Page 44 of Win a Date with a Baker

I look around the bakery. “I thought it was my recipes. My business. My reputation. I thought if I let my guard down...”

I laugh once. “...someone would take everything I’d built.”

She takes one slow step closer.

“I didn’t realize...” My voice catches.

She says my name so softly it almost undoes me.

“I let a bunch of strangers convince me that you were here for attention.”

I shake my head. “When the truth was standing right in front of me every morning at four-thirty.”

I smile sadly.

“You smelled like flour and argued with me about lemon juice.”

A tiny smile appears.

“You remembered my sandwich order. You knew every employee’s name. You stayed because you loved this place.” I look directly into her eyes. “And I accused you of the one thing you proved every single day you weren’t.”

Silence hangs between us.

I swallow past a lump in my throat. “I can’t take that back. I wish I could.”

“I know.”

I take another breath.

“The worst part...” I glance down at the donuts. “...is that I forgot why I fell in love with you.”

Her eyes widen.

“I didn’t fall in love with someone who liked being photographed.” I let out a breath. “I fell in love with the woman who could temper chocolate better than half the applicants I’ve interviewed.”

She laughs quietly.

“I fell in love with the woman who made my maple filling better. I fell in love with the woman who looked at this bakery...” I gesture around us. “...and saw home.”

My throat tightens. “I know asking for another chance is a lot. Probably more than I deserve. So if the answer is no...” I nod once. “I’ll understand.”

I step close enough to take her hand if she’ll let me. She doesn’t pull away.

“I just need you to know...” My thumb brushes gently across her knuckles. “...that I finally understand what I almost lost.”

She looks down at our joined hands. Then back up at me.

“You know...” Her voice trembles just a little. “...I was really mad at you.”

“I deserve that.”

“And really hurt.”

“I know.”

“I kept replaying everything.”

I close my eyes for a second. “I’m sorry.”