Free Sugar Shack by Paisley Scott

going on? “I don’t understand—”
    “ Seriously, Cat. I wanted to believe you had changed. That you weren’t just after something before you moved on.” He shook his head. “But you’re still the same conniving woman you were in college, aren’t you?”
    That pissed her off. “No. I’m not that person, Luke. Why are you flinging these accusations at me? You don’t even know me anymore.”
    He cocked his head to one side. “No shit. And from the looks of it, I don’t want to get reacquainted.”
    “ This is ridiculous. You read part of my article and just arbitrarily decide we’re not compatible any longer. Pardon me for pointing out that between the sheets, we’re über-compatible.” She shook her head before he could speak. “And no, it was never a pity fuck, as you so eloquently put it.”
    “ Bullshit.”
    “ What? What exactly is bullshit, Luke? My article? My feelings for you? What?”
    Hands clasped behind his back, he began to pace. “I don’t know, Cat. All I know is this smells an awful lot like a set-up. I haven’t figured out what the catch is yet, but I’m working on it.”
    Tears stung her eyes. “You’re looking for something that isn’t there. I promise you, there is no catch.”
    “ Oh, you promise?” He looked at her over his shoulder. “And I’m supposed to believe you because you’ve been so honest with me in the past, right?”
    Sighing, she stared at the ceiling for a full minute, then glanced back at him. “All I can keep saying is I’m sorry for running off ten years ago. When will you believe me?” She thought for a second, then frowned. “Are you looking for an excuse not to forgive me? Would that be too easy?”
    “ That’s insane. Besides, I’m not the one writing nonsense about the friendly folks in Vermont and making them look like idiots.”
    Folding her arms over her chest, she stood firm and looked him in the eye. “For your information, Sherlock, that piece you read was about the simple charms of the area. If you’d taken a moment to read the tidy stack of typed papers on the table, you’d have seen the actual article. I wasn’t finished. I was going to incorporate the piece you read with the rest, to show the reader how tranquil Vermont is and how it’s a dream destination to get away from the hustle-bustle of the big city.”
    He had the courtesy to look confused. “No Internet access is a perk?” he asked sarcastically. “It shows how far out in the boonies we are.”
    “ It’s a huge perk. No phones, no computers, nothing but clean air and nature. It’s what a lot of city dwellers want to escape to.”
    “ Why did you make us out to seem like we don’t take to strangers?”
    “ God, Luke. I can’t believe you jumped to that conclusion. I simply encouraged people to visit because no one would bother them on their vacation. I didn’t mean Vermonters don’t like outsiders, just that they respect others’ privacy.”
    He dropped into the chair again, holding his face in his palms. “I don’t know what to believe,” he groaned.
    Catherine knelt beside the chair and put her hands on his knee. “I sure did a number on you, didn’t I, Luke?”
    Wiping his hands down his jaw, he looked at her, his eyes devoid of emotion. “Don’t pity me.”
    Ugh. He was so stubborn. “I’m not. I’m just trying, once again, to undo what a mess I made years ago. Your inability to trust is mostly my doing, I think.”
    His grin was mirthless. “You’re kinda full of yourself, aren’t you, Cat?”
    He was really playing hardball tonight. “Luke. Please. Let’s be reasonable. I’m sorry. For everything I ever did to you. There. It’s all out there. I apologize to the nth degree and I swear I’ve changed. I don’t want to hurt you. I don’t want to make fun of you. I just want to be part of your life again.” Her voice shook. “I want to try one more time, Luke. It’s so good between us—we can’t just walk away from this. We