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It hit her like a punch to the gut.
Lucas was a father.
An established chef.
A name on the world’s stage.
He wasn’t for her.
There was too much of a gap between them for her to think there was a snowball’s chance of there being anything lasting between them.
And the only thing worse than being the laughing stock of the culinary world was hurting someone else.
Lucas had a daughter. That was a big enough surprise, but if she let herself cross that line with Lucas and she entered his life, she couldn’t take the risk that she’d hurt his little girl.
She’d felt that sting too much in her life, there was no way she’d inflict that pain on someone else.
She found her voice and addressed the room as it was. “Thank you, chef. It’s been a pleasure working for you.”
Caroline hated the way her words had stumbled from her lips. She wasn’t well versed in hiding her feelings. It was just that few people really listened. Really looked.
And the woman standing beside her was looking.
With a nod in her direction, she dropped the lone clog she still had in her hand, slipped on the shoe, and walked out the door toward her car.
When she finally got there, Caroline wrenched the door open and dropped onto the driver’s seat. She had to get out of there before she could make a complete fool of herself.
And moments later, she managed to bump down onto the road behind the restaurant and put her foot firmly on the gas.
She never looked back.
CHAPTER 1
Caroline realized her mistake about ten minutes into her first trip to the St. Raphael Community Farmer’s market. Staggering under the weight of the ten pounds of organic beets added to what felt like two bushels of Swiss chard in her shopping bags, she stared longingly at the display of snap peas and pea tendrils on the next table.
It didn’t help that the woman standing beside her had that ‘I told you so’ look on her face.
“Okay, Cicely. You were right.”
Sipping on her fresh fruit smoothie, Cicely Bristol gave a little shrug before she lowered her cup. “Next time we’ll ask them to hold the produce until you’ve finished shopping. “Then we can grab the dolly and collect everything at once.”
Caroline groaned aloud. “Okay, okay! Uncle! Yes, you’re right!”
Cicely laughed. “I did the same thing myself when I started my food truck. I bought boxes worth of produce and product and then I got back to my truck and realized I didn’t have space for even half of it.”
The two laughed together like old friends. “Thanks,” Caroline sighed and adjusted the armful of produce, “it’s good to know I’m not the only one seduced by St. Raphael agriculture.”
Cicely leaned closer and lowered her voice. “Give it time and you just might be seduced by more than the agriculture around here.”
Caroline rolled her eyes. “I’m not in the market for a man, just produce.”
Shrugging her shoulder, Cicely let out a little sigh. “Famous last words.”
Opening her mouth to answer back, Caroline stopped short. Standing over Cicely’s shoulder was a handsome man with mussed hair and a sturdy canvas apron over his skin-tight white t-shirt. He looked up and gave her a smile.
“Hey,” he stepped up and looked at Caroline, “I’m Joel Hallsey, can I help you ladies with anything?”
Beside her, Cicely rolled her eyes. “Ladies? Come on, Joel, don’t play stupid. You came over to get an introduction.”
