Maggie jotted the info down. “I could double it—I really didn’t put that much in because I was afraid it would be too strong.”
Timmy licked his fingers. “I think you’re on the right track.”
Maggie hugged her notebook. “Thank you so much! I’m really excited about this recipe. I can see families gathering on Sunday morning to make their own doughnuts, can’t you?”
Timmy nodded as if that was something he thought about every day. “Absolutely.”
Cash watched her in awe. She wasn’t shy or intimidated or put off by this group who had scared away grown men before. But he was tired of sharing her with them. “All right, breaktime’s over. Get to work on that siding, boys.”
There were a few grumbles and lots of wiping beards with napkins as the guys trooped out.
Cash joined Maggie as she surveyed the counter.
“There’s nothing left,” she whispered. Squealing, she bounced up and down. “They liked my food.”
Cash chuckled. “How do you do it?”
“Do what?” She picked up one of the platters and set it in the sink.
“Live life with so much enthusiasm.”
She lifted a shoulder. “I’m just happy.”
He placed a hand on hers, drawing her attention away from cleaning up and putting it all on him. “I want you to be happy here, Mags.” He reached up and brushed the backs of his fingers over her cheek.
Her eyes became dewy and warm, her lashes framing them to perfection. He’d always liked her dark eyelashes. If he brushed his thumb over them, she’d giggle.
Something shifted behind her gaze, and she pulled slightly away. “If I can get this book done, I’ll be ecstatic.” She busied herself with wiping crumbs off the counter and into her open palm.
“Why do you do that?” he asked.
“Do what?” She continued to work so she didn’t have to look at him.
“Why do you stop yourself from sharing a …” He racked his brain for the right words. “A moment with me? We almost connected there.” Dang it all if he didn’t want that connection with every part of him.
Maggie stilled. She kept her head down. “I don’t trust you.”
Cash reeled. “You don’t …?” He stopped the tirade about his business reputation for honestly and fair pay. He kept himself from laying out his conversion to Jesus and the way his heart was open to whisperings of the Holy Spirit. “You don’t know me,” he finished.
“You’re right. I don’t. I don’t think I ever did.” She opened the dishwasher and began loading it—noisily. The crash of dishes and the shaking of the plastic tray seemed to mirror the emotions crashing around the room between the two of them. “You broke my heart, Cash. I gave it to you, I trusted you with it, and you broke it.” Crash went a plate. Bang went a wooden spoon.
Cash couldn’t bring himself to look away. All those years ago, after he’d broken up with her, he’d not allowed himself to look at her for fear of what he’d find. He didn’t want to believe he’d hurt her, even though he knew he had. And because he didn’t turn from it, he was hit full force with the pain that Maggie carried in her heart. A pain he’d put there. He was such a jerk. “Maggie, I’m sorry.”
She stiffened. He made his way to her. She didn’t turn to face him; instead, she hunched her back as if anticipating an attack.
He wrapped his hands around her arms, wanting to wrap her up and hold her against his chest but knowing he had no right to do so. “I’m sorry I didn’t keep your heart safe. I was young and stupid, and I had no idea what I was doing. That’s not true—I knew I hurt you. I thought it was for the best. I thought I was dragging you down.”
She sniffed, pressing the back of her hand to her mouth.
“I didn’t understand what a gift you’d given me. It’s my biggest regret, and I’m sorry.”
She sucked in air, not saying a word.
He squeezed her arms. “I’ll make it up to you.”
“You can’t.” Her voice cracked, and she whipped around so fast her bun wobbled. “You can’t bring back all the years of hurt.”
“No. I can’t. But I can treat you like you deserve.” He cupped her cheek. This time, she didn’t pull away. “I promise, I’m going to be the man I should have been back then.”
