He shook his head. “I know that’s not the whole story, Ab. I was honest with you. I need you to tell me the truth too. Do you still love him?”
“No,” I said firmly.
“Why did you work for him?”
I sighed. “I have trouble saying no. I guess I’m the same way. I like to feel useful, like I’m actually helping. Brett needed my help. He always has. You never did.”
He arched an eyebrow at me. “You’re telling me we’ve been fighting because we both want to help each other and neither of us needs it?”
I laughed softly. “I guess. It sounds that way, doesn’t it?”
He leaned closer to me. “I don’t like you being around him. I don’t trust him. That’s never going to change.”
I shook my head. “I don’t trust him either. I called the mayor earlier. Brett never had a say in the whole thing. It sounds like he overheard the mayor’s assistant talking about the position and scheduled me an interview, but he never had a hand in any of it.”
Graham rolled his eyes and sat back. “I tried to tell you that.”
“Yeah,” I snapped, “and I don’t need I told you so thrown in my face.”
“Calm down,” he said patiently. “I wasn’t trying to say ‘I told you so.’”
I crossed my arms. “It sure sounded like it.”
“I’m sorry. That wasn’t my intention. I just wish you’d called sooner. Cut ties with him before.”
“I do too, but I don’t need to be reminded how stupid and blind I was.”
“Is this the way it’s always going to be with us? I say something and you snap. You say something and I get pissed. Because I’m not sure I can handle that. I saw enough of it growing up, Ab. It’s why I never wanted to get married. I won’t put myself, or kids, through a volatile relationship.”
I sighed, my chest seizing. “I’m sorry. I feel ridiculous for believing him. I know I should have called weeks ago. I should have questioned his involvement. He’s lied to me over and over again throughout our relationship. I don’t know why I thought this time was different. I don’t like knowing I messed up so badly. That I could have saved us if I hadn’t trusted him. But I don’t want us to be over.”
“I don’t either, Ab, but I don’t want to live like this.”
“Then we take things slow, just like we always talked about. We work through it.”
He nodded slowly. “I think that’s the best plan. There’s only one problem with it though.”
Uh oh. He didn’t want me. He was ready to walk away. He was in love with someone else. It was over. I fought back tears as I nodded, waiting for him to continue.
“The problem is I’ve already fallen in love with you, Ab. I’m not sure how to go back.”
“Really?” I squeaked, tears slipping down my cheeks. “Are you serious?”
Graham smiled at me and leaned forward to wipe my tears. “Yes, sweetheart. I love you. I don’t think that’s something that’ll change any time soon.”
“That’s good because I’m in love with you, too.”
“Oh, yeah?”
I nodded. “Yeah. I was going to tell you the other day, but I didn’t want to scare you off.”
He laughed. “Not gonna happen, Ab.” He leaned closer and crooked his finger at me. I leaned in until we were just a breath apart. “I love you, Ab,” he whispered against my lips.
“I love you, Graham.”
Then he sealed it with a kiss.
“Woohoo!” came from the kitchen, breaking our kiss. “Finally!”
We broke apart on a laugh. “I think we have an audience,” I told him.
“Let them watch,” Graham growled, pulling my lips back to his, then tugging me onto his lap. I snuggled into him and kissed him until the cheers died down and all I could hear was my heart pounding in my ears as the man I loved kissed me senseless.
Graham spent the rest of the day helping us bake. Carrie joined Tara, leaving Charlie to a station on her own so Graham could work with me. When Addi came in after school, she joined Charlie.
My friends pulled me out of trouble. By the time we locked the doors and went home, everything was ready. Graham agreed to help me set up in the morning before everything started, but the others were all signed up for a shift during the day.
“I missed you in my bed last night,” Graham whispered against my neck as I locked the door. “You’re coming home with me tonight. And I don’t care if you think I’m trying to control you. I’ll throw you over my shoulder and drag you there if I have to.”
His rough voice sent shivers down my spine and heat between my thighs. “What if I don’t want to go home with you,” I challenged.
“I told you, I’ll throw you over my shoulder and carry you.”
“I’d love to see you try.”
I squeaked as he did just that. He stalked to his truck, his long legs closing the distance quickly. I laughed the whole time and held on, enjoying my view of his ass. When I pulled his shirt up and licked his back, he nearly dropped me.
With one large hand on my ass, he hoisted me off his shoulder and lowered me to the floor. “That wasn’t fair,” he growled.
“Life isn’t fair, babe.”
“Very true,” he said seriously. “Tonight isn’t going to be fair at all. I’m going to worship you until you can’t breathe. I’m going to make you come so many times you won’t be able to count. And then I’m going to make love to you until there’s no chance you’ll survive tomorrow.”
“Maybe we can save some of that for tomorrow?”
He shook his head. “Nope. Because tomorrow I’m going to wake you up the same way, and whenever you get tired during the day I’m going to steal you away and give you a few more orgasms to get your energy up.”
“That sounds like a good day. But I’m feeling a little sleepy now.” I faked a yawn. “I’m not sure I’ll make it all night tonight.”
“Then I better get started,” Graham said, diving in for a kiss that sent me well on my way toward the first of many promised orgasms.
The next morning I was sore and exhausted and so ready for the day. Graham made good on all his promises, including my wake-up call. We showered together and headed to SkinnyCakes to pack up everything for the day.
“Think I can steal a few of these for breakfast?” Graham asked as we loaded up the blueberry doughnuts.
“That was my plan,” I told him. “Let’s get everything into the boxes and we’ll get breakfast.”
We loaded boxes side by side for the next thirty minutes. The enormity of what we baked finally started to hit me when I saw just how much we had to transport. “Maybe we should have asked for help,” I said, chewing my lip. “I didn’t realize it was this much.”
Graham shook his head. “We’ll be fine. My truck can hold a lot and we still have your car here if we need it. Worst case I’ll take a couple trips.”
“You have the display in your truck too.”
“Shit. I forgot about that.” He paused and looked around. “We’ll figure it out. Let’s eat and we can load in a few minutes.”
I nodded. We sat in the purple chairs and ate our breakfast in comfortable silence. I liked that about Graham. He never felt the need to fill the quiet between us.
“You know I really do love you, right?” he asked softly.
My eyes snapped to his. “Yeah. Why?”
He shrugged. “I’ve never told anyone that before. Except Travis. I want you to know I mean it.”
I smiled. “You said it a lot last night. I believe you. You know I love you too, right?”
He nodded. “I do. But, uh, don’t start doubting it when I don’t ask you to marry me, okay? I mean, we’re still on the same page with that, right?”
I nodded. “Yeah. We are. We can be in love and not be married.”
“What do you think about moving in with me?”
I took a swift breath and stared out the window. How did I answer that one?
“I think one day it
’ll be a good idea. Maybe if we can make it a month without fighting first?” He chuckled. “I love you, but I’ve never been on my own. I feel like I owe it to myself to live alone for a little while.”
Graham nodded. “You’ll think about it?”
“Yeah,” I whispered, leaning in to kiss him. “I’ll think about it.”
He kissed me gently and tugged me into his lap. He held me for a minute, just sitting together quietly. I felt safe in his arms. Loved.
When we started loading the truck it was obvious we weren’t going to fit even half of what we had in our two vehicles combined. Just as we were trying to figure out a plan, two more cars pulled into the parking lot.
“Need some help?” Claire asked as she got out of Aidan’s SUV.
“When Addi told me how much stuff you had, I knew you’d never fit it all,” Sam said, climbing out of Brady’s truck. “Put us to work. Or, the men at least.”
I rushed over and hugged them both, then hugged Aidan and Brady. “Thank you. So much.”
“It’s what we’re here for. We figured if we had the early shift it only made sense to help you set up. Point us in the right direction,” Aidan said, shaking Graham’s hand.
It didn’t take long for us to load up the rest of the desserts and get everything over to Town Square. Aidan, Brady, and Graham had all the vehicles unloaded and my new display set up and stocked in no time.
“I think you’re ready for business,” Sam said, snapping pictures. “I figured we could add some of these to your website. If you want.”
“Of course! Thank you so much. Let me know what I owe you.”
She shook her head. “Don’t worry about it. I’m sure I’ll be eating enough to make up for it today.”
I laughed. “Well, in that case, enjoy!”
Graham came up behind me and kissed my neck. “I’m proud of you. You really pulled this together.”
“I couldn’t have done it without you and the others,” I said, spinning in his arms. “Thank you for believing in me.”
“I’ll always believe in you.”
I took a deep breath. “I love you.”
“I love you. Hey, uh, how are you feeling?”
“I’m good, why?”
He shrugged. “I was just wondering if you’re getting tired. I was thinking of making a… coffee run.”
I yawned widely. “Actually, all of a sudden I am pretty tired. I could use some… coffee.”
“Let’s go now before too many people show up.”
“Good idea,” I giggled, taking his hand and following him to his truck. God, I loved that man.
Epilogue
Tara
I rushed through the crowd trying not to bump into anyone. I hated being late. When I spotted the SkinnyCakes stand I slowed my pace just a bit since I was almost there.
Then I saw her. A young girl all by herself in the crowd. Crying.
I paused near her and looked around. I couldn’t just leave her there alone. Even I wasn’t that horrible of a person.
With a sigh, I focused on the girl instead of the crowd. She was beautiful. The kind of kid you expected to see on a commercial or the side of a toy box, not lost in a crowd. Her blonde ringlets fell halfway down her back and her bright blue eyes scanned the crowd, scared. Tears ran in rivulets down her rounded cheeks. She was little too. She could have been three, but something told me she was older. Maybe it was the jean shorts he wore with a pink and purple striped shirt instead of something with a character on it.
I dropped to her level and looked in her eyes. “Hey sweetie. Can I help you find your mommy or daddy?”
She stopped crying almost immediately and looked at me. When she nodded I asked her what her name was. “Becca. But I’m not supposed to talk to strangers.”
I nodded. “Well, I’m Tara.” I offered her my hand and she shook it. “How about we say we’re friends instead?”
She considered me for a minute before nodding. “Okay. I have lots of friends. You can be one too. Even though you’re old.”
I stifled a laugh and nodded solemnly at her. “Thank you. I appreciate you accepting me. Why were you crying?”
“Because my brother is a poopy head,” she answered, grasping my hand. We started to walk through the crowd. I figured if I could get information about her I could tell whatever security they had and find someone who could help her.
“What’s your brother’s name?”
“Kevin. He’s mean to me.”
“I’m sorry about that. I don’t have any brothers or sisters, but I always wanted one.”
“I wish I didn’t have a brother. He thinks he’s the boss of me.”
“Where’s your mommy or daddy?”
“I don’t have a daddy,” she said matter of factly. “My mommy is working.”
Alarmed, I stopped walking. “So she isn’t here? How did you get here?”
She shook her head. “She works here. She told my brother to watch me but he saw one of his friends and told me he didn’t want to stay with me.”
“I’m sorry. Do you know where your mom is working? Is she at one of the stands?”
Becca shook her head. “No. She was checking on everyone. Running around.”
Huh? That made no sense. “Is she cleaning up?”
“No. She said she hired someone to do that.”
Jackpot. She had to be in charge in some way. “Okay.” I saw the information stand not too far from us. “Maybe they can help us here.”
We walked across the square and stood in line. When the people in front of us moved away, we stepped up. I explained what happened and the woman behind the desk smiled at Becca. “I’m sure your mom is around here somewhere, honey. Do you want to keep looking for her or stay with me?”
Becca shook her head, blonde curls tumbling over her shoulders. “I want to stay with Tara. She’s my friend.”
Shit. “Actually, I have to work, Becca. I’m helping a friend out today.”
She shrugged. “I can come with you.”
The lady behind the desk shrugged at me. I sighed and said, “Okay, Becca. Let’s go.” To the lady I said, “We’ll be at SkinnyCakes. If her mom comes looking, send her there.” She nodded and thanked me.
We walked back across the square to the SkinnyCakes stand. Becca held my hand the whole time. When we walked behind the stand, her eyes got huge.
“Who’s this?” Abby asked cautiously.
I turned to her. “This is Becca. I found her crying in the middle of the crowd. She lost her mom and her brother left her to go off with friends.”
Tara crouched down. “Hi Becca. My name is Abby. I own this place.”
Her eyes got even wider. “You own the whole town?”
Abby’s lips turned up before she stuffed it down. “No, honey, I meant I own this shop. Can I get you something to eat?”
She shook her head. “My mommy said I’m not allowed to eat anything. I’m allgeric.”
How cute was she? I could almost see having kids if they were like Becca.
“Oh. Do you know what you’re allergic to?”
Becca nodded. “Peanuts.”
“Well, I made all the stuff here with my friends. These right here,” she handed over a cake pop, “were made on my allergy free station. No peanuts were used in or near them so you can eat these without any problem.”
Becca’s eyes widened. “Can I have as many as I want?”
Abby laughed. “Let’s start with one. I don’t want you to fill up on cake and not eat your dinner.”
“Okay,” Becca agreed, taking the stick from Abby. She still held my hand and tugged me with her toward a chair. “Do you want to share, Tara? My teacher told me I need to learn to share.”
I smiled at the sweet girl. “I think maybe I’ll get my own. Can you stay here for a minute while I grab one? I’m come right back and join you.”
“Okay,” Becca said, diving into her cake pop.
I went back to the front of the stand where Ab
by was waiting for me.
“I’m so sorry I’m late,” I said. “I was going to be a few minutes late anyway, but I couldn’t leave her.”
Abby shook her head. “It’s not a big deal. We’ve had so many people here. Who is she?”
I shrugged. “I have no idea. She told me a little, but it didn’t help. I think her mom is in charge somehow.”
Abby narrowed her eyes. “I wonder if Olivia would know whose daughter she is. Let me call her.”
Abby stepped away for a minute and I grabbed a cake pop then checked on Becca. She was almost finished with hers. “Where’s my mommy?” she asked, her voice sounding a little shaky.
I sat next to her. “I don’t know, honey. My friend is calling someone who might know. We’ll find your mommy soon.”
“What if she left like my daddy did?”
I shook my head and pulled the girl in for a hug. “Oh, Becca, I’m sure that didn’t happen. Your mommy will be here any minute looking for you.”
“How do you know?”
I shrugged. “Because that’s how mommies are. She’s probably scared because she can’t find you.”
“Becca! Becca!” a frantic voice came from the other side of the counter.
I beamed at Becca. “I told you, sweetie. Let’s go see your mommy.”
Abby ushered the woman behind the counter and Becca ran to her. They hugged fiercely and I knew the woman was going to regret leaving her son in charge for a long time. He was going to regret it too if the angry look on his face as he watched mother and daughter was any indication.
She stood, her long brown hair falling away from her face, and I gasped.
“Abby?” she said in a voice almost as familiar as my own. “Who did you say found her? A friend of yours?”
Abby stepped up next to her. “Yeah, my friend, Tara. We went to college together. Becca seemed really comfortable with her.”
Olivia’s eyes swung toward me. It took a second before recognition lit them. Her lips pressed into a tight line and she took a deep breath. She shook her head then looked down at Becca. “Thank you,” she said, sounding sincere. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your help.”
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