But this isn’t my real life. Maybe there are things I’ll want to do differently when I return home. Maybe there will be parts of Heart Springs that stay with me even when I make it back to New York.
And I do want to return to New York, to home. I think.
“I’ll miss you if and when I leave, but I promise I won’t go before making sure you and the bakery will be okay.” I turn away from Emma’s pleading look, grabbing ingredients from the fridge and setting up to mix fresh muffin batter. “And if I have anything to say about it, I’m also going to do my best to make sure you and a certain someone go on a date before I go.” I will rig the date auction so that Ethan wins Emma’s date if I have to.
“I don’t know how many times I need to tell you that’s a lost cause.” She shoos me away from the muffin bowl, handing me a tray of cooling croissants to take out to the front. “Now get back to work.” Her command lacks bite and is paired with a smile, and I know I will never have another boss quite like Emma again.
—
I dress casually for dinnerat Noah’s, in jeans and a soft sweater that when I tug it just right, slips off my shoulder. One thing is for certain: Noah is just my type, physically speaking, and maybe if we can find some chemistry, it will help open the floodgates to love.
Good god, I cannot believe the phrasefloodgates of lovejust flitted through my mind completely unbidden. I need to get the hell out of here ASAP.
I close the front door, keeping my eyes firmly planted on the walk in front of me, avoiding any chance of a run-in with Ben.
But because my luck sucks, I hear the click of his gate as I’m latching mine.
I turn toward him before I can stop myself, and my breath catches in my chest.
Gone are the soft T-shirts and plaid flannels he typically wears. Tonight Ben is dressed in a dark green button down shirt, the sleeves rolled up to frame his forearms. His jeans have been exchanged for a pair of well-fitting gray slacks that are doing things to the shape of his thighs that are truly just unfair.
I force myself to stop ogling him, directing my eyes to his face. They land there just in time to see his owndeep brown eyes lingering on the exposed hint of my collarbone.
“Hi,” I manage to choke out, which seems to bring him back to the present.
His eyes fly to mine. “Hi.”
“Hot date?” I joke before I realize that’s probably exactly where he’s fucking going.
“I suppose. You too?”
“I suppose.”
We stand for a minute, just looking into each other’s eyes, saying nothing and good lord, who knew one could experience so many emotions over the course of a single minute.
“I should go,” I finally say, gesturing helplessly to the sidewalk in front of me.
“Yeah, me too.” Ben turns and starts to head in the exact direction I need to go to get to Noah’s house.
I fall in step next to him and ask the question I’m not sure I want the answer to. “First date with your new friend?”
Ben nods. His arms swing by his side, and I might be imagining it, but it feels like he leans in just a hair so that our hands brush.
A shiver races up my spine, and I put space between us.
Ben shoves his hands in his pockets.
“I’m sure the two of you will have a lovely date. Unless she turns out to be a total disaster like me.” I’m not usually one for self-deprecating comments—I know who I am and what I’ve got—but something about Ben going on this date is seriously messing with my head.
“You’re not a total disaster, Cam.”
“Just sort of a disaster?” I joke with a mirthless laugh.
He pointedly ignores me. “It’s just a first date. I’m not even sure why she’s interested in me.”
“She’s interested in you because you’re a good person, Ben. And you’ll make a great date. And an even better partner.”
“You don’t have to lie to build up my confidence, sweetheart.”
