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“Do you usually take Sundays off?” Vivian asked.
Skyla shrugged. “Sometimes, not always. If we’re short staffed, or I have too much paperwork to catch up on, then I can be there all day on a Sunday.”
“It must be nice to set your own hours,” Vivian mused, picking up her drink. “And may I add, you certainly have a gift.”
Blake cleared his throat at the way Vivian’s voice pitched on the word “gift,” but Skyla actually paled, looking like she’d just seen a ghost. This reaction was almost worse than the one she’d had with her father, and he was the one who’d been glaring at her. What the hell? Was she that worried about her friends? Because there wasn’t a single paranormal thing about Skyla Madigan as far as Blake could tell.
If Vivian was here because she thought Skyla had ‘that kind of gift,’ then he could breathe easy for the first time since finding out about her little department.
“What gift?” Skyla croaked out in a tone that almost passed for normal. Skyla was used to being around drunk men, strong women, and the general population of idiots who got plastered on a regular basis. Unlike Orly and Hallie, Skyla could definitely hold her own. He’d watched her at Madigan’s, and she was not some damsel in distress. It was one of the things Blake actually really liked about her. So, why did someone like Vivian Bennett rattle her like that?
“Mixing drinks,” Vivian said, lifting her glass. “This is delicious.”
Skyla tried to hide her relief, but Blake caught it, probably because he’d been studying her and her body language for months now. He couldn’t believe Vivian had actually made her nervous. But why? Skyla couldn’t possibly think helping a Motorcycle Club distribute or sell drugs was a gift. Of course, Blake had no real proof that she was helping them. For all he knew, she could be dating Arlo J or someone in his MC, and Royce didn’t approve. That would explain the tension between father and daughter, though not why he chose to put it on display with a menacing glare for everyone to see.
“I’m going to make more,” Skyla said, standing so fast she nearly took the flimsy plastic table cloth with her. Blake threw out his hand to catch her plate before it went tumbling into her lap, and she gave him the slightest nod of thanks.
“Hold on,” Caden said, just as she was about to swing her leg out from under the table. “I want to say something, and you’ll want to be here for this.”
Skyla sat back down, giving him her full attention, as did everyone else at the table. Caden stood, and walked over to Hallie’s other side, on the far edge of the table. “I’ve been wanting to do this for a while now, and I can’t think of a better time than right now, surrounded by our closest friends. You’ve all been here for me and Hallie, and you’ll never know how much that means to us.”
Blake’s stomach was doing somersaults, and he wasn’t even the one everyone was looking at. Hallie’s eyes glistened with unshed tears as Caden got down on one knee. Hallie gasped bringing her hands to her mouth, but Caden took them in his and looked up at her with so much love, it made Blake’s chest ache. He wouldn’t know this kind of love, but seeing his friends find it, gave him a sliver of hope that he struggled to beat back down. Because he wanted it more than anything in the world, he just didn’t deserve it. Not after everything he’d let slip through his fingers. Not when his own father hadn’t even wanted him. James tried to be there for him, but then he’d died, and Blake was left on his own again. Not really, since he had his mom and sisters, but it still felt like it a lot of the time.
“Hallie Owens, from the moment I first walked into your store, I knew I wanted to be in your life. The day I let you walk away from me was the worst mistake of my life, and the day I walked back into your store and took you into my arms, my heart was whole again. You are everything to me my sweet Hales, and I want to spend the rest of my life making you laugh, supporting you, and loving you, always. Will you marry me?”
“Yes!” She shrieked and everyone erupted in cheers as Caden placed a modestly sized diamond ring on her finger. She launched herself into his arms, hugging him tightly around the neck. He wrapped her in his arms, holding her close. They kissed and that only made everyone cheer louder.
Caden stood, lifting Hallie with him until her feet were off the ground. He sat back down at the picnic table, with her in his lap.
“I knew it,” Orly squealed, setting her phone down. “I got it all on video.”
Hallie beamed at her friend. “Ohmygosh, thank you so much!”
Caden was grinning from ear to ear. “Thanks,” he said to Orly, then turned to Skyla. “Okay, now we’re ready for more drinks.”
Everyone laughed and Skyla nodded, her smile bright, as she and Orly oohed and aahed at Hallie’s ring. The women were already talking about possible wedding ideas and venues, and one look at his friend told Blake that Caden had never been happier.
Vivian sat quietly, watching everyone talking and laughing. Blake would’ve given anything to know what she was thinking, but there was one thing Blake had no doubt about.
Caden Dobbs would move heaven and earth to protect the woman firmly planted on his lap, and Blake would be right there to back him up.
***
A few minutes later, Skyla stood in the living room, her gaze focused out the large picture window as she took the time to study the woman who’d made her want to bolt out of her skin. A gift. Vivian had told Skyla she had a gift. Of course, she’d meant for mixing drinks. But why then did Skyla’s mind go right to her healing ability? No one knew about that. Only her father. And AJ. Until recently, Skyla never thought her father would tell a soul, and as for AJ, well, he didn’t like to share.
The repercussions of someone like Vivian finding out could be disastrous. Skyla didn’t know the woman. Didn’t trust her. Even Skyla’s friends, the women she hung out with and shared Sunday barbecues with sometimes, didn’t know about her so-called gift. There was no way she would be okay with Vivian finding out.
Skyla wasn’t sure what it was about the woman that put her so on edge, yet here she was, standing inside when all her friends were outside celebrating Hallie and Caden’s engagement. Skyla had wondered why the yard was all decorated, since these gatherings were usually so informal and last minute due to everyone’s crazy work schedules. Now, it all made sense.
She was so lost in her thoughts; Skyla didn’t even hear as Blake approached. “What are you doing?” He asked, sending her body jolting.
She collected herself, adjusting to the growing tension between them. “I thought I’d make another batch of drinks since there’s something to really celebrate now,” she said, forcing her most genuine smile. Blake was just another person in her life that made her want to run, and the strangest part was that she didn’t even know why. He unsettled her in ways no one else did, not even AJ.
“From the living room?” He smirked. The air seemed to thicken with their chemistry as Blake came to stand beside her, his gaze following hers out the window. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were hiding. The only question is from who?”
All six feet three inches of his attention was solely on her. Again. For as long as Skyla had known Blake, he’d always been a bit aloof, never giving her, or anyone, much of his undivided attention. This change, where he actually went out of his way to talk to her, was definitely unexpected.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she fired back. “Why would I hide from my own friends?”
