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Chapter 1
Callie
Exhaustion creeps over me as I slide another pan of my famous cinnamon twists into the oven. I haven’t been sleeping well lately. My eyes slide over to where my phone is lying open on the counter. I haven’t seen any new texts coming today. Not since I blocked him on my phone again.
I’ve blocked my ex a million times over the last year and every time he manages to get another phone number, another chance to contact me and hassle me.
He’s been told multiple times to stay the hell away from me but he doesn’t take the hint.
And yet, the new ones seem to be even more full of vitriol than the first ones.
I’m tired of this and I have no idea how to stop it. The sheriff, Rhett, is a good guy and every once in awhile I kick around saying something to him but honestly? How do I explain crazy? He’ll probably just think I’m being overly dramatic.
That’s what my own family thought and that’s why I took off for this tiny little town next to the infamous Iron H Ranch sanctuary. If I’d known what was out here I’d have found another town. I don’t want anything to do with another man. I can’t trust my own heart and head to make sure that I’m safe.
The phone buzzes on the counter and I suck in a breath, stealing a peek at the screen and shuddering.
I know that you’re there and you can see this, Callie. We both know that you get up at a god-awful time every day.
Without answering, I flip the phone over and shiver, my eyes on the front of the store.
Does he know where I’m at? Jesus, I hope not. I’m not up for anymore of his constant slams and put-downs.
I’m done.
I pull another pan of cookies out of the oven and then grab a pan of muffins with my famous streusel-walnut topping on my banana muffins, sliding them in the oven and starting the time, grimacing when the timer on the second oven goes off.
Whirling, I grab pot-holders and slide more cinnamon twists out of the oven and wince when my thumb catches the edge of the hot pan. I’ve done that more times than I can count over the years. It’s a hazard of the business.
But after I get more cranberry biscuits with orange zest into the oven, I head for the commercial three-compartment sink and run cold water over my thumb.
For some damn reason, my mind wanders to my favorite customer. Not that he’s fun to talk to. Or easy to talk to. Or hell…that he even talks.
But he’s sexy as hell and easy on the eyes. And I’m just a girl after all. A red-blooded country girl who knows when a guy looks damn good in a pair of Wranglers.
If I was interested in guys, I’d climb that one like a tree. But I’m not.
Pulling my finger out of the stream of cold water, I groan when I see the tell-tale pink streaks of a mild burn.
Grunting, I turn to check the clock. Only half an hour until I’m officially open and since this is the weekend, I’m sure that I’ll be busy as hell.
Saturdays are always a grab-bag of sales but it’s always busy. This time I’m putting out even more stuff to take advantage of the wide array of clientele. But there’s only one client that I can’t stop thinking about. One man that has my insides quivering like Jell-o.
And I don’t like it. Not one bit.
Thankfully, Rory Eastman barely notices me. That’s nothing new. His grass-green gaze looks through me every Saturday morning. His tousled caramel-blond hair that’s been lightened by the sun looks soft enough for my fingers to slip through the silky strands like water. And when he walks out the door?
His ass in those Wranglers is a work of art. He’s just as beautiful to watch going as coming.
So what’s a girl to do? Keep her fucking heart on lockdown, that’s what.
I sigh and slip the last pan of cooled muffins in the display cases, picking them up and sliding them into place, cocking my head and studying them before tweaking it and closing the sliding doors.
I head back to the back and pick up a fresh cup of my fancy coffee that I make on my espresso machine. Considering my crazy hours, I suck down coffee like it’s my blood being pushed into my veins. I need it.
I always need it on Saturdays even more. I don’t open until noon on Sunday so that’s the only day that I get to sleep in. I look forward to that more than I ever thought possible.
I need a clear head to keep my heart in place. Because this girl needs another bossy, grouchy man like she needs another loan to pay off.
