Three Blissful Days, page 15
Kendall had seen the multiple missed calls and texts on her phone this morning but hadn’t responded. “I was at Ivy’s. We watched a move and fell asleep on the couch.”
“This isn’t working for me,” Taylor threw over her shoulder as she pulled the door closed. Her anger was evident.
“What happened?”
“Taylor read a study about people who get back together with their previous loves later in life. She said that the study showed that those couples have a seventy percent likelihood of staying together for good.”
“Oh, Cowboy.” She let out a slow sigh. “Did you tell her that’s never going to happen with us? I like women. A lot.” She’d been there for less than a week and hadn’t realized she was causing issues between them.
“I did, but she’s jealous and wants you out of here.”
“Okay. I’ll make other arrangements today.” She didn’t want to come between the two of them.
“That’s not what I want, though. The truth is, you’re still my best friend, and I like having you here…like this. Talking about old times.” He took a few steps toward Kendall. “Sneaking around like this is kind of like high school all over again.”
“Yeah. I guess it is.” She smiled and moved around to the other side of the couch before he could get any closer. The whole situation had become really uncomfortable—really quickly, and she couldn’t tell whether he was being truthful about his feelings or not. “You really need to understand that there is no chance of anything between us other than friendship.”
“I know that now. I wasn’t sure at the time. Thought the odds were against us, but we could’ve given it a shot.” He looked sad, which made Kendall’s stomach drop. He was still hoping.
“It would’ve all been a lie, and I couldn’t do that to you.” She plucked several pieces of clothing from her bag and rushed into the bathroom. Taylor was right. She needed to find another place to stay. “I need to shower and get to work.”
When she came out of the bathroom, Noah was gone, thankfully, but Taylor was waiting for her.
Taylor stood with her arms crossed. “We need to talk.”
Kendall held up her hand. “No need. I’ll get dressed and be out of here in few minutes.” She headed into the bedroom, gathered her belongings, and put them in her bag. When she went back into the living room Taylor was standing in the same position. “I don’t want to come between you and Noah. That wasn’t my intent—at all. I just needed a place to stay.”
“Everything was fine until you showed up.”
“Was it? Really?” She didn’t want to shine a light on their problems, but clearly they had some if Noah was longing for something long past.
“It will be. I want you to stay away from him while you’re here.”
“Listen. I can’t guarantee that. We’ve been friends for a long time, but I can’t control Noah any more than you can.”
“Well, then I might let your little secret with Ivy spill out in conversation sometime.”
“How’s that going to help you?” Taylor had more moxie than she thought. “It’ll just make things worse when Noah finds out.” Kendall dropped her bag. “I can help you with Noah.”
Taylor remained silent for a moment, seeming to think about that statement. “How?”
“I’m his best friend. I know everything about him, including why he’s been reluctant to commit to you.”
“I’m listening.”
“You need to become someone he can’t live without.”
“Well, how do I do that with you hanging around?”
“It’s not about me. It’s about you and the things you do together. Do you like the things he likes?”
Taylor shrugged. “Not really. All he talks about is sports and cars. My life is the horses and the ranch.”
“Have you tried liking them? You know, going to a car show with him once in a while.”
“No. I just don’t get it.”
“They’re actually kind of fun. Especially the antique shows.” Kendall always enjoyed them but didn’t know how to make them more attractive to Taylor. “There’s usually some test drives or ride-alongs, and there’s always food and beer.” Kendall tilted her head. “You like food and beer, don’t you?”
Taylor nodded. “Probably more than I should.”
“And sports are easy once you learn the game.”
“I don’t know. They seem pretty complicated. So many innings and yards. Too much to remember.”
“Once you find a favorite team it’ll get easier. I can help you with that too.”
“Okay. I’d appreciate that.” She smiled slightly. “What else?”
“You need to cool the baby talk for now. He’s not ready for
that, and the more you talk about it, the more he’s looking at the big picture. “
“He told you that?” She put her hands on her hips. “My big picture involves babies.”
“I understand, but you need to work on getting your relationship solid first, or it’s not going to last with or without babies.”
Taylor crossed her arms again and flopped onto the couch. “I don’t want to wait until I’m in my thirties.”
“How old are you?” She already knew because Noah had told her.
“I’ll be twenty-seven in April.” Taylor was clearly counting her fertility years.
“Plenty of time.” She sat beside Taylor on the couch. “Let’s get you and Noah solid first and then work on the baby timing.” She raised her eyebrows. “Okay?”
“Okay,” Taylor said softly.
She didn’t want to put a wedge between Noah and Taylor, and she definitely didn’t want him to have any false hope about rekindling something from their past. Admittedly, he was her best friend, and she did love him, but not in the way he would want or need. She wanted to help Taylor make him see a future with her.
Chapter Thirty-six
Ivy opened the door, expecting to see Kendall, but was surprised to see her father. “Hi. What are you doing in my neck of the woods?”
“Your mother asked me to come by and deliver an invitation to you and Kendall for dinner again Sunday.” Ivy’s dad walked farther inside and scrutinized the cabin. “After the mix-up with the room reservations at the lodge, I though Kendall was staying with you.”
“She is, but she’s gone to visit Noah. They’re friends, remember? They haven’t seen each other in a while and wanted to catch up.” She hoped he didn’t wander into the bedroom and see Kendall hadn’t left any of her things. She was going to have to have a conversation with Kendall about staying here with her, which would be inconvenient since there was only one bedroom.
“Right. You didn’t want to go along?”
“No. The four of us are getting together later in the week. I thought they could use some quality time. Thought it might be awkward if I was there.”
He nodded. “Yeah. Talking about old times with people you don’t know can be boring.” He raised an eyebrow. “Could’ve been a good time to get to know more about Kendall’s past, though. Make sure she’s the right girl for you.”
“She’s the right girl, Dad.” She said it without hesitation, but she wasn’t sure of anything right now. Especially about lying to her parents.
The door opened as her dad walked toward it.
Kendall appeared. “Sorry I’m late. I got caught up talking to Taylor.” She crossed the room to Ivy. “I was going to show her some of my designs but couldn’t find my tablet. Have you seen it?”
Ivy shook her head as Kendall turned back to her dad. “It’s nice to see you again, Mr. Patterson.”
“You as well.” He tipped his head. “Well, then, I need to get going. Your mother plans to see you for Sunday dinner, as usual.” He stopped and turned slightly as he reached the door. “And she expects you to come along as well, Kendall.”
Ivy nodded. “Understood.”
“I hope you like pot roast.” He turned toward the door.
“Love it. Is there anything we can bring?” Kendall asked.
“Just yourselves.” He headed outside, pulling the door closed behind him.
Kendall rubbed her forehead. “I think this just got more difficult.”
Ivy shook her head. “I don’t think he realized you’re not living here.”
“That might have to change.” Kendall took in a deep breath. “I can’t stay with Noah any longer. It’s causing tension between him and Taylor.”
“Oh. I’m sorry to hear that.” Ivy rolled around the options in her head. Only one bedroom here, but there was also a couch.
“Do you think there’s any room at the lodge? Maybe I could sleep in the event area?”
“No. That’s not allowed.” Ivy needed more information. “What happened with Noah?”
“He seems to be using our high school relationship as a guide to fix whatever issues he has with Taylor.”
“I didn’t know they were having trouble.”
“Taylor’s jealous of me, and I don’t blame her. I’d feel the same way if my significant other’s ex showed up and took root in my house. I don’t want to be the reason for their breakup.”
Ex? That was news to Ivy. “Did you ever think you had a chance to go the distance with him?” She was genuinely interested.
Kendall shook her head. “No. The probability of us making it was slim to none. I mean, he’s a great guy for the right woman, but I always knew something was missing.”
“Were you confused?”
She nodded. “At first. I always thought there would be something to tell me when I found the right person. You know, sparks…heat…chills…some sort of sign. We could kiss for hours, and he would get all worked up, but nothing was happening with me.”
“When did you figure it out?”
“I didn’t right away. I thought something was wrong with me. Then one day I saw this girl—this magnificently gorgeous girl with the most confident swagger—and the sight of her sent something through me. A searing hot jolt to my midsection I hadn’t experienced with Noah. Ever.”
Ivy had been abruptly reminded of that feeling only a few days ago, when Kendall arrived at the lodge. “So did you break up with Noah and date her?”
Kendall shook her head. “Sadly, she was straight. But after that, I was honest with Noah. Told him all about how watching her made me feel. He was pissed at me for a long time after we broke up. Then he hooked up with that same gorgeous girl. They dated for a while, maybe for about six months. Then they split up, and our friendship went back to normal. We never talked about it, but I think he did it to get back at me, which was fine. I deserved it.”
“You can stay here with me. I’ll sleep on the couch.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want to put you out or anything. I can just go home for a few days.”
“No. I’d rather you stay. Honestly, it’ll probably be easier than explaining why you went home.” If nothing else, it would alleviate some of her dad’s suspicions. “You won’t have to sneak around anymore, which will improve our odds of not being discovered as frauds.”
Ivy would have to figure out the sleeping arrangements later. It wouldn’t be appropriate for her to put Kendall on the couch. It also wouldn’t be comfortable for Ivy to have breakfast in Kendall’s bedroom if she did put her in the living room. The cabin had only so much private space.
Chapter Thirty-seven
Kendall’s mind wandered as she tried to focus on her landscape-design presentation. Despite her best efforts, she kept thinking about Ivy and their living situation at the cabin. Leaving Ivy in the living room last night while she slept in the bedroom had been awkward, and she was gone again before Kendall woke this morning, having left sweet notes about coffee and food and a key to the cabin on the table.
She felt a twinge of guilt about imposing on Ivy’s hospitality. “I should do something to thank her,” she said aloud, tapping her pen against her notepad. “A warm meal seems like the perfect gesture—something comforting after a long day working outside in the brisk fall weather.” She glanced out the window at the gray, cloudy haze. The cold had come in on the mountain quickly following the short phase of Indian summer.
The decision made Kendall smile to herself. Creamy mushroom pasta—one of her specialties and hopefully something Ivy would enjoy. Her mom had taught her how to cook it when she was younger. She remembered the nearly empty refrigerator at the cabin and made a mental note to leave the lodge early, giving herself time to stop at the market. Scratch that. She would go now. She could work on the presentation at the cabin, or it could wait until tomorrow. Tonight was going to be about connecting with Ivy and expressing her gratitude with a home-cooked meal. As she packed up her materials, Kendall felt a flutter of anticipation.
Later, she pushed her cart down the produce aisle, consulting the mental recipe she’d been perfecting since lunch. The fluorescent lights of the small mountain-town grocery store cast everything in a harsh glow, but she barely noticed as she focused on her mission.
“Mushrooms, obviously,” she murmured to herself, selecting a package of cremini mushrooms, then adding a handful of wild ones that looked particularly good. She held them up briefly, imagining how they’d taste sautéed with garlic and herbs.
The rest of the items came together quickly: heavy cream, good parmesan cheese, fresh garlic, shallots, a bunch of thyme, and a crusty loaf of bread from the bakery section. On impulse, she added a bottle of her namesake white wine and a small bunch of wildflowers wrapped in brown paper near the checkout area.
As she loaded the bags into her car, Kendall felt another surprising flutter of nerves. “It’s just dinner,” she told herself, but the thought of living with Ivy after all the pretense they’d been spinning made it feel like something more.
The drive to Ivy’s cabin took her along winding mountain roads, trees pressing close on either side. As daylight faded, shadows stretched across the pavement. Kendall rolled down the window, letting the crisp, pine-scented air fill the car. The groceries rustled in their bags on the passenger seat beside her.
When she finally turned onto the narrow dirt road leading to the cabin, the trees opened up to reveal glimpses of the lake below, its surface shimmering with the day’s last light. The cabin appeared around the next bend, sturdy logs with a wide porch and windows that glowed with warm light.
Kendall parked in front of the cabin, taking a deep breath, hoping she was reading the signals from Ivy correctly. She gathered her bags and made her way up the steps to the porch before slipping the key into the lock, twisting the knob, and letting the door swing open.
Kendall went directly to the kitchen, a cozy space with open shelving and a small island. There, she unpacked her ingredients and arranged them on the counter in the order she planned to use them. Last, she pulled out the wildflowers and opened a few cabinets until she found a Mason jar large enough to arrange them in. She filled it with water and set it on the table, a beautiful centerpiece for dinner later.
As Kendall began to chop garlic and slice mushrooms, the day’s tension began to melt away. The cabin’s kitchen was small but well equipped with various cooking utensils, and within minutes, the air filled with the rich aroma of mushrooms cooking in butter. Outside the kitchen window, the sky was dark, rain threatening to fall soon, turning the glass into a mirror that reflected her shattered appearance. She’d need to make time to remedy that fact before Ivy arrived home.
The pasta sauce simmered on low heat, filling the cabin with rich, earthy aromas. Kendall gave it one final stir before covering the pan. Perfect timing. She’d have just enough time to freshen up before Ivy returned home from work.
“Twenty minutes, tops,” Kendall murmured to herself, wiping her hands on a kitchen towel. She surveyed her handiwork: the table set with mismatched dishes she’d found in Ivy’s cabinets, wildflowers arranged in the Mason jar, and candles that were perhaps too obvious, though she’d added them anyway.
In the small bathroom, Kendall splashed water on her face and studied her reflection. The day’s work showed in the slight smudges beneath her eyes. She retrieved her makeup pouch from her overnight bag and began touching up. Nothing too dramatic. Just enough to feel
put together. A swipe of mascara, a touch of blush, a dab of tinted lip balm.
“What are you even doing?” she asked her reflection. Her stomach fluttered with a nervousness she hadn’t felt in years. “It’s just dinner with your fake girlfriend.”
But it wasn’t, not really. Something unspoken seemed to be happening between them, something that lingered in glances held too long and conversations that stretched into the early morning hours, and a pretend kiss that was off the charts.
Kendall rummaged through her duffel bag and pulled out a soft green sweater she’d picked up at a boutique in town, one that brought out the color of her eyes. She changed quickly, trading her loungewear clothes for the sweater and a pair of comfortable jeans.
Back in the living room, she adjusted the dimmer on the lights, then immediately turned it back up. “Too obvious,” she told herself, though she left the candles burning.
She wandered to the large windows overlooking the lake. Dusk had settled, painting the water in deep blues and purples. Somewhere out there, Ivy was walking the trails—a nightly ritual she’d mentioned that helped her clear her mind from the day.
What if she was misreading everything? What if Ivy had offered her cabin purely out of necessity to keep this ruse alive? Kendall pressed her forehead to the cool glass. Could she go forward with this? She closed her eyes as the tingle ran through her again. She knew what might happen if one of them said something—anything—to acknowledge the current that seemed to be running between them.
“Just give me a sign,” Kendall whispered to the darkening landscape. “Something to let me know I’m not imagining whatever this spark is between us.”
The sound of footsteps on the porch steps made her heart leap. She moved away from the window and pretended to be adjusting something on the table. The door opened, bringing with it a gust of cool evening air and the faint scent of Ivy’s cologne, weakened by the long day.
