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Charlotte placed my chocolate glazed doughnut into the white paper bag and sat it on the counter beside my cup of coffee. Cash. Change. Done.
I was getting into my Mustang when I saw Charlotte coming outside after me.
“Did I forget something?” I patted my jeans to check for my wallet.
“No, you’re good. I just … I want to know why you keep coming here.”
She knew exactly why. I raised my coffee cup. “I like the coffee.”
She put her hands on her hips. “Come on. It’s just coffee.” Damn her and that sexy attitude.
“Well, I like it.” I pointed to her wrist. “How does it feel to have your arm back?”
“Tanner …”
“What? I’m just trying to have a conversation with my friend.” I didn’t know what else to say. I was desperate to keep her talking to me.
She raised her eyebrows. “Oh, we’re friends now?”
“Can’t we be?”
She thought for a moment. “Well, as your friend, I feel obligated to tell you that starting every day with a doughnut isn’t the healthiest choice.”
I stifled a smile. “The doughnut isn’t for me. It’s for my kid sister.”
“You have a sister?”
I rested my cup on the roof of my car so that I could pull my phone out of my back pocket and swipe until I found what I was looking for. I held my phone out so Charlotte could see the picture of my blond-haired, hazel-eyed little sister, who I loved with my whole heart.
Charlotte smiled, and I almost melted into a puddle. “What’s her name?”
“Khloe.”
“She’s beautiful.” Charlotte’s expression changed. Tears sprang into her eyes, and she quickly turned around to hide them from me. “I have to get back to work.”
What the hell? “Whoa, where are you going?” I put myself in between her and the bakery door, forcing her to face me. I took a chance placing my hands on her shoulders and lowered my head to see her eyes under the brim of her hat. “What just happened?”
A tear escaped down her cheek. “Please don’t look at me. This is so embarrassing.”
I took her face gently into my hands, the same hands she had seen violently squeezing Shawn’s throat. “Why are you crying?”
“Khloe is too young to lose her father. I remember what that’s like. I just wish your family didn’t have to go through that.”
My heart nearly shattered. She was crying because she was worried about my family? I pulled her against my chest and wrapped her in my arms. She didn’t hug me back, but she didn’t pull away.
Mallory poked her head out the door. “I hate to break up the love fest, but your dad is looking for you.”
Backing away from me, Charlotte wiped her cheeks. “Okay. I’ll be right in.”
“Are you crying?” Mallory stepped outside. “Did you make her cry, you asshole?”
“No, he didn’t,” Charlotte reassured her. “I’m fine. Tell my dad I’m coming in now.”
Mallory remained where she stood, glaring at me with her arms folded over her chest.
I held my hands up. “I just came for coffee.”
“Yeah, right,” she muttered. “And strippers are just paying their way through law school.” She spun around and walked back inside.
