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Holly looked away, her vision blurry with tears. “That’s just it. Avel shouldn’t have done that. We were good together. I was sure he liked me. He came on a bit strong the first time we met but was respectful when I said no. A guy who was using me to get what he wanted wouldn’t do that. He wouldn’t put in so much effort just for a bit of fun.”

“How did Avel come into your life?”

“Long story short, we met after I got my business loan. We got to know each other in the bar after I offered him a chocolate. He helped me get to the food fair when my transport let me down. He saved us when we got in the star storm. We got close then it all went wrong.”

“Was Avel there when you met Eric again?”

“He was.”

“And Avel went cold on you after he saw you with Eric?” Sally tilted her head. “It sounds like Eric was full on when you met.”

Holly frowned at the unpleasant memory. “Eric kissed me before I got off the ship. He stuck his tongue in my mouth before I could fight him off.”

“And Avel saw this?”

“He did. I could tell he was furious. He wanted to get involved when Eric was coming onto me, but I warned him off.” Comprehension slammed into Holly. Did Avel really think she liked Eric?

“It sounds like you’ve both got the mixture wrong,” Sally said.

“The mixture?”

“Baking is like love. When you put in too much flour, don’t add enough liquid, or don’t beat it enough, what you get is a stodgy mess that no one’s interested in.”

“You’re calling my relationship with Avel a stodgy mess?”

Sally laughed. “No, not your current relationship. When you first start baking, you don’t know what you’re doing. It’s trial and error. Even when you follow a recipe, things don’t go to plan. But, with perseverance, you create perfection.” She pointed to the brownies.

Holly wrinkled her nose. “I’m not sure about perfection. We’re an odd couple. Avel’s a moneylender. In fact, he’s my moneylender. I didn’t even know he’d lent me the money for my chocolate business until we were in way over our heads.”

“Okay, so that does make the mixture spicier. You don’t want to mix business and pleasure usually, but it sounds like that’s exactly what’s happened, and the end result is...”

“An inedible mess. It deserves to go in the trash.” Holly hid her face in her hands. “I can’t do this.”

“No, not inedible, but you need to change things up. Avel must be confused about what he saw.”

“I tried to tell him I don’t like Eric, but he gave me the brush off after Eric kissed me. Avel acted like it didn’t matter what had happened between us.”

Sally blew out a breath. “Holly, let’s get one thing clear. Your lousy scumbag of an ex was your soggy bottomed disaster. He needs to go in the trash and stay there. In fact, you need to forget you were ever involved in that embarrassing mistake.”

Holly blinked slowly. “So, what’s Avel?”

“I have a feeling, with a few extra spices in your new mix, you and Avel could be the perfect combination.”

Holly broke off a piece of brownie and rolled it between her fingers. Eric had done a number on her. Seeing him on that ship had slammed home all the hateful things he’d done to her. How he’d broken down her joy and made her too scared to try for anything she desired.

Just as she was making changes in her life and thinking she could achieve something great, he’d returned. Was it a sign? Or was Sally right? Eric had been a horrible mistake, one she should learn from and move on. After all, she didn’t let one burned tray of cakes stop her from baking. She should be the same with her relationship with Avel. The idea was terrifying.

It was easier to stay here. Safe in the place she knew and loved and see how many brownies she could eat without making herself feel sick.

Sally drained her coffee and stood. “So, what’s it going to be? Are you going to let your under-cooked ex dictate your future, or are you going to scrap that recipe from your books and try a new flavor?”

Holly licked her lips. She didn’t know, but she wasn’t finished with Avel yet.

Chapter 18

It was still early as Avel left his room. He’d barely slept the previous night, his head full of images of Holly kissing that guy. What if they’d hooked up later? She was free to do that if she wanted. The thought made him sick.

When Avel’s anger had cooled, he’d realized that Holly hadn’t been enjoying herself when she was locked in that asshole’s arms. But they had history, and that mattered. He should stay out of the way, let them figure things out. But if he saw them together, saw that he’d lost his chance with Holly, he might just have to kill something.