Once Upon A Half-Time 2(110)

Fortunately, I could duck His Majesty. I waved over the nearest staffer and informed her of the cookie situation unfolding in the back of my car. She and an intern unloaded my trunk, and another passed me an envelope with a check.

Easier than I thought it’d be.

“Josie!”

My skin crawled. The artificial charm slathered over his words, sticking to me like simple syrup left in globs on a counter.

Nolan approached me with an outstretched arm. At least he shook my hand instead of forcing me into a hug. Not that the handshake was much better. His grip was too firm, too aggressive. His palm swallowed my fingers.

I got the feeling that he liked that.

Nolan grinned, baring teeth too sharp for his smile. He might have been handsome if I wasn’t so sure he’d bite me like a jawbreaker just to scrape out the sugar inside.

“I had hoped to catch you before the fundraiser began.” He hadn’t released my hand. Those blue eyes studied parts of me I wished he wouldn’t imagine. “I wanted to thank you for your support in my campaign. I hope I’ll have your vote this November.”

We were surrounded by too many people for me to make a scene. He pulled a Rhys for My Rep sticker from his pocket and gently patted it onto my shirt. If we weren’t in sight of everyone, I was sure his hand would have patted lower.

If he had a soul, and I had any other life, maybe we might have found a common interest in each other. Nolan wasn’t bad looking—he was actually attractive. Blue eyes, blonde hair, and every inch he fought to six feet exuded confidence. He was two years older than me, Maddox’s age, but even in high school his gaze lingered too long. He thought his name would get him far with me. It didn’t, and that was the greatest insult of all.

“I brought the cookies.” I placed a step between us. He immediately closed the gap. “Your campaign people are just finishing the set up. I’ll be out of your way in a minute.”

“You’re never in the way, Josie.” He said my name, testing it, probably imagining how it would sound spoken with a Congressman and Mrs. Rhys. “I have a few minutes before I’m needed. I was hoping you’d join me for a cup of coffee.”

Absolutely not, but did he expect me to say no? I wasn’t sure how much I could get away with around him, not now that Maddox was back in town.

“You’re awfully busy,” I said. “I should get going.”

“I need to talk with you, Josie. Let me buy you a cup of coffee, and we can settle things.”

Nolan either wanted to do business with me or to pin me against the wall. I didn’t trust either proposition.

“Maybe some other time.”

Nolan didn’t let me run far. “Maddox is out of jail.”

I stilled. The coy edge in his voice forced me to turn. Nolan rubbed his strong chin.

“Keeping secrets?” he asked.

I swallowed. It didn’t help. All the cookie dough I ate for breakfast solidified into a rock in my stomach. I forced a smile, if only to keep up appearances.

“What do you want?” I whispered.

“Just a cup of coffee, Josie. A chance to talk.”

Like I had a choice.

Nolan offered his arm. The thought revolted me, but I wouldn’t challenge him at Maddox’s expense. I took his elbow. My skin somehow looked darker, less cinnamon and more toffee under his hand. He liked that, but I wasn’t used to being a fetish.

Anne’s Beans wasn’t owned by Anne Wilks anymore—she sold to Tommy Waddock ten years ago who willed the property to his second wife, Anne Markson. They kept the name, but the locals still called it Tommy’s place. In any case, it was the best shop to get a cup of coffee in the town, especially when Anne, Tommy, and Annie each sent their customers to my family’s shop for a treat with their drink.

Rebecca Darcy worked the shift tonight—nine months pregnant to a husband she hadn’t seen in ten, but the town kept that quiet as poor Cade was on his second tour and did all he could. We sat, but Rebecca hovered, winking as I claimed the corner table. She was one of the townspeople who thought Nolan and I made a good match.

Well, most everyone thought it.

Nolan ordered two coffees. I didn’t touch mine. He added just enough creamer to match the coffee to my skin tone. Then he savored every drop, licking his lips as he dumped in enough sugar to open his own candy store in the cup.

I said nothing, but that was fine. Nolan didn’t like me for my conversational skills. He glanced over me as though I were a thousand dollar contribution to his campaign and smiled.

“Did you sleep with him?”

My breath caught. I stared at him.

“Excuse me?”

Nolan was direct. I was sure he imagined every moment I spent beneath Maddox.