I Only Have Pies for You (Pumpkin Spice Life 1)

“What are you doing here?” she asked, careful to keep her voice neutral as coldness spread through her body. It’d been over a year since they last spoke. Still, seeing him in person proved to be too soon.

“I heard you were opening your bakery. I had vacation time, and I wanted to congratulate you.” Who are you, and what have you done to Ryan? If the vacation wasn’t on a private beach or international shores, he wasn’t interested. “I know how much this means to you, Ros.”

“Do you?” she asked with a chuckle that held no humor.

Stepping forward, he grabbed her hand. “I do now.”

She snatched her hand back like it was on fire. “Now isn’t the time or place.”

“I wanted you to know I’m here and I support you. I was wrong.”

“No.” She shook her head.

“All I want is a chance to talk.”

“Why now?” When I have everything I want.

“Life isn’t the same without you, Rosaleen. Ignoring that hasn’t made the truth change.”

“Please leave, Ryan.” She lowered her voice. “I can’t do this with you. Don’t ruin what’s been an unforgettable day for me.”

“I’ll be back tonight.”

“Please, don’t.”

Thank God Mom isn’t in here. She took the broken engagement hard. A whiff of him wanting to make amends would send her into “forgiveness is a virtue” mode.

Alaric

It took effort to lift his legs to walk up the steps as his vision blurred. One misstep had sent them into a flurry of operations, medication, and talks of physical therapy. Trudging wearily up the familiar steps, he took a left to his childhood bedroom. The digital clock on his bedside mocked him. Shit. 8:30. He missed the grand opening. A text would be lame and impersonal after the hurt he must have caused. But her mother is visiting. Torn between making things right, and being respectful, he ran his fingers through his tousled hair. Waffling as his weariness told him to call it a day, he pushed past the exhaustion and turned around to retrace his steps.

“Where are you headed, son?” his father asked as he came from the kitchen with a cup of coffee he’d bet was laced with something stronger.

“I bailed on a friend today, and I need to make it right.”

His father narrowed his gaze. “Hmm. Must be some friend.”

“She is.”

His father smirked. “Don’t let me hold you. I appreciate you being there for me and your mother today.”

“Always, Dad. You don’t have to thank me for that.”

“But I do. You were a good boy who turned into an exceptional man. I don’t think we tell you enough.”

“Thanks, Dad.” He smiled bashfully at his father’s praise.

“Go take care of your lady friend who I’m guessing your mother doesn’t know about since she hasn’t mentioned it.”

“She knows I have a friend.”

“Hmm.” He took a sip from his drink. “I’ll keep this to myself since seeing as how she’s supposed to be relaxing and healing up.”

“Probably for the best.” Alaric grinned. Seeing Rosaleen always lifted his spirits. Grabbing the truck keys off the hook by the door, he left the house, hoping he’d make it to the local supermarket before they closed, and that the flowers wouldn’t be too picked over. Pulling out the driveway, he flirted with the speed limit and landed in the parking lot at twenty ’til nine. Slipping inside the automatic door, he gave the cashier an apologetic smile as he rushed to the floral department. The bouquet of sunflowers caught his eye along with the llama stick insert. After grabbing them both, he moved to the card department. Since this was his first major screw up, he figured it’d be best to lay it on thick.

Grabbing the least specific apology card, he jogged to the counter.

The female cashier smirked. “Someone in the dog house?”