Read Online Oak, Sophie - Found in Bliss [Nights in Bliss, Colorado 5] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) by Sophie Oak - Free Book Online Page B

that had merely been the opening volley in her attack. “It’s not a literal cloud, of course. Just a dark lining around your naturally sunny aura.”
    Now he was sure she was insane. He’d never been sunny. Not one day in his life.
    Nell continued, her voice filled with earnest pleading. “But you let that dark cloud affect everything. I can see plainly that you have feelings for Holly.”
    Now it was time to lie. “No, I don’t.”
    “Yes, you do. Everyone knows it. You’re not exactly hiding it.”
    He thought he had been. “What gave me away?”
    She stared at him like he was speaking a foreign language and then replied slowly. “Uhm, you go into the diner three times a day. You turn around and walk out when Holly isn’t working. I happen to know that Stella has taken to just giving you Holly’s schedule so you don’t scare her customers by walking into the middle of the diner, staring everyone down, and then walking back out without saying a word. Seriously, Caleb, people think you’re a terrorist or something.”
    “I accept that.” As long as no one shot at him, he really didn’t care what they thought. And a little adrenaline never hurt anyone. It was good for the heart to have a little shock every now and then.
    Nell crossed her arms over her chest, frustration evident in her squared shoulders and down-turned mouth. “You scare the tourists. Strangely though, you don’t scare Holly. She doesn’t seem bothered by the fact that you stare at her like a tiger waiting to pounce. I think what makes her sad is that you haven’t pounced at all, and now Alexei is going to pounce, because let me tell you, that tiger isn’t sitting on his hill waiting for gosh knows what to happen. That tiger just knows he’s hungry, and he’s going to eat your pie, Caleb.”
    He was having trouble following her. First he had a cloud following him around, and now he was a starving tiger on a hill and he had an odd diet. “Tigers eat pie?”
    “In my version of life, they do. In my perfect world, tigers are vegans, too.”
    And in Nell’s perfect world, he would crap rainbows. “Nell, are you asking me to pounce on your best friend?”
    Her hands came up, fists pumping in victory. “Yes. I am so glad you understand. I don’t get it, but sometimes people don’t think I communicate well.”
    It said something about him that he sort of understood her. “I don’t think pouncing on Holly is a good idea. I don’t think I would be a very good boyfriend.”
    Nell stepped forward, stopping just shy of putting a hand on his shoulder. “I think you’re underestimating yourself. You can do anything you want to. Are you willing to try?”
    He wanted to. It was right there on the tip of his tongue to say yes. Maybe he could just pretend to be the same man he’d been twenty years before. He could pretend he still believed in things like happiness. “It’s not a good idea.”
    She frowned, but held her ground. “All right then. You were my front-runner, but since you’re getting out of the game, I have to ask you to step aside. I mean really step aside. No more longing looks. No more stepping in when trouble happens. Yes, we all know you’re the one who paid for her roof and her car, and you’re the one who forced the mayor to okay the new stop sign in front of Stella’s because you’re worried she could get hit crossing the street. And the next time there’s a killer in Bliss, let someone else take care of Holly. And there will be a next time, Caleb. We all know that.”
    His entire body tensed at the very idea. He wouldn’t be able to breathe not knowing that she was okay. When she’d been in danger before, he’d needed her right there, or he’d have been utterly worthless.
    Nell’s finger wagged his way. “You don’t like the idea, do you? Well, I don’t like my best friend crying over you. It’s time to decide if you’re in or you’re out, Caleb Burke. And if you’re out, you need to leave her alone.