Page 90 of The Write Track
I wasn’t naïve enough to believe he’d sought me out, away from Bella, because he wanted to chat about chocolate cookies and cake. I played the game anyway. “Yeah. Bella loves the brownies. Can I take that whole pan of them back to our cabin, or is that considered tacky?”
Preston looked thrown by the question. “That’s a lot of sugar,” was all he managed to come back with after several seconds of contemplation.
“I happen to love Bella when she’s all sugared up. I can’t keep up with her.” It was crass to infer something like that. Preston, however, couldn’t take a hint, and the whole goal was to make the man lose his cool in public. Once that happened, once we had a legitimate complaint to pin on him, he would be done with author events. Sure, that wouldn’t secure his absence from our lives completely, but it was a good start.
“I see.” Preston didn’t even bother faking a smile this time. “I know what you’re doing,” he said.
I kept my expression neutral as I looked over at him. “Excuse me?”
“I know what you’re doing,” he repeated darkly. “I’m not falling for it either.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” That was true, partially. The man was often hard to read.
“Bella and I have a past that you can’t touch.”
I practically choked. “Yes, I’ve heard all about your past.”
“If you’re referring to my accidental indiscretion?—”
I was not going to put up with this man making excuses. “Don’t.” I shook my head. “There’s nothing you can say that’s going to make me believe a single thing that comes out of your mouth.”
“Bella doesn’t love you. She’s only marrying you because she can’t have me.”
I snorted. “Dude, if she’s the one chasing you, why are you here?”
“I’m giving her what she always wanted. She’s just playing hard to get.”
“Yeah, you keep telling yourself that.” I grabbed the whole plate of brownies. “Have a nice night. I know I will.” I gave him my patented wink.
“Where are you taking all those brownies?” he demanded, his frustration obvious.
“To bed.” I strode over to Bella, who had finished her food but was looking concerned.
“Do I even want to ask?” she said.
“It’s nothing you can’t imagine.” I held up the brownies. “Would you like to forego the bonfire this evening and allow me to create the fire?”
She choked out a laugh as Bree groaned.
“That was terrible,” Bree complained.
I ignored her. “I’m ready for it to be just the two of us for the evening.”
“It’s been just the two of you for weeks at this point,” Brody pointed out.
“I know.” I smiled. “Now I get why you did it.”
“Man, I hate being the fifth wheel,” Hayley complained.
“We’ll work on your love life next,” I promised, holding out my hand to Bella. “For tonight, however, I’m focusing on me. Well, my Bellarino and me.”
“Just go,” Bree ordered. “You’re going to make the rest of us puke.”
Bella slipped her hand into mine.
“Gladly,” I said. “We’ll see the rest of you goobers in the morning.”
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