Sprinkled with Love

The man’s eyes narrowed in on him. “You need to stay away from Jillian.”

Every muscle in Avery’s body tensed. “That’s not what Jillian wants.”

A muscle in the man’s cheek twitched. “I know she’s upset with me right now, but we will work things out. I already picked up the pieces after you broke her heart once. Don’t try it again.”

He broke Jillian’s heart? How was that possible? He’d never led her on. Not once. He’d made sure of it. But he had a feeling this man hadn’t been so cautious with Jillian’s feelings.

Avery leveled his shoulders and stared straight into the man’s eyes. “I’ll leave when Jillian asks me to.”

“You’ll regret this. Jillian is mine.” The man strode away and climbed in his vehicle.

Jillian was his?

Really? Since when did Jillian become some sort of possession? No one could own her. She was a strong woman, capable of fending for herself. Avery just hoped she never bought into this man’s warped thoughts.

Avery stood there until the man peeled off into the night. The thought of sweet and kind Jillian ending up with that jerk infuriated him. She deserved so much better.

Realizing he should check on her, he started up the walk. After a light tap of his knuckles on the door, he let himself inside. He didn’t see Jillian at the breakfast nook where she’d been earlier that evening.

And then he spotted her in the kitchen. “Hey, is everything okay?”

She turned from where she had poured herself a cup of coffee. “I take it you ran into Glenn in the driveway?”

“Yep. Saw him.”

“I, ah, hope he didn’t bother you.”

Avery was about to say something when he noticed the flowers on the counter. Apparently Jillian still had some sort of feelings for the man or she wouldn’t have kept his flowers. The thought didn’t sit well with him. Not at all.

“Everything is fine,” he said, knowing it was anything but fine.

“You’re sure?”

“Positive.”

Confusion reflected in her eyes, but thankfully she let the subject go. “There’s fresh coffee in the pot if you want some.”

The last thing he needed right now was caffeine. He was plenty pumped up and wide awake. In that moment, he realized he wanted to fight for Jillian.

The decision didn’t hit him like a bolt of lightning. Instead, it came to him gently as though he’d always known deep inside that they belonged together.

Now how would he convince Jillian?

Chapter Fourteen

It had been a great day.

Jillian smiled broadly Thursday afternoon. Not only had she completed the necklace and matching earrings for the fundraiser, but she had also put them up on display in her shop and five people had already bid on them. She’d set a starting amount, but it was bare minimum and she hoped people would be extra generous since all proceeds went to Harry’s House.

“What has you smiling this afternoon?” Suzanna asked.

Jillian paused. She was smiling? “I don’t know. I guess the week is going well.”

“Anything special?”

“No. And it doesn’t have to do with a guy if that’s what you were thinking. It’s just that the shop is doing well and so is our website. And th

e snow is falling—”