The woman that broke my heart.
Chapter Five
PRESLEY
“Poppy. What have I told you about talking to strangers?” I chide, rounding the counter with plates balanced on my arms.
Poppy is the most outgoing person. I don’t know where she gets it from. All of her teachers say she’s the most talkative in class, sometimes to her detriment.
Trying to teach her about stranger danger? It’s hard.
“I’m not, mama.” She says it like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “He asked about Strawberry. I told him I can’t talk to strangers and he said his name was Kade.”
“Kade?”
I haven’t heard that name in years. Haven’t thought about it in months. Okay, so that’s a lie—I think about it daily, but I try not to.
There is no possible way that it’sthatKade she’s talking to. It’s a common name, right?
My gaze moves to the man sitting next to her and I’d recognize that physique anywhere.
Kade Miller.
The man who left town and shattered me. Every nerve is tingling as a hard stare faces me. I map his features. Theharder jaw line. Longer hair. Closed-off brown eyes. Strong hands and biceps. Everything about this person is Kade.MyKade. And yet, he’s an entirely different person.
He’s sitting on the stool next to Poppy, and it makes my heart clatter around in my chest.
Our eyes are locked on one another, neither of us moving.
When was the last time I saw him? The week he left town? I know he’s come back over the years, but I’ve never seen him. I heard the whispers. I didn’t need to see him. Didn’t need the complication of him in my life.
I had my daughter to worry about.
Kade stands, but doesn’t say a word as he turns to leave the diner. I’m still holding my breath, staring into the space he vacated.
“Oh my God.”
“Excuse me, can we have our order?” a voice calls out, stirring me into action.
I set the plates down, wiping my hands before heading to where Poppy is.
“Poppy. You can’t talk to strangers,” I scold her.
“But—”
“No buts. Now, finish your milkshake and we’ll go home in a few minutes.”
Thank God it’s the end of my shift because I don’t know if I could focus right now.
“Are you okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Rylee says.
“Kade is here.”
“What?” She gasps, looking over my shoulder.
“I mean, he was. He was talking to Poppy.”
“You’re kidding.”
