Page 75 of A Cup of Autumn
Chapter Fourteen
Keaton sat atRaine’s dining table, filling a bucket with bat stamps, candy, and instructions. The type of activity he’d been doing most nights for a week and a half. She’d even given him a key to her house so he wouldn’t have to wait when she got held up at the coffee shop. This was the first key to a woman’s place he’d ever had. Keaton appreciated her trust.
He glanced at Raine, who sat across from him, separating the Halloween stamps and placing them in plastic baggies. He placed one set of those—bat stamps for the hardware store—on top of the candy filling the orange bucket.
“I hope this is simple enough for Mr. Jones.” Simple for this year’s Boo Bash equaled passing out candy and stamping kids’ scavenger hunt list with a specific item or character. “He specified something uncomplicated on his form.”
“He’ll be fine.” Raine stretched her arms over her head. “Mrs. Jones was at the coffee shop yesterday. She’ll be at the hardware store to help during the Boo Bash.”
“I’m glad we cut the pumpkin decorating there.”
“That would have been the opposite of simple.”
Keaton nodded. Only one week to go until B-Day, what he’d been calling the date of the Boo Bash, and over half the buckets were ready to be delivered to shops. If they kept up the same pace, they’d be finished this weekend, which meant no last-minute work or late nights to be ready on time.
“I plan to be at the coffee shop tomorrow.” Some of the prep work involved things he couldn’t do there. “I have a couple of things to do in the morning, but the afternoon is reserved for book writing.”
“Still inspired?”
He nodded. “I keep forcing myself to go to bed. I’d be happy writing through the night, but I’d regret it the next day when I’m tired.”
“Now you know where to go again if you’re having trouble.”
“I do.” Only he wasn’t certain whether being outdoors at the falls had been the deciding factor or being there with Raine. Keaton guessed he would figure that out eventually.
They hadn’t spent as much time together in the same place, but they’d texted daily, often several times a day.
Her cell phone rang. The ringtone was from a song. Something by Taylor Swift. Callie used to listen to it a lot, but he didn’t remember the song’s name.
Raine glanced at her phone, sitting face up on the table. She inhaled sharply.
None of his business, but he looked.
Emmett’s name appeared on the screen.
First a text. Now, a phone call.
Had Emmett tried to reach her again when Keaton wasn’t there? Were things escalating between the former couple? Or had Raine had a change of heart over her ex?
Keaton’s gut churned. A yes to any of those questions wouldn’t be good.
For Raine.
Not good for Raine.
She hit the decline button on the screen.
Keaton leaned back in his chair. That was interesting.
“Sorry.” She rubbed her thumbs over her fingers. “I didn’t want to put my phone on silent mode in case someone at the shop needed me. Nick has the kids, so Robin wanted to close.”
“Phones ring.” Keaton wanted to wipe away the worry from her eyes. “I saw who was calling.”
She glanced at the now-dark screen. “Yes.”
“You didn’t answer.”
“No.” The word came out clipped. “I have nothing more to say to him.”
