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I chuckled at their good-natured squabbling over their baby as I pulled my phone from my back pocket. I didn’t remember much about my father, but I could never forget the strain his presence had caused before he left. The shouting matches at three o’clock in the morning. The slamming doors. He never laid a finger on my mother—thank God—but I saw the toll it took on her well-being. The strain in her face that resulted from living a life with no love. After he was gone, I was forced to watch her struggle as a single mother to support us.
Cora-Jean would never know what that was like. She had two parents who adored her, showering her in adoration. Landon came from a broken home, but he would do everything in his power to give a better life—a good life—to his baby girl.
As I prepared to call Grady’s number, my thumb hovered over the dial button when I caught a glimpse of a familiar figure. Wispy brown hair, a radiant smile, and denim overalls dusted with flour handprints.
Rory Copeland.
Phone call immediately forgotten, I tossed my coffee in a nearby garbage can and started to move before I realized what I was doing.
“I’ll be right back,” I said over my shoulder.
Callie and Landon didn’t pay me any mind though, too preoccupied with each other.
Ever since our school days together, all those years ago when she was eleven and I was thirteen, I’d been drawn to Rory’s presence. She could aim the most scathing look in my direction, and it didn’t matter because those stormy green eyes would be locked on me. As long as I had her attention, that was the important part.
I could smell the yeast, sugar, and herbs well before I reached the Bread & Butter Bakery booth where Rory worked. A dozen customers browsed the spread of pastries, muffins, cakes, and breads arranged on the table. Too impatient to wait my turn, I skirted around behind the booth instead.
The sight of Rory’s braid dangling down her back was tempting, but I decided it wasn’t worth the risk of earning myself a black eye. So, I kept my hands to myself and stepped into her path, making it impossible to ignore me. She nearly collided with my chest, and glanced up with annoyance.
“Beau. You’re not supposed to be back here. Move.”
“I just wanted to say you’re looking beautiful this morning, darlin’.”
Rory rolled her eyes and veered around me to speak to a customer. I waited until she was finished. Then I leaned in, bringing my lips close to her ear. She smelled like sourdough and lemon zest. The heat of her skin made my mouth water at the thought of kissing that lovely, delicate curve of her neck.
“Have you changed your mind yet? About that little kiss I asked for?”
Rory made a noise of disgust and shouldered me aside.
“My answer will always be the same, Beau. As long as I’m still breathing, the only response you’ll ever get out of me is no.”
She jostled past me, busying herself as she rearranged the remaining loaves of baguettes, focaccia, and sandwich bread.
“That’s a shame,” I said. “I was going to ask for a dozen blueberry muffins to take back to the boys at the ranch. But if you only intend on saying no—”
Rory moved in front of the display of blueberry muffins, blocking them from view.
“Actually, we already ran out.”
I chuckled and gestured to the cheddar bagels next to me.
“How about a dozen of those then?”
Rory marched over, grabbed the tray of bagels, and shoved them under the table.
“They’re sold out, too.”
I raised an eyebrow in amusement.
“It’s a small town, sweetheart. You can’t ignore me forever.”
Rory crossed her arms, lifted her chin, and leveled her most defiant look in my direction.
“Watch me.”
I took a step closer until a few heated inches of space remained between us. Rory only came up to my shoulder, even when she was wearing her tallest boots that gave her a few more inches of height, but her stubbornness was larger than life.
“Come on, darlin’,” I said. “Where’s that honey-sweet personality you offer everybody else around here so freely? Why do I always get this lemon-sour attitude of yours?”
