“Are you hurt?” I asked.
“I’ll be okay.” He reached into his coat, pulled out his phone, and called someone I assumed was the plumber.
It would’ve been my shoulder in pain if he hadn’t taken the brunt of it.
I mopped the floor while he spoke on the phone. When his call ended, he took off his coat, got under the sink, and turned off the water.
Getting up, he rolled his right shoulder. “Jack will be here soon.”
“Do you need some painkillers?” I walked up to him. “I’ve got some in my purse.”
Energy thrummed between us. I didn’t realize I stood so close to him. For a moment, time stopped, and the pain and resentment from the past faded into the background. All I saw was the man who encouraged me to go after my dreams. His eyes held mine, and I saw pain and something else in them.
He lifted his hand and brushed it down my cheek, and heat blossomed on contact. The muscles in my inner thighs flexed. I broke the trance and stepped back.
“Sure, I’ll take some painkillers,” he said.
When I dropped them into his palm, he asked, “Can we chat?”
“Why?” I asked.
“Don’t you want to know what happened over a year ago?”
“I know what happened, Austin.” Anger surged. “You dumped me via text.”
His eyebrows pushed together as he opened his mouth to say something, but Bianca interrupted, “Jack is here.” She looked at me. “What happened?”
I pointed to the sink and was grateful for the interruption.When my shift ended, I walked out to my car. Austin stood in front of the shop on his phone. He saw me and waved. I returned the gesture, got into my car, and drove off. In the rearview mirror, I saw him looking in my direction.
Deep down, I wanted to know if our relationship had been a lie. Did he care for me at all?
I loved him. Tears rolled down my face, blurring my vision. I loved a man who didn’t love me. That revelation shattered me. If I hadn’t loved him, it would’ve been easier to move on.
Hear him out.
Perhaps that would help me move on once and for all.
CHAPTER SEVEN
AVA
Five minutesafter I put on my apron at No Name Bakery, Austin walked into the kitchen, startling me and Cindy. He wore a dark puffy coat and jeans, looking like a model for some fashion magazine. His hair was a perfect mess, reminding me of when I used to run my fingers through it. It should be illegal for anyone to look this gorgeous.
Cindy and I exchanged curious glances.
What was he doing here at the butt crack of dawn? Wealthy men like him didn’t need to start their day this early. Even if they did, they’d be on their computers in the comfort of their home office. The plumber fixed the leak already, so he couldn’t be here checking on it.
“Morning!” He smiled as though he’d been up for hours. His eyes slid over to me and stayed. Heat bloomed all over me.
“Morning to you too.” Cindy waved. “Is there a meeting we don’t know about?”
“No meeting.” He took off his coat, hung it on the hookon the wall, and walked up to our table. “I want the baker’s experience.” He looked at me. “Teach me?”
My mouth dropped open. He should direct that question to Cindy, who had been his employee far longer than I had.
What was Austin trying to do?
Cindy looked at me, then him. “Sure! Grab an apron from the wall.” She pointed to where all the aprons hung next to a rack of bowls.
