma was pouring ingredients into a blue mixing bowl.

“What the hell took you so long?” Abby gave him a shove full of her annoyance.

“We were putting the kids down. Why are all these ladies in your bakery?”

Abby shook her head. “You mean why are all these
single
ladies here?”

“They’re all single?” That was strange.

“Yes, I told you that on the phone. They’re here because Rachel blabbed to the whole town that we had a blue mixing spoon that could reveal to all of them who their soul mates are.”

Josh furrowed his eyebrows. “Why would she do that?”

“Oh, I don’t know.” Abby threw up her hands. “Maybe because you suggested it!”

Josh thought back to their conversation earlier and Rachel’s quick departure. “Oh, God. That’s why she took off in a hurry this morning. She set off a gossip chain.”

“You think?” Abby peeked her head outside the swinging doors.

Josh glanced over at his cousin. “I’m so sorry, Emma.”

Emma continued to pour ingredients into the bowl, her head shaking fast and furious. “Josh, this is bad. Very bad. When they all learn we can’t do it, they’ll be heartbroken and pissed off. These women have waited years for an opportunity like this. It won’t be good for business.”

“This is fixable. I’ll tell them it was a misunderstanding.” He came up next to Abby to see what was going on out there. Caitlin was a few feet away looking like a rejected black sheep. While all the other woman were carrying on and having a great time, no one had approached her. She sat alone, spooning white frosting off her chocolate cupcake with her finger. “They really don’t like Caitlin, do they?”

Abby shrugged and stood over by Emma. “You know how women are.”

“Yeah.” He sure did, but one in particular was trying her hardest and didn’t deserve to be publically shunned. He moved from the door. “Where’s the blue spoon?”

“Why?” Emma asked, eyelids narrowing.

“We’re going to give these ladies what they want.”

“You can’t be serious. You’re going to try to cast the spell?” Emma measured some vanilla extract and poured it into her bowl.

“I doubt I can.” He touched Emma’s shoulder and squeezed. “No, my dear magical cousin, you are.”

Emma shook her head. “But we told you. I couldn’t do it with the blue spoon.”

“You said it spells out my name.”

“Yeah.”

Abby shifted on her heels. “Josh, what are you getting at?”

“There’s a bachelorette out there that needs a little lift.” He grinned. “Perform it on Caitlin.”

Emma grabbed a towel from the counter and wiped her hands. “You
want
your name to show up in Caitlin’s batter?”

“Yes.”

Abby clapped her hands. “That’s a brilliant idea! Why, everyone won’t question if the spell worked when they see the father of her triplets in her batter.” She patted Josh on the back. “Looks like I wasn’t the only one to get brains in this family. Good thinking.”

“I don’t know.” Emma paused. “It seems dishonest. Shouldn’t we at least tell Caitlin?”

“No, let it be a surprise.” He turned to his sister. “Abby, when it happens, encourage all the women to congratulate her. Make a big deal out of it. Make her feel like she just won the lottery.”

“Like she hasn’t felt that feeling before,” Abby scoffed.

Good point. “You know what I mean. Make her feel special.”

Emma headed into her office and came back with the spoon. “If it’ll get these women out of my bakery, then let’s do it. We can think of a new game plan tomorrow.” She sighed. “When this place returns to normal.”

“Thank you, Emma.” Josh came over and gave her a squeeze, kissing her on the cheek.

While Emma headed out of the kitchen with the mixing bowl and blue spoon ready to perform the charade, Abby followed behind but stopped and spun around. “Aren’t you coming?”

“I’m going to watch from back here. Too much estrogen for one man to deal with without a wingman,” Josh joked.

“Suit yourself.”

He cracked the door open and watched Abby announce that Caitlin would be the first and only bachelorette of Buttermilk Falls this evening to witness her true love in the cake batter.

Caitlin looked up from the table. “Me?”