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“You would have if you’d been looking,” she retorted.
“Well, why weren’t you looking?” he shot back. “Or did you see me but decided to walk into me anyway?”
Her face went bright red. “Of course I didn’t see you.” She glared at him as she bent to rub her foot.
“Then you’re as guilty as I am of not looking where you’re going,” he pointed out.
She opened her mouth to say something then closed it again. Shaking her head, she marched past him to the counter, where Leila was staring in open-mouthed delight at the exchange.
“Well, you two,” she grinned. “The fireworks came right to me today. It was very entertaining.”
Lily shot Ashton an evil look. He smirked at her in return.
“Ashton doesn’t watch where he’s going,” Lily told Leila. “He really ought to do something about that. It’s a dreadful habit, not to mention terribly dangerous.”
“That’s why other people have eyes, too,” Ashton said. “If they run into me even though they can see me, I have no sympathy for them.”
“Such sanctimonious language,” Lily sniffed, her nose in the air.
Ashton could hardly keep a straight face. Leila’s eyes were wide as she looked from one to the other.
“What does the Bible say?” he retorted. “Take the log out of your own eye before you pick the speck out of mine?”
Lily was outraged. “I was looking at an important text message if you must know. Logs and specks, indeed!”
“Doesn’t matter why you ran into me,” Ashton needled. “You just did, and that’s the truth.”
Lily glared at him. “Well, at least I didn’t …” She suddenly shut her mouth, and a strange look crossed her face. “Never mind,” she said hastily. “Goodbye, Ashton. I believe you were about to leave the shop.”
“I was. But this has been too much fun. I could stay a little longer if you like.”
“No!” Lily said firmly. “Let’s just agree that we both were occupied with other matters and didn’t see each other. How about that?”
“Aw, really?” he asked, then grinned. “Have a good day, Lily.”
As he started down the street toward his car, he couldn’t help chuckling. Lily had looked so feisty as she’d berated him, like a fierce little kitten defending itself. He thought back to the conversation with Mac earlier that morning. It seemed as if it could be even harder than he thought to mend matters with Lily. But it might be fun to try.
She still means a lot to you, a little voice whispered in his head. That’s why you’re scared to try. Failure would hurt.
It was an uncomfortable thought.
8
“It was just bad luck that I ran into Ashton in the bakery,” Lily sighed. “Literally. We collided and he trod on my foot.”
Bec looked up, her eyes wide. “How did that happen?”
Lily felt heat creeping across her cheeks. “He was looking down. I was looking at my phone. I don’t know. We just somehow collided.”
“You aren’t turning into one of those smartphone zombies, are you?” Bec teased. “You know, people who walk into things because they’re looking at their phones?”
“Not anymore, I’m not,” Lily assured her. “Not if it’s going to cause a collision with Ashton.”
“Have you apologized?” Bec asked innocently.
Lily gave her a withering look. “After he stood on my toe? I don’t think so!”
“Well, you are harboring his pig in your garden. I just thought you might’ve had an attack of conscience or something.”
