Love Me True (Small Town Romances Book 5) Read online

  Love Me True

  Small Town Romances Book 5

  Chloe Peterson

  Copyright © 2019 by Chloe Peterson

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  1

  Kate Morrison stood in the kitchen of Patsy's Bakery, kneading a giant ball of dough. It was 5:00 on a Friday morning, but the twenty-seven-year-old woman didn't mind she was up before the sun. Kate had spent the last five years marking time instead of going after what she wanted, and was glad she finally had the opportunity to live her dream.

  A timer went off, signaling the first batch of bread was ready. Kate took it out and set it on the counter to cool. In two hours, her best friend and co-owner, Jamie, would arrive and get started on the pastry. An hour after that, the two women would open the doors to the bakery to their loyal customers.

  I can’t believe this is my life.

  Kate drew in a deep, savoring breath as the butterflies in her stomach set off once again. Patsy’s Bakery had only been open for three months, but Kate still felt all the excitement of a new business owner.

  There had been quite a few bumps in the road, mostly related to the distinct lack of funds, but Kate and Jamie had managed. When Kate brought up the idea of buying the old bakery by the lake, Jamie had thought her foolish, but after a few days of allowing herself to dream, Jamie bought into the idea. The two women then scraped together enough money to convince the owner to sell, and the rest was history.

  Maple Cline, the former owner, was more than happy to get the bakery off her hands. The business had been in decline for a while, and the older woman was burned out. Seeing the condition of the bakery, and more importantly, that of its owner, had convinced Kate and Jamie to take a different approach.

  Firstly, they changed the business name, updated the décor, and left flyers all over town, letting Rose Lake residents know about the change. A bold decision both women had quickly agreed upon after a month into running Patsy's Bakery was that they wouldn't work weekends or holidays. They also overhauled the menu into a smaller, more manageable one.

  These two decisions had led to a loss of some old customers whose favorites were no longer featured on the menu, but the innovation that Kate and Jamie brought had won them a new crowd. As for the business hours, people adjusted, and the owners finally achieved a work-life balance.

  “Hey,” Jamie called, walking in through the back door of the kitchen.

  Kate peered at the clock on the far side of the wall and hummed approvingly. Jamie had come in early for once. While Kate didn't mind getting up at the crack of dawn, she appreciated any extra help she could get before the craziness of the day began.

  “Hey. You’re up early.”

  Jamie's green eyes glinted. "For an excellent reason. I needed to give Marsha something to remember me by while she's gone."

  “Oh God, spare me the details.”

  "Why? They're delicious this time. That book you bought me about innovative lesbian lovemaking has been a godsend."

  “I got that as a gag, but I’m starting to regret it. It’s made you more open about your sex life.”

  Jamie flipped her long black hair over her shoulder and struck a pose. “If you’ve got it, flaunt it.”

  "I'm pretty sure you used that quote out of context. Besides, Marsha's my friend. It's weird to hear about what you two do in bed."

  Jamie winced. “Sorry. I forget that sometimes. We’ve all known each other for so long.”

  "You and Marsha moving here in tenth grade made my life a whole lot more bearable. Why don't you put your stuff down and get started on the croissants?"

  Jamie slipped off her purse and placed it in the small room tucked into the side of the kitchen. “How was your night?”

  “Okay. I did laundry and watched Netflix.”

  "Really? I thought you said you were going to check out that painting class?"

  “I changed my mind.”

  Jamie tutted. "You need to get out more. How are you going to meet anyone?"

  A shiver of irritation moved through Kate. While she loved Jamie, her best friend constantly pushed her to date. What Jamie and Marsha had was super special. They had a fantastic foundation of friendship to build a great love on, but that didn't mean Jamie had to push everyone to find happiness in the way she had. To add salt to the wound, Jamie seemed to forget how hard Kate had tried to find love.

  “Yesterday was a work night. I prefer to keep things low-key, so I can be fresh for this job. You do remember it’s only the two of us running this place, right?”

  “Of course I do. I want you to be happy. It’s been a while since you’ve dated anyone.”

  “And I’m okay with that,” Kate said tersely. “Don’t go making assumptions. Not everything has to be according to Jamie.”

  “Whoa,” Jamie said, donning her apron. “Where’s all this aggression coming from?”

  Kate’s heart thumped against her rib cage as she fought down the irritation that bubbled up within her. She’d never told Jamie how her careless comments made her feel, and now she’d yelled at her best friend.

  Kate placed the bread she had shaped into the oven and spent longer than was necessary setting up the timer. She needed to calm down and explain things to Jamie, who stared at Kate intensely, with her forehead creased.

  “You know how happy I am that you and Marsha are together, right?”

  Jamie’s eyes softened at the very mention of her partner. “I know, and I’m glad you’ve been so supportive. Having your friends date can be weird.”

  "Tell me about it, but ever since you two got serious, you started to put pressure on me to find someone, too. I know you want me to be happy, and I am, but not the way you are. And maybe that won't happen for a while. I don't need you pressuring me. Sometimes it makes me feel like something's wrong with me."

  “Oh honey,” Jamie said, wrapping her arms around Kate. “I didn’t know I was doing it so much. I'm so used to you being a lot more aggressive in your dating life. I was worried you'd given up or something."

  “I haven’t. I’ve matured.” Kate started on the next batch of bread. “I’m still a romantic at heart, but I believe the right person will come along at the right time. I know I seemed happy going on so many dates, but the constant disappointment of not connecting on a deeper level got old. I’m trying something different.”

  Jamie started on the pastries. “You did date a lot, didn’t you? I guess a break is in order.”

  “It is, and it’s been amazing. Not focusing on my love life allows me to think about everything else. I don’t want a relationship to be the sole source of my happiness.”

  Jamie hummed in agreement. "Good point. While Marsha is the one person who makes me happiest, I don't know how happy I'd be if I was still working a crappy sales job. Thanks for convincing me to make a change."

  Kate bumped Jamie’s shoulder. “That’s what friends are for. They push each other to
grow.”

  “Speaking of growth, how are you feeling about dinner with Tracy tonight?”

  Kate groaned. “Why did you have to bring that up? I’ve been doing fine ignoring it.”

  "I'm afraid time's running out. Like it or not, you're having dinner with Tracy in less than twenty-four hours."

  Kate’s shoulders hunched up as dread washed over her. She and her older sister Tracy had never seen eye to eye. While they bore a striking resemblance to each other, both having blue eyes, straight brown hair, and slender bodies, their personalities could not be more different.

  Tracy was a type A personality. Always on the move, very logical, and intense. She had a hard time understanding how Kate, who was a lot more laid-back and sensitive, didn’t want more for herself.

  As if living a modest life in a small town is a sign of failure.

  Kate squeezed her eyes shut and shoved the thoughts aside. She was not the sixteen-year-old girl Tracy had left in Rose Lake. Kate had matured into a strong woman and was the co-owner of a successful business, albeit one in its early days that needed an extra pair of hands. There was no reason for her to allow Tracy to put her down.

  “I still don’t understand why Tracy’s moving home after all these years,” Jamie said. “She’s only been to visit twice since she left. Do you think she’s sick or something?”

  “I doubt it. That's the kind of thing you share with family. But then again, our relationship is so strained I sometimes wonder if we have the same blood running through our veins.”

  "Hey, I get it. Family can be tough. But you need to keep an open mind. If you told me five years ago that my mom would come around to accepting that I'm gay, I would've told you to shut the front door. But she's trying, and I'm letting her. Life's happier with more people to love."

  Kate bit her bottom lip. She felt wrong about whining about her relationship with her sister when Jamie's family problems were a lot more serious. Unlike Jamie, Kate's family, which included an older brother and two loving parents, were very supportive when both their daughters came out. Kate also had the most adorable nieces and nephews. In many ways, her life was perfect except for her lack of a partner and her strained relationship with her sister.

  “Did I tell you Tracy’s moving here with her girlfriend?” Kate said, changing the topic.

  Jamie gasped. “Tracy’s got a girlfriend?”

  “I was shocked, too. She texted me last night and told me in passing.”

  “Wow. I can’t believe Tracy’s doing the lesbian U-haul thing.”

  “Me either. Work has always been the love of her life. I wonder how that works for them.”

  “Maybe the girlfriend is a workaholic, too. How long do you think they’ve been together?”

  “I don’t know. Tracy barely talks to any of us, except during the holidays. Mom tries to call her every once in a while, but she rarely gets through. Staying close to the family has never been that important to her."

  Jamie clucked her tongue. “That’s a real shame, but it seems Tracy’s ready to make a change. She is moving home, after all. I hope you all get along tonight.”

  "Oh, we will. I've been watching all these YouTube videos about how to not let someone get to you. I've got quite a few coping mechanisms and tools under my belt. There's no way in hell I'm going to let Tracy and her snarky comments get to me."

  “That’s the spirit.”

  Kate stood in the parking lot of Giada’s with her hands stuffed into her jean pockets. She’d talked a good game earlier about being ready to face her sister, but as each minute ticked by, anxiety bubbled up within her.

  Growing up, Kate had followed Tracy around like a puppy. The sisters were only two years apart, and their brother, Keith, was a good seven years older than Tracy. Kate and her sister had pretty much grown up as the only two children in the home, which was why Kate looked to Tracy for love, support, and approval. Unfortunately, her sister wasn't the best at giving those things.

  Kate folded her arms as memories of the various times Tracy had shut her down flashed in her mind. It had taken a while for Kate to finally stop searching for something her sister couldn't give her, but she still had to spend time with the older woman who could be brutal and insensitive.

  Kate tried to take a step toward the restaurant, but her feet were glued in place.

  Come on. You're not the teenage girl you were. Besides, Tracy's got a girlfriend now. That should have softened her some. Right?

  A large black SUV parked in the spot next to Kate’s blue sedan. Seconds later, Tracy stepped out. Matching blue eyes met, and Tracy grinned as she made her way to her sister, swinging her from side to side once they hugged.

  “Hey, it’s so good to see you.”

  Kate forced herself to wrap her arms around her sister. Physical affection between them still felt odd.

  “It’s good to see you, too,” Kate lied, ending the embrace as quickly as she could. “How was your flight?”

  "Not bad." Tracy wrapped her arm around a captivating, curvy blonde woman who seemed to appear out of thin air. "Kate, I'd like you to meet my girlfriend, Allison Carver. Allison, this is my baby sister, Kate."

  Kate didn't have the energy to bristle at Tracy calling her a baby when there were only two years between them. What breath she'd had after Tracy's bone-crushing hug had been stolen by the gorgeous woman who stood before her.

  Allison had straight blonde hair and the most arresting hazel eyes Kate had ever looked into. They seemed a brownish green one minute, then golden the next. Heart-shaped lips curved into a smile that revealed dimples, making Kate's knees go weak. She'd always had a thing for dimples and curvy women.

  "Hey," Kate managed to choke out.

  “Hey yourself,” Allison said, her voice low and smoky. “You’ll have to excuse me. I’m a hugger.”

  Kate's heart somersaulted as Allison embraced her. The feel of her generous curves pressed against Kate's modest ones sent a shock of arousal through Kate's veins, and her cheeks colored as she realized she'd held on to Allison longer than was polite among new acquaintances.

  Kate stepped back, and her eyes darted everywhere but at the couple. A wave of emotions engulfed her as she tried to center herself. Allison was, in a nutshell, Kate's ideal woman. Everything from her physical attributes to the warm introduction confirmed that.

  But Tracy had found her first. Tracy, who had never had time for a relationship, had somehow managed to snag the woman of Kate's dreams, and now Kate would have to sit across from them and watch them make googly eyes at each other.

  Kate swallowed thickly as a mixture of anger, self-pity, and frustration welled up within her. Life wasn't fair.

  “Are you ready?” Tracy said, rubbing her hands together.

  Kate nodded absentmindedly and followed the couple into the restaurant. With any luck, Allison would turn out to be someone completely different than her initial impression suggested. If not, Kate was going to have to learn how to hide her feelings.

  She wasn't worried about Tracy finding out. Her sister seemed inept at reading others' emotions. It was Allison and the intelligence behind hazel eyes that worried her.

  Just then, Allison gave Kate a smile over her shoulder, making her stomach clench.

  God help me.

  2

  Allison sat at a cozy table for four in the surprisingly posh restaurant with Tracy by her side and Kate opposite them. A gorgeous view of the sun setting behind the lake drew Allison's attention, but Kate fully captured it.

  Kate and Tracy bore a striking resemblance, but there were so many subtle differences that quickly revealed they were very different people. Where Tracy wore her straight brown hair in a tight bun, Kate let hers hang over her shoulders. Where Tracy's blue eyes had an intensity Allison found intoxicating when they first started dating, especially in the bedroom, there was a gentle warmth behind Kate's. At one point, Allison thought she saw affection in them.

  You just met. That’s impossible.
/>   Despite what Allison told herself, a delicious shiver ran down her spine when Kate arched an eyebrow and smirked. It seemed her lack of participation in the conversation had been noticed. Allison smiled sheepishly as Tracy placed her hand on her knee and asked if she was okay.

  “Yeah. The drive took it out of me.”

  “You’ll adjust soon enough,” Tracy said at the same time that Kate suggested they take a rain check on dinner.

  Allison's eyebrows shot up. There it was again — the distinct difference between the two sisters.

  "I'm sure I'll get an extra dose of energy once I get some food into me. We've done nothing but snack. I need a proper meal."

  “Your wish is about to come true,” Tracy said.

  A young waitress placed their food on the table, and Allison took a large bite of her savory pasta. She closed her eyes and hummed in satisfaction. “You were right. The pasta here is amazing, as good as you could get in any major city.”

  “I told you,” Tracy said between bites. “Rose Lake has its charms.”

  “And I’m sure your bakery is one of them,” Allison said.

  Kate’s eyes widened. “You know about the bakery?”

  “Of course. You’re Tracy’s sister. It’s natural that she’d talk about you to me.”

  Kate’s eyes quickly darted to her sister’s before she smiled politely. “I’ve heard a lot about you, too.”

  "Liar." Allison chuckled. "It's okay. Tracy and I have only been together for six months. I didn't know much about your family until we decided to move."

  A gentle blush settled on Kate’s cheeks. “Well, I look forward to getting to know you more.”

  "I do, too. Why don't you tell me more about the bakery? Tracy mentioned it, but she didn't go into too much detail."