Stud Muffin (Donner Bakery #2) - Jiffy Kate Page 0,93

Pink Pony last night… and Cage recognizing him as a regular… I feel more confused today than I did the day I walked in and found him and Mindy in bed together.

Something about all of it makes me feel like a fraud, like I was living a lie. It leaves me second-guessing Asher and who he is as a person, which in turn makes me second-guess myself.

Why didn’t he tell me about going to the fertility clinic?

Did he go before or after he started sleeping with Mindy?

And since when does he hang out at the Pink Pony?

How did I not see him for who he truly is?

How could I let myself trust him so completely and get blindsided so severely?

By the time six o’clock rolls around, I’m dressed and ready to go, but my head isn’t in the game. Taking another look at myself in the big mirror, I stare at my reflection.

If I’m not Asher Williams’s wife, who am I?

I thought I was starting to figure that out, but now, I’m not so sure.

But this pant suit I decided to wear is fucking awesome. The second Stella mentioned that everyone was wearing their prom dress, I made up my mind I wouldn’t be. I wouldn’t put it past them to tell me one thing and everyone else do the opposite, like that scene in Legally Blonde when Reese Witherspoon’s character shows up to the party in a bunny costume.

Yeah, that’s not happening.

Also, I’ve seen Carrie, and there won’t be any blood spilled tonight, pig or otherwise. I refuse to let them get to me. I’m going, showing them that I’m not ashamed. Why should I be? I’m not the one who cheated. I’m also no longer intimidated by them. They can have their washed-up reputations and high school accomplishments.

Let’s not discuss that my mental pep talk and decision making is based on movies.

There’s a knock at my door at precisely six-fifteen, exactly when Cage said he’d be by to pick me up, and my heart does a little flip.

I just saw him last night, but that doesn’t mean I’m not looking forward to seeing him again. He’s the bright spot in all this mess. If it wasn’t for him, there’s no way in hell I’d be doing this.

As I walk to the door, the realization hits me that I’ve only ever seen Cage in workout gear and jeans and T-shirts. For a second, I let myself daydream about what he’s possibly wearing now, pressing my hand against the door, I take a deep breath before I twist the deadbolt.

Yeah, not prepared.

Breathe, Tempest.

Just breathe.

But that doesn’t help either, because now, when I recite those words to myself, they sound like Cage when he was pushing inside me.

Standing in front of me—in black slacks and a white dress shirt, with his sleeves rolled up and his thick forearms on display—is the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen.

I open my mouth to say something, but the words die in the back of my throat when he smiles at me. Those pale-blue eyes twinkling. His blond hair a bit shorter than it was last night, which means he must have got a trim today. And his beard he’s been growing since he arrived in Green Valley is still there, but also trimmed.

Deadly, deadly combination.

“Wow,” Cage says, stealing the words right out of my mouth. “You look… damn.”

Swallowing, I feel the blush creep up on my cheeks. “Thanks, but you stole my line.”

“Tempest,” he murmurs, taking a step closer and reaching his hand out to grip my waist. “This is the sexiest fucking outfit I’ve ever seen.”

With his hand touching me, my eyes close on their own accord and my body wants to lean into him, craving him. Even though my mind is out of the game, everything else is all in. His lips brushing my cheek startles me. Jumping a little, I laugh nervously.

“I wish I could keep you here all to myself, but it would be an absolute shame to waste this delicious ensemble,” he whispers and then kisses my cheek once more before stepping back. “Ready?”

“As I’ll ever be,” I tell him, giving him a grateful smile. “And you look fucking hot.”

When I turn to lock my door, I hear him chuckle behind me and take a deep, fortifying breath.

“I hope there’s an open bar,” he mutters.

“You and me both.”

Walking into the Lodge, I’m instantly on high alert. The first person I see is Mindy. She’s standing at the welcome table