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“Who said anything about relationships? Just talking about a one-night roll in the hay,” Sarah added with a slightly lighthearted tone.” Rose had never been a roll-in-hay kind of woman and had sworn off relationships shortly after her husband walked out.
“Sarah…” Rose’s response paused by the sudden sweet voice of Maddie, one of the cashiers.
“Miss Rose?” Rose turned toward the young girl as she stood in the open doorway.
“Yes, Maddie?”
“A customer at the front counter asks for the owner.” Rose grabbed a towel and wiped off her hands. Shifting, she moved behind Maddie.
“Make yourself useful,” Rose said to Sarah with a momentary pause. “Get that crust laid out on the dough.” With a smile, Rose moved from the backroom.
Rose made her way behind the counter, her head lowered as she approached the end. Most people knew Rose; her customers were loyal and regular. Very rarely does one ever not just ask for her by name. Her eyes lifted her head with a slight flick to remove the stray hair before her face. Then she saw him, a man she had never seen before. Tall, black hair with a trimmed and well-groomed beard. Never had she had her heart flutter at the sight of a man, yet as his gaze lifted to meet hers, she felt a light feeling in her stomach. His lips curled into a welcoming smile with his approach to the counter.
“Hi,” she said with a clear throat. “Can I help you?” she asked.
“I sure do hope so.” His voice, Rose, smiled wider.
“I can certainly try.” She responded with a light laugh. Was she flirting? The question arose inside her head, forcing her to laugh once more.
“I’m looking for a custom cake, and I’ve been told yours are the best in town.” He spoke, his gaze locked into hers.
“Well, you’ve been told correctly.” She replied honestly. Rose had never been one of confidence in her personal life, even about her appearance, but when it came to the bakery, she was different. Safe.
“Confidence.” He spoke. “I like that.” Rose felt her cheeks warm. Was he flirting with her? She wondered for a moment before pushing the thought from her mind. She thought a man like him would never flirt with the likes of her.
“So,” she cleared her throat, “what kind of cake are you needing?” Rose pulled out a pad and pen; her gaze lowered to the cream paper as he replied.
“It’s a gender reveal.” Gender reveal. The two words always caused her heart to crack and old wounds to reopen. That knot formed in the back of her throat, and instantly, her chest grew heavy.
Rose had always been happy for those couples that got to welcome their babies and have the families they always dreamed of, no matter the pain it caused her. Rose pushed her fake smile on, writing the words across the notepad before her gaze lifted back to his.
“Do you have a gender?” She asked the man with a quick reach into his back pocket. Of course, he wasn’t single, she thought as she took the envelope he held out. And a father-to-be to boot, her lips tightened as she glanced back to the paper. Rose gathered all the information she needed for the order, one item at a time. “All we need now is your contact information if you could fill that out.”
Turning the notepad toward the man, Rose finished preparing the order envelope, sliding the secret gender inside; she swallowed with a slight exhale. “Fresh brownies!” Rose turned toward Sarah as she walked around the counter with the stacked high tray of freshly baked goods.
“Here ya go.” Rose returned her attention to the man, taking the paperwork; she glanced down at the name, her mouth parted with a soft gasp as she read the name.
“Martin.” She said his name, and her gaze returned to him. “Martin Brock from Sentinel High School?”
He chuckled at her question, his head a nod in confirmation. She would remember that name forever, though she had thought she would never see him again. “It’s me, Rose Denton.” Rose felt her world spin faster, her hand flat on the counter as though to offer support, as the man who had made her life a living hell in school stood before her, a wider grin pulled along his features.
CHAPTER2
Martin
Rose Denton. Martin remembered the name instantly. Wow, he thought as he stood across the counter from her. She had grown into a beautiful woman, even with flour on her cheek and her bright red hair pulled into a messy bun atop her head. Martin and Rose never ran in the same circles or pretended to be friends. He was the quarterback, the Prom King, and the Homecoming King. He dated the most popular girl in school, and when he entered the room, everyone stopped to see what he would say. Martin knew it was a mixed emotion of fear and envy, and he relished it.
Just a simple glance at her brought a flood of memories through his mind. Not just his interactions with her, which for him weren’t that memorable since they had been so far between. He lived like a true King of the school; he ruled it and loved it. For him, High School was paradise, a breeze. He placed his palm flat against the counter, the wrinkles on the corners of his eyes more evident by his widening grin. “Rose Denton.” He repeated her name. “How the hell have you been?” His question came out with a relaxed tone, almost cheerful at the reunion.
Had she not heard him? The wonder caused him to chuckle before he cleared his throat with an arch of his brows. Rose looked shocked, her eyes wide as she stared back at him without a movement or even a sound. “Rose?” Sarah’s voice broke the silence between them. Rose, with a rapid blink, turned from him. Had he said something wrong? His gaze shifted to Sarah with her slow approach, though he returned to Rose as quickly. Had he missed something?
“Um,” Rose cleared her throat and brought her attention back to him, a large smile pulled at the corner of her lips. “I’ve been well, thank you.” She finally answered. Martin nodded; his gaze shifted onto Sarah before she stepped away.
“Looks like it.” He spoke with a calm tone. “Is this place yours?”
He glanced around, the line nearly out the door, the customers that lingered around the room, at tables and high tops. She remained still, her gaze locked onto him, yet the smile that had moments ago graced her features had faded.
“Yes.” After a few minutes, she answered, her gaze quickly lowered to the pad before her. “So, um, did you want any writing?” Martin furrowed his brows. Had he missed something? Many times since graduation, he had run into many of his classmates. None had spoken so little, looked at him so less, or had so little excitement in the reunion. He knew that he and Rose weren’t on the best terms; hell, he knew he wasn’t kind when it came to her, but that was a lifetime ago. She wouldn’t still be holding onto that, would she?
