“Um, you know. If you aren’t seeing anyone, I would love to take you out sometime.” Brian looked at me pleadingly, his crystal-blue puppy-dog eyes full of hope.
Interesting.
The last I’d heard, he was dating Spencer from the bookstore. They looked awfully friendly at the wedding, but from the way Atlas and I were dancing together that night, I guessed we did, too.
“That’s really sweet of you, but I’ve been devoting a lot of time to the bakery and I’m not sure there’s a place in my life for dating right now.” It was a total lie, of course. I was looking to date someone—just not him.
To most people, Brian would have been a catch.
He was an attractive guy. Blond hair. Ice-blue eyes. Nice, polite business owner. As his smile suggested, he gave off real boy-next-door vibes. But he was almosttoonice. Too much of a pushover.
Hurt flashed across his face but he quickly shuttered his expression. “Oh yeah. I’m pretty busy with the coffee shop, too, so I get it.”
I nodded, unsure of what to say next.
It was at that moment the overhead bell rang again, and my gaze shot right to the front door. It wasn’t Atlas, but I’d never been happier to see Dec, because if there was anyone who could save me from this awkwardness, it was him.
“Hey there, Bri Bri,” Dec said, strolling right up to Brian. He slipped his oversize sunglasses down his nose, looking Brian up and down. “Don’t you look nice today.” He wiggled his brows for good measure, and I bit back a laugh. This was the perfect interruption.
“Uh, thanks, Dec.” Brian grabbed the kolaches. His body shifted between me and Dec, like he was glitching out. Poor guy. “Well, I better get back,” he finally said once he rebooted.
“But why?” Dec pouted. “I just got here.”
“Sorry,” Brian said. “I’ll see you both around. Bye, Tegan.”
“Bye. And thank you again for the lattes,” I said, throwing him a wave as he slipped out the door.
Dec kept his gaze locked on Brian until he disappeared down the street, then turned his attention to me. “What the fuck was that about?”
“Shouldn’t you be at the diner?” I asked. If I wasn’t mistaken, it was about time for the lunch rush, and here he was hitting on innocent bystanders and yapping with me.
“The old man wanted to work the lunch shift, and who am I to deny him? Besides, I wanted to check in on you. You’ve been in a mood since the wedding.”
“Brian just asked me out,” I told him, pivoting the subject away from Atlas and the wedding.
“You lucky bitch,” Dec scoffed. I knew that would get his attention.
“Hardly.”
“So you turned him down?” he asked.
I nodded. “Of course I did.”
“Why? Brian is, like, the hottest guy in Briar Glenn. Other than your brother, that is.”
Dec calling Reecehotmade me scrunch up my nose. “Gross.”
His eyes lit up and he slapped his hand against his chest.Dramatic.“Ah—I know why you said no. Holding out hope for our gym bro in shining athletic shorts. I’m assuming he still hasn’t shown his face around here?”
“Nope,” I said, popping thep.
How was it that I had been single for years, but the moment someone showed interest in me, it was a competition?
Why couldn’t I stop thinking about him?
Every time I closed my eyes, that near kiss played in my mind. The masculine scent of his cologne lingering on his jacket, the warmth radiating off his body, the way his breath felt fluttering against my face, those golden eyes focused on me.
Everything was going great—until my stupid brother had to come along and ruin it. I could have kissed Atlas. I could have ignored Reece and kissed him. But if my brother caught us making out in the garden, he would have made an even bigger spectacle.
