A strong tug jerks my heart. The way Durban looks at her? That’s the smoldering gaze I get from Cruz. How did I ever think he was messing with me? The heat has always been in his eyes, but now it glows.
“There’s the lady behind the event,” Haven says.
Campbell laughs but stays tucked into her man’s side. Her bright gaze lands on me. “I was just coming to check on you. Need anything for tomorrow?”
“Nothing comes to mind.” Other than more customers. Sell everything. Make it last forever so I don’t have to pay off my ex and his brother and then figure out how to extract myself from the mess. “See you tomorrow.”
Cruz and I resume walking. I have one more fair in Bozeman next month, and then it’s holiday baking. But I can’t keep up this breakneck pace. Cruz is going to get tired of my limited time. He hasn’t said so, but the worry is in his features. I want to hire a full-time baker and give someone else in the area a chance to work a job they love instead of having to move to a bigger town. I want to do cookie dough fundraisers and help the community.
I want to give back, and I can’t while my ex is still taking from me.
I took from him first.
No. That money wasmine. Dwayne used me to pay his bills—and Damon’s. All I did was take it back from him. He had such a big stash because he was living off me.
After waving goodbye, Cruz stays with me all the way to the bakery. I turn at the front door. This is a lot like getting dropped off after a date.
I’m anticipating a goodnight kiss—a long one—but his troubled gaze creates a lump in my throat. “What’s wrong?”
He scratches the back of his neck. His hair is pushed off his face and there’s no hat crease since he wasn’t wearing it whileworking. I want to ruffle my fingers through it, but I stand still. “Did you get another visit from that guy Dean?”
A pit forms right in the middle of my stomach. Shit. Why would he ask that?
A chill drips into my veins.
“No.” Horror almost chokes me. There’s no other reason Cruz would ask, or why he’d have that worried and pissed-off expression on his face. “Oh god, was he here?”
“You didn’t see him?”
I look up and down the sidewalk. Where is that bastard? Did he harass Cruz and not me? Why? What game is that asshole playing?
There’s no trace of Damon.
I dig into my pocket for my keys, unlock the door, and haul Cruz inside. “What happened?”
He gives his head a small shake. “So he didn’t bother you?”
“Not today, no.”
Relief smooths the crease on his forehead. “Good.” He frowns. “He said he’d stop by tomorrow, and I’m not sure he just told me that to fuck with me.”
A knot yanks so tight in my chest that I can barely breathe. Damon’s lurking around. He’s bothering a guy I’m seeing. When will this end?
“I think we should find Deputy Palmer.”
I’m shaking my head before I open my mouth. “We can’t.”
“Elodie, something was seriously off with this guy. I think he might be stalking you.” Concern is scrawled all over his handsome face, and it’s for me. I’m a terrible person. I said I wouldn’t be like my old self and here I am, justifying how what I’m doing isn’t lying.
I let out such a long breath it’s a surprise I’m not a deflated mess on the ground. “His name’s not Dean. That was Damon, my ex’s brother.”
My gut twists in a hundred different directions when realization plays across his face. Disbelief. Understanding. Betrayal. That last look is like a physical slap, but I don’t deserve any less.
“Like your ex who’s in jail, Damon?”
“I’m sorry I lied.” My voice is hoarse and hot tears fill my eyes.
“Why didn’t you say anything?” He’s not raging at me, but his pupils are big and it’s not from desire.
