He stiffened. They’d agreed to keep in touch but made no promises. Neither of them wanted a relationship, so he didn’t know where her anger came from. “I had a reason—”
“Save it for someone who cares. I’m not stupid enough to fall for a made-up excuse now that you’re in town and want to pick up where we left off.” She stared down her nose. “I’m not interested in a selfish man who is only after something convenient for him. Forget having coffee. I’d rather not see you again.”
Each word hit like a slap to his face. He didn’t understand her reaction. Okay, he might have handled things better in January, but she acted as if he’d dumped her. “Look, I get you’re upset, but we never said we were girlfriend and boyfriend. I had a good reason not to call you. There was—”
“Do you want anything else?” she interrupted.
He wanted to apologize, but she appeared too upset to listen. “I’d like a molasses cookie, please.”
“I’ll have Jayden get that for you. One moment.” She disappeared into the kitchen.
A minute later, Jayden came out, pulling on plastic gloves. The baker had always been friendly, joking around and wearing a big grin. Today, his expression was pinched and his eyes dark.
“How are you?” Garrett asked.
“One molasses cookie coming up.” Jayden placed a cookie in a small paper bag. “Here you go.”
Garrett jockeyed the bags to remove his wallet. “How much?”
Jayden glanced over his shoulder, but no one was there. “On the house.”
“Taryn’s upset.”
“That’s putting it mildly.”
“I tried to explain.”
Jayden rolled his eyes before crossing his arms over his chest. “You’re a lawyer. You should be smart enough to realize it’s too late.”
Garrett didn’t want to leave without explaining, but he might have to wait. He shoved a five-dollar bill in the tip jar. He was here for two weeks—plenty of time to explain.
As he opened the bakery’s door, the bell rang again.
“Is he gone?” Taryn’s voice sounded shaky.
Tension drew his shoulder blades together. Garrett had never heard her speak that way. He forced himself not to glance back to make sure she was okay. But he didn’t need a visual cue to know she wasn’t.
He was the reason, even if it made no sense to him. Okay, he’d ghosted her, but Taryn should have let him explain why. Instead, she made it clear he wasn’t welcome.
Fine.
He would keep his distance.
Silver Falls was small, but how hard would it be to avoid the bakery and her while he was in town?
What was that phrase Taryn always used?
Easy-peasy.
Chapter Three
As Garrett satat Margot’s dining room table, the conversation bounced like ping-pong balls from one topic to another. Brandt and Callie updated everyone on the wedding, and their heart eyes would make a lesser man gag. But seeing his little sister so happy pleased Garrett.
His father wiped his mouth with a napkin. He appeared to enjoy the meal and the company. Not once had he glanced at his cell phone during dinner. That had to be a record.
“Pass the bread, please,” his father said.
Garrett handed him the plate full of warm-from-the-oven slices. He hadn’t taken a piece. Based on the hurt in Taryn’s eyes and voice, her feelings for him had changed since December. The signs had been there from the start. No expertise in body language, facial expressions, tells, and vocal tone needed.
