Chapter 3
Callie
My nerves continue to riot beneath my skin. Even after the door swings shut behind River. His presence lingers, impossible to ignore. I don’t understand why he affects me so much.
I press a palm to my chest and try to talk myself down from the ledge.
It’s not that big of a deal. The man is a customer like everyone else who pops in for a coffee and pastry.
He just so happens to be a dangerously attractive, ridiculously tall customer with gorgeous blue eyes and a habit of making me feel things I’ve spent years trying to avoid.
It’s no big deal.
None at all.
When the last of the mid-morning rush trickles out, I drop onto a stool behind the counter as Sloane finishes wiping a table before leaning over and shooting me a look that says she’s dying to explode.
“For weeks now that man has been showing up every day.” Her tone might be innocent, but her smirk is anything but. “Think he’ll finally work up the nerve to ask you out?”
With a wince, I rub the back of my neck, as if it’s possible to massage away the tension his presence stirs in me. “I really hope not.”
“Girl… That man looks at you like you’re a tasty cupcake.”
I roll my eyes. “I’m not interested. In anyone. But especially not him.”
The lie comes out a little too easily. A little too smoothly. For the first time in years, I feel a stab of disappointment behind the words.
The truth is, I’m tired of doing this all alone.
Even though I tell myself I don’t have time for a man, that doesn’t mean I don’t want one.
So, yeah… Maybe I kind of want someone to ask me out.
Just not him.
River Thompson is a carbon copy of my ex.
This is the first time since Nora was born that I’ve even entertained the idea of going out on a date.
I mean, who has the time between late-night feedings, keeping the bakery operating in the black, and trying not to fall apart in the wake of the destruction Zane wrought? When he walked away, it was like a bomb detonated.
Romance died.
Along with hope.
And trust.
I loved Zane.
Really loved him.
I put my faith in that man and all the pretty promises he made. I gave him my whole heart along with my body and my future.
Instead of holding it carefully in his hands, he tossed it aside like it meant nothing at all.
Not only did he walk away from me, he walked away from our daughter without so much as a backward glance. I have no idea how he could have done that. All it took was one glimpse at her precious face seconds after giving birth, and I was a goner.
There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for that little girl. No number of hours I won’t work to make sure we have a roof over our heads and food on the table. I’d gladly go without in order to give her the world.
It baffles me how he doesn’t feel the same. Instead, he leaves us with crumbs of child support and explanations that make me feel stupid for ever believing he was my knight in shining armor.
How do you come back from something like that?
From learning the hard way that the only one who’s going to give a damn and save you is yourself.
It was a painful lesson to wrap my head around.
But I did it.
And I’ll be damned if I make the same mistake twice.
This is no longer about me.
It’s about Nora.
“Are you sure about that?” Sloane asks gently.
The question snaps me out of my thoughts. She’s been working at the bakery for a couple of years now, and it didn’t take long for us to become fast friends. Sloane has the innate ability to read people. There’s not much I can hide from her.
“One hundred percent.” My tongue darts out to moisten my lips. “Plus, he’s a hockey player.”
Sloane doesn’t blink. “So?”
“So…” I exhale. “Zane was a professional athlete too. I think we both know that lifestyle doesn’t mix well with mine. Even if River’s nothing like him, I refuse to do that again. I’ve already had my heart broken once.”
Actually, broken is an understatement.
More like obliterated.
I push up from the stool, needing to move, to do something to shake off all this pent-up energy. “I just want to focus on Nora and the bakery. That’s it.”
And it’s more than enough.
Sloane opens her mouth to argue when the bell above the door chimes and Evelyn Kingston breezes in dressed like she’s about to walk in a fashion show. I’ve never met anyone like her before.
It was a shock when she stopped by a few months ago, wanting to know if I’d be willing to supply a Railers event with desserts.
As tempting as it was to pounce on the opportunity, I had to think long and hard about the fact that it would once again place me in Zane’s orbit.
In the end, it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.
She gives us both a smile.
“I passed your number along to Beau,” she says by way of greeting. “You can expect a call soon. He’s very interested in working with a local bakery, and your lemon iced shortbread was all he could talk about.”
Hope flickers in me like a candle catching flame.
“That’s amazing. Thank you,” I manage, trying to stay calm. Inside, I’m doing a little happy dance and praying this works out. I need this break more than she knows. It’s one that will keep the lights on a little longer and buy me time to catch up on some of the bills.
Maybe even save this place for Nora’s future.
The door swings open again, and I glance over as a tall man steps inside. He’s broad in the shoulders and fills out the expensive suit he’s wearing. His salt-and-pepper hair is perfectly in place, and confidence radiates off him in heavy waves.
It only takes a beat for recognition to slam into me.
Hugh Landry.
While Evelyn owns half of the Railers, Hugh owns the other part of the team.
Rina, one of our closest friends, also happens to be the Railers’ PR manager.
She always has the inside scoop on what’s happening behind the scenes.
Partly because it’s her job to keep the team out of trouble and partly because she’s nosy as hell.
She’s confided more than once that the man has been a thorn in Evelyn’s side for over twenty years.
The older woman stiffens as her eyes narrow. Her easy disposition vanishes, replaced by razor-sharp tension. “Are you following me now?”
Hugh’s smile is smooth as silk but edged in steel.
“Follow you? Why would I need to do that?” He steps farther inside the shop before glancing around the interior.
“I was simply out stretching my legs and thought I’d grab a coffee before our eleven o’clock meeting.
” Then, as if he can’t resist poking at her, he adds slyly, “Besides, why would I follow you when you woke up in my bed this morning?”
My jaw drops.
Um... Excuse me?
My brain stutters, scrambling to process what just came out of his mouth.
From everything I know about Evelyn, she can’t stand Hugh, and she doesn’t bother to hide it.
I must be missing something here. The Evelyn I know would rather set herself on fire than warm his sheets.
Then again, don’t they say the line between love and hate is a thin one?
Evelyn’s spine snaps straight as murder fills her eyes. “That’s not something we’re going to discuss right now,” she says through gritted teeth.
Holy shit.
Hugh’s grin deepens, as if he’s enjoying himself. “Oh, I don’t see the harm, darling. Everyone loves a good romance.”
Romance?
The word lands like a thunderclap in the middle of the bakery. Sloane’s eyebrows practically hit her hairline as she glances at me with wide eyes. Her lips twitch, as if she’s dying to fire off a million questions.
Can’t say I don’t feel the same.
I clear my throat, all the while trying not to stare. The tension that crackles between them is thick enough to choke on.
“Coffee?” I offer.
When Hugh turns that charming smile on me, my knees nearly weaken. He’s that good looking. I never thought I was into silver foxes, but…
We’ll just leave it at that.
“Please,” he says. “Black. No sugar.”
Evelyn releases a sound that’s more of a hiss. As she crosses her arms against her chest, the diamond bracelet at her wrist glints in the sunshine that pours in through the picture windows. “Don’t you have somewhere else to be? Our meeting isn’t for another hour.”
His fingers brush against mine as he takes the to-go cup, and a shiver shoots through me. It has nothing to do with the touch and everything to do with the way Evelyn looks ready to rip him to shreds with her bare teeth.
“Actually, no,” Hugh muses, taking a slow sip of his coffee.
“It’s nice in here. Warm and cozy. Not to mention, it smells delicious.
” His gaze slides to me, then to the display case.
“Callie, I didn’t get a chance to talk to you the night of the event, but a few of our sponsors were impressed with Lakeshore Sweets.
I wouldn’t be surprised if it leads to several business ventures moving forward. ”
“Thank you, I really appreciate that.”
He flashes another dazzling smile in my direction that nearly knocks me on my ass. “If you need anything, just let me know. Once you’re part of the Railers family, you’re always part of it.”
From the corner of my eye, I watch Evelyn’s expression relax.
Marginally.
Or maybe it’s a trick of the light, because when I look again, she’s back to scowling.
Sloane sighs into her latte.
I have no idea how to respond. As much as I appreciate the sentiment, the Railers don’t feel like family. More like something to be avoided.
Then again, that does sound like family.
Evelyn steps closer. “You’ve pushed your luck enough for one day. I think it’s time for you to leave.”
Hugh leans in and murmurs, “And yet, you continue letting me do it.”
It feels like I’m watching a chess match where I don’t understand the rules. What I do know is that this isn’t romance.
Not really.
This is something far messier.
Darker.
Evelyn looks like she’s fighting for air in a room Hugh controls.
Sloane nudges me and whispers from the side of her mouth, “You’re seeing this, right? I’m not hallucinating?”
“No,” I whisper back. “You’re not.”
As Hugh raises his cup in a mock toast to Evelyn, I can’t shake the feeling that whatever’s going on between them is on the verge of exploding.
We engage in stilted conversation for a few more minutes before the older woman leaves as gracefully as she entered. Hugh follows her out with a hint of a grin. It’s like there’s an invisible thread binding them to one another.
As soon as they’re gone, my muscles loosen. “Well, that was certainly interesting.”
Sloane cracks a smile. “I’m dying for the backstory.”
The edges of my lips lift. “Same. We’ll have to pump Lilah and see what she knows.”
“Or Rina. They work closely together. Maybe Evelyn’s mentioned something about her relationship with Mr. Tall, Dark, and Foxy.”
With a snort, I glance toward the register.
Crap.
The bank notice.
I should probably tuck the letter back into the envelope and shove it in my purse before Sloane catches sight of it.
But it’s not there.
With a furrowed brow, I check the floor, the shelf under the counter, and the stack of mail for a second time.
Panic flares in my stomach when my search turns up empty.
No one else was behind the counter this morning.
And I know it was there with the stack.
I swallow hard, hating the idea that one of my customers might have picked it up by accident and is now privy to my financial situation.
How mortifying.
If Sloane had found it, she would’ve asked out of concern. She’s one of the most forthright people I’ve ever met.
I nibble my lip as the bell over the door chimes with the arrival of a new customer, and I paste a smile on my face and get back to work.