Page 79 of Shattered Hearts

It made my blood heat as he took the cloth off the bench and started wiping down tables to help out. I couldn’t thank him enough, so I gave him some desserts to take with him, which I knew he wouldn’t be able to say no to.

Tonight, I’m at the cafe, finishing off some final touches on the cake I made for Grayson’s birthday. The bell over the door chimes loudly over the soft background music playing through a speaker. Frowning, I slip the cake into one of the fridges and go out to find Grayson standing in the middle of the cafe in a flannel jacket, boots, jeans, and his hat. A grin gleans my mouth, matching his.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, stepping closer.

He shrugs. “Macie mentioned that you were still here preparing for something, so I thought I would come and help you.”

My insides thaw as my toes wriggle in my boots. Tomorrow’s baking day will be full on, but if Grayson helps, then it might not be as bad.

I stare at him. I don’t want to ruin his surprise birthday party. We’ve been planning it for weeks, and tomorrow night is the big night.

I shrug and say, “There’s an event tomorrow that I’m baking for. It’s in Hollow Grove.”

He hums, smiling. His gaze flicks down to my baby blue apron. “Still not letting me wear the blue one?” Smiling, I shake my head. He sighs. “Fine, pass me the pink one and we’ll get it done.”

Biting down on my lip, he follows me into the kitchen and I pass the apron to him. I watch as he shrugs off his jacket, revealing his veined arms and the mountain tattoo on his forearm as he ties the apron around his waist.

“What are we working on?”

I show him what I’ve planned to make, which unsurprisingly are all his favourite desserts. Grayson mentions this, and I brush off the comment. Of course I was going to bake everything he loves for his birthday, but I don’t want to ruin this.

Continuing with the cupcakes, Grayson talks about his day. Honey Haven Ranch is one of the sponsors for the local round up, so Reid, Holden, and him went to the Calloway farm with some supplies. There they got caught up with the rodeo scene, watching their training while Jaxton explained everything behind the scenes.

“It’s different in winter. There’s so much slosh. I’m surprised they manage to stay on,” he says as he removes the cookies off the oven tray onto some cooling racks.

“They’re athletes. They need to practice all year round, just like Sawyer and Cole.”

His chin dips as he slides out the next tray, his arm muscles contract as he works. I can’t help but watch them move beneath his skin like stones. “Yeah, but it’s dangerous. Imagine how much your body would hurt after that.” He gives a little shiver.

Snickering, I nod in agreement. My gaze sticks on his tattoo once again. Swallowing, I put down the piping bag in my hand. “Do you remember getting that tattoo?”

Blue eyes blink at me as he stills. There’s a beat of silence, the crease between his golden brows forming as he peers down at his arm and sniffs. “Yeah, I remember. That drink was horrid.”

“I’m surprised you got half of it down.”

He pulls a face. “Right after beer. It was a terrible idea.”

I hum. “Almost like that timing was planned.”

Grayson’s eyes narrow, and I grin as he walks around the bench, coming to stop a foot away from me. “Of course you did. You and Macie were always ganging up on me.”

“That’s because we’re girls. We have to stick together.”

He mocks offence, bringing a giggle out of me. “And here I thought I was your best friend. I must have been wrong this whole time.”

I shake my head. “Nobody could take that away from you.”

He holds my steady gaze, unblinking. I can hear my heartbeat pounding beneath my ribs as my feet shuffle towards him.

“The tattoo is us,” Grayson starts. I still. “You, me, and Macie. I thought it was fitting as we used to sit on the hill and look out over the valley every time Macie’s aunt skipped town. It was our place, and I guess I wanted to carry it with me wherever we went, in case I lost either of you.”

My tongue runs along my bottom lip as I study it closer. Three mountains. One for each of us. “I never realised it meant something to you. I just thought you liked the design.”

Grayson snickers, and when I go to ask what he finds so amusing, he’s pulling off his apron and lifting his tee. “Gray—”

Then I see it. The two little biscuits stacked with crumbs on the side of his ribs. My pulse thickens, blood warming as I stare at it silently.

“I got this one when I turned twenty-one,” he continues, explaining as if he knew I was going to ask him about the significance.