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“Maybe it’s a hopeful tourist.” He contemplated the bakery case. He didn’t need another muffin. But he wanted one.
The person at the door knocked again, harder this time.
Ruth sighed. “Okay, okay, I’m coming.” She flipped the lock open and pulled the door wide.
Liam heard her gasp, but he couldn’t see her face or whoever was standing in the doorway. He pushed himself to his feet, moving quickly toward her.
Which was how he happened to hear the man at the door say, “Hey, babe, long time no see. Where’s the munchkin?”
Chapter Fifteen
Ruth managed to keep herself from gasping again. David was trying to put her at a disadvantage—going for the charm, pretending his showing up unannounced wasn’t a huge shock. She had no intention of letting him get away with it.
“Carol is visiting her aunt and uncle in St. Cloud. If you’d let me know you were coming, instead of just showing up first thing in the morning, I might have been able to plan for her to be here.” Or I might not.
She was aware of Liam at her elbow, his hand resting on her shoulder. Just how was she supposed to go about introducing her no-good ex to her current lover, particularly when the no-good ex was being a jerk?
David gave them both a lazy smile, one she recognized. It was the smile he used when he wanted to press his advantage. He turned toward Liam. “I’m David Mobley, Ruth’s ex, Carol’s dad. Who are you?”
She moved closer to Liam. “This is my friend, Liam Dempsey.”
David extended his hand, still smiling. “Good to meet you, Liam.”
Liam glanced at the hand for a moment, as if he was considering strategy, then he shook it, nodding a bit stiffly.
Ruth folded her arms across her chest. “Like I said, Carol isn’t here. If you come back after ten, I may have time to talk.” But probably not, given that they’d be dealing with the end of the coffee break crowd and the start of the lunch crowd.
David gave her another smile. “You haven’t got time for a cup of coffee and a bagel? Won’t take more than a few minutes.” He placed his hand on his heart as his smile turned mocking. “I promise.”
Ruth frowned. It would probably be best to just get it over with. She glanced at Liam.
“I guess I better take off.” He leaned forward quickly, brushing his lips across hers. “See you later.”
Oh, nicely played. A muscle danced in David’s jaw, but he kept his smile in place as Liam headed out the door.
Ruth turned back to him again. “Now, what is it you want?”
David shrugged. “I want to see Carol. When will she be back?”
“I don’t know exactly. It was an open-ended invitation. I’ll talk to Brett today and see what’s going on.” She had no intention of promising anything about bringing Carol back early.
David shrugged. “Why not call him now?”
“Because he’s probably working in the barn, and I’m working here. I’ll talk to him later this morning when we’ve both got more time.”
David gave her a grin that was closer to a smirk. “Oh yeah, the barn. The goats. Forgot all about that.”
Ruth took a breath to keep from saying something she’d probably regret. “Come back this afternoon. Or call. Or text. I’ve got nothing to tell you now.” Just go, dammit!
David’s expression slid from smirk to scowl. “You can call him now. He’s probably got his cell phone with him, even if he’s in the barn.”
Behind her, the kitchen door opened. David’s scowl immediately became something else, something much more predatory.
Ruth turned. Peaches was bending over the pastry case, lining up cinnamon rolls on one of the trays. Her golden hair gleamed in the morning sunlight. She looked a little like a baking cherub.
“Hey there, sweetheart, are those fresh?” David took a step closer to the pastry case.
Peaches glanced up, smiling. “Yes, sir, fresh from the oven this morning.”
“My, my. Don’t they look tasty.” David gave her a grin that was probably supposed to be seductive. It wasn’t clear whether he was talking about the rolls or Peaches herself.
Peaches’s smile faded slightly. “Thanks.” She backed away from the case, heading back toward the kitchen.
