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When I came for the first time to check the property, the old lady from the boutique nearby approached me to sing praises about this town and congratulate me on my new business. The one I hadn’t started yet.
An old man wearing a straw hat approached me, his hand already stretched to welcome me, telling me how he liked his coffee.
My gut was screaming at me to seal the deal before someone else snagged it. It was home.
And that was why my sole focus should be on starting up my adventure and making it soar. Cheating bastards be damned.
I didn’t even know his name, and we exchanged just a couple of words, so there wasn’t a good reason why I was so out of sorts about it and thinking so much about him.
Yet my gut was trying to tell me something I couldn’t understand.
I checked everything was in its right place after cleaning it and made a list of a few more things I needed to buy for my opening in two days. I’d have an early start the next morning to prep everything for the big day and bake all I could, just to put them in the oven when needed.
After I locked everything in, I headed to the market nearby. I pulled my jacket closed around me to protect me from the crisp air, fall already announcing its presence. I took in a huge breath, feeling energized.
The market wasn’t crowded, which was a good thing. I loved how welcoming those people were, but I was in the zone, and I wanted to focus on my task. I was so engrossed in my shopping, I didn’t realize there was a person close by, only noticing when my cart hit someone’s leg.
Notanysomeone. The sexy jerk from the other night.
My apologies died on my tongue when I realized whom I was staring at, and his crooked grin made my knees weak. Did he become even more handsome since that night?
“I was wondering when we’d see each other again.”
I made a mental check of my appearance, which was stupid; I didn’t want to impress someone like him. That was what I told myself when I remembered I wasn’t looking exactly hot.
“I’m wondering if your girlfriend would be happy about it.”
He placed one hand on my cart, preventing me from going away—if it was on purpose, I didn’t know, but I had my suspicions.
“Is this your subtle way of asking me if I’m single? You could’ve just asked. I’m happy to inform you I’m completely available and just waiting for our chance to make it happen.”
Idiot.
“So you just have the habit of walking around, holding women’s hands?” He looked confused at my question. “If you excuse me, I need to get going.”
He stepped in front of me, blocking my way, but not being “in my face” about it.
“What are you talking about?”
I huffed, forgetting all politeness. “You seemed pretty cozy for a business meeting.”
He thought for a moment, and clarity seemed to come to him. His lips split into a full, sexy damn smile again. “There’s no need to be jealous, Forest.”
“Forest?”
“You have the most striking green eyes. They remind me of the outdoors and forests. They look like freedom.” There was such awe in his voice, I forgot my words and why I was mad at him.
Oh, right, he was a jerk.
“Excuse me.” As I was maneuvering my cart to go around him, he blocked me again and bent a little to look into my eyes.
“I didn’t lie to you; I was working.” I gave him my most skeptical glare. “There’s no need for me to lie to you. I can’t go into the specifics, but I was indeed working with a friend.”
The situation was all off. Yet he didn’t seem to be lying to me. If that wasn’t enough, my gut was calm in his presence, and my instinct was to trust him.
I was ready to concede—and maybe offer him my number, you know, to have a new friend—when we heard a loud thud, followed by a squirt. Startled, I turned around, looking for the source of the noise, and saw a can of soda spilled on the floor.
Next to it was the beautiful brunette from the other night. Holding a little boy’s hand. The most adorable and beautiful little boy.
