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“I had some business to see to, and I didn’t want to leave until I knew she was okay. I’ll look in on her before I head out of town.”
Lindsey’s shoulders sag, and a smile spreads over her lips. “I understand. I’m glad she has you as her friend. I wish she’d told me about you before. I always thought Ally was a lonely person, but maybe she’s just private.”
“She’s definitely private,” I agree. “Have a good night, Lindsey.”
“You, too.”
She waves and walks up to the counter where a bag of food is ready for her to take away.
In a town as small as this one, I won’t be able to be here for long without Ally knowing it. And that’s okay, it’s not a secret. But until this minute, I didn’t realize how much I wanted her to find out from me, not someone else.
So, I’ll have to make sure I run into her tomorrow and get going on my plan to win her over.* * *She never did go for flowers. She wouldn’t turn them away, but posies aren’t the way to El—Ally’s heart.
Donuts and coffee. Every day during her junior year of high school, when I was a senior, I picked her up for school with a bag of maple glazed and a white-chocolate mocha. It was a sugar shock to the system, that’s for sure, but it never failed to make her smile.
I know that she works for the wild animal refuge just outside of town, so I park out front and, armed with all the sugar in the land, walk inside.
“We’re not open to the public yet.”
“I’m not here for the animals,” I reply with a smile. “I’m hoping I can see Ally.”
The man’s eyes widen in surprise. “She’s here, back with the babies.”
“Can you please ask her if she has a moment?”
He nods. “Sure. Hang on.”
He disappears through a door, and I’m suddenly as nervous as I was the other day when I rang her doorbell.
Here’s hoping she doesn’t pull a gun on me this time.
“Can I help—?” The words die on her lips when she walks out and sees that it’s me. “What are you doing here?”
“I brought you breakfast.” I pass her the bag and the cup of coffee with a smile. “I know you work super early and have already been here for a while, but I got a late start. Sorry about that. I hope you still like maple.”
She frowns and glances into the bag.
“I haven’t had one since the last time you…” She swallows, shakes off the rest of the thought, and looks back up at me. “You left.”
“No, you kicked me out. There’s a difference. You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here.” I wink and lean on the counter that she’s standing behind. “I bought a house. I think you’re going to like it. I hope so, anyway.”
“You bought—?” Her mouth opens and then closes again. “What in the hell, Arch?”
“We can talk about it all later.” I tap the counter with my palm and step back. “I shouldn’t hold you up. Enjoy your breakfast. I’ll pick you up at six.”
“For what?”
“Dinner, of course.”
I turn and whistle as I step out of the building.* * *I wasn’t lying the other day. She used to make a hell of a spaghetti. But she always loved it when I made tacos. So, for tonight, that’s precisely what I’m going to make her. It works out well because I can prepare the majority of it early, then go pick her up and finish it up when we get back to the house—after I’ve given her a proper tour of the place.
With all the veggies chopped and ready, the cheese shredded, and the pico and guac made and in the fridge, I grab my keys and hurry out to my car, ready to drive across town to Ally’s house to bring her home with me. I’m craving her company. Bandon is a small town, but I can’t get to her fast enough. After I park and take a deep breath, I walk up and knock on the door.
There’s no answer.
I frown and knock again, then walk over to look in a window.
No movement inside.
I head around the house, and there she is, sitting on her deck with her feet up on the rail and a glass of wine in her hand.
“There you are.”
“Go away, Archer.”
“No way.”
She rolls her eyes. “Is the fact that I don’t want you here really that big of a hit to your fragile male ego?”
I know what she’s attempting to do. She’s trying to piss me off and push me away.
It’s not going to work.
“I’ve told you for days, I’m not going anywhere. You don’t want me to stay here, and that’s totally fine with me. I would prefer to be able to hold you at night, but I can respect your wishes.”
