Secrets Collide (Bluegrass Brothers)

crest and a very excited Cy.
    Gemma ran her eyes over his broad chest, ripped abs, and narrow waist. His legs were long and muscled. Scars marked his body here and there, but somehow they only made him more masculine. And that tattoo. She got hot just looking at it. It was small, maybe only five inches in the crease of his thigh across his pelvic bone. She was drawn to it.
    “I love your tattoo. It fits you,” Gemma stepped forward and traced her fingers over the small red shield.  A black lion was in the middle of the shield with a knight’s helmet on top. Plumes cascaded from the helmet around the top of the shield.
    Cy patted the bed and the nagging doubt disappeared. “Want to get a closer look?”
    “Well,” Gemma smiled as she dropped her arms to her side, “if you insist.”
     
    *     *     *
     
    Cy couldn’t keep the smile off his face as he clasped his hand around her smaller one. He absently rubbed his thumb over her knuckles as he felt more like his real self than he had in years. Being with her, laughing with her, it was like seeing the light at the end of the dark undercover tunnel he was trying to escape.
    “If you think the muffins Miss Lily has been giving you were good, you’ll love the food at the café. You should try the biscuits and sausage gravy; they’re my favorite.” Cy felt a smile settle on his face as he looked down at her beautiful face. She wore no makeup and her hair was swept back into a sloppy ponytail. He didn’t think he’d seen anything so sexy before in his life.
    “Sounds good,” Gemma smiled back.
    Cy opened the door to the café and walked in behind her. The café went quiet and he felt Gemma stiffen.
    “It’s like they all know we slept together,” Gemma whispered as she hesitantly smiled at the patrons.
    “That’s because they do, sweetheart.” Cy placed a quick kiss on her forehead and the patrons groaned.
    “Yee-haw.” Noodle jumped up and pumped his fist in the air.
    “I take it you won the bet?” Cy asked, smiling. No wonder he missed this town.
    “I sure did. Today was my day. I gotta call Emma. We’re upgrading to a suite for the honeymoon now.” Noodle pumped his fist in the air and reached for his phone.
    “They bet on us?” Gemma hissed incredulously.
    “They bet on everything.” Cy saw her shoot him a yeah, right look and decided to prove his point. “Miss Daisy, what’s the line on Dani and Mo’s baby?”
    “Two to one that it’s a girl. August third is the leading due date. Want in?” Miss Daisy asked as she set down a plate of bacon and eggs at the closest table.
    “No thanks, but I do think we’ll have two orders of biscuits and gravy.” Cy pulled out a chair at an empty table for Gemma as she sat.
     
    Gemma tasted the food and felt happy. A fluffy biscuit was smothered in gravy. It was the perfect comfort food. The conversation in the café had resumed to a normal level and she was surprised how easily she and Cy talked. For once, Hollywood wasn't interrupting and she enjoyed hearing about all the residents of Keeneston.
    “Cy Davies?” a tall woman with strawberry-blonde hair asked as she stopped by the table. Gemma almost threw down her fork in frustration. Hollywood just interrupted. Gemma didn’t know who she was, but she was striking even though she was wearing black cargo pants and a tight black scoop-neck shirt.
    “Yes?” Cy was polite as he looked up into a face lightly sprinkled with freckles.
    “Bridget Springer,” she said with a sweet voice that held nothing but authority in its tone.
    Gemma was suddenly jealous. She wished she had the confidence Bridget did. She seemed so secure in who she was and maybe that was Gemma’s problem. She was suffering an identity crisis. She wasn’t happy with her job, just lost her sister, and had no idea what direction her life was going in.
    “And I’m Gemma Perry,” Gemma said with a smile as she held out her hand.
    “It’s nice to meet you both. Mr. Davies hired me to train Marko for the sheriff and I ended up staying here. And, from what I’ve heard, I’m the reason you’re at the bed-and-breakfast instead of Paige’s. I was just going to offer to move out if you need the space.”
    “Nonsense,” Gemma waved the idea away. This woman was a strange contradiction. While there was authority there, she seemed to be a genuinely kind person and Gemma definitely wanted to get to know her better.
    “Thank you. Just know the offer stands.”