Page 4 of Worth the Trouble

Then he settled his hat on his head and let her go about her business. He didn’t accost women in the middle of their errands, and he wasn’t going to start with her. If it was going to happen, it would happen somewhere better than a sidewalk. Besides, his sisters wanted Black Forest brownies from Sweet Everything, and the shop always ran out. So they’d blame him for not getting there soon enough if he came home empty-handed.

He pushed into the bakery and his senses were immediately inundated with sugar and cocoa. New flavors of truffles were lined up beneath the glass display and his mouth watered. Apple pie. Key lime. Mint chip. Those were his kryptonite. Anytime he came here to grab a few brownies for his little sisters, he had to pick up a couple chocolates for himself.

“There’s too much to pick from. How’s a girl supposed to choose?”

The woman had come up beside him without a sound, and when he tossed a disinterested glance in her direction, he was shocked. He stiffened and straightened to his full height. He let his gaze sweep over her.

Her eyes were sort of a blue-green. She smiled and his whole world spun. There was an expectancy in how she was looking up at him. And yet the quiet between them wasn’t awkward or pushy. His pretty stranger searched his eyes for a moment before she nodded as if she’d decided. Then she turned to the display. “Now, normally, I go for traditional. I love me some milk chocolate. But boy, if I’m not tempted to try something new.”

He liked the sound of her voice. It was smooth like caramel. His eyes fixated on that perfect cupid’s bow shape to her lips as she continued to ramble on about her favorite flavor. So many words and yet he couldn’t soak them in fast enough. He wanted more.

So much more.

A strand of her dark hair fell from behind her ear when she twisted at the sound of the door opening. His fingers twitched to tuck it back in place, but instead he shoved his hands in his pockets.

She stopped talking and her eyes flared. “Wow,” she whispered.

“What?”

“You’ve got a beautiful smile.”

He wondered if she had a hard time reining in her words just as he had a hard time sharing his. If that wasn’t a sign that they were meant to be, he didn’t know what was. He’d heard that opposites attract. His smile widened and one brow lifted.

That was enough to send color spreading beneath her skin. He’d done that. He’d made her smile.

He rolled his lower lip between his teeth, reveling in the knowledge that he’d made an impression on the pretty stranger. It had been a long while since he’d wanted to share more of himself with someone.

She turned away from him, mumbling to herself. Her pointedly putting space between them didn’t bolster his confidence. “Cookie dough,” he said. He’d told himself he’d speak to her if he got the chance. This was that chance.

Once again, she glanced at him. “What?” Her cheeks were still pink. Dang, she was beautiful.

He said it again, plainer. “Cookie dough. That’s what you want to try. Different enough, but similar to what you like.”

Her smile returned. It lit up her whole face and blew him away. “Cookie dough, hmm. I’ve never tried it.”

He gave her a curt nod. “You should.”

Her eyes narrowed, like she was checking her math. “You were the best man,” she said. “At the Dennison wedding. The twin.”

“And you’re the woman who left early.”

The pink returned to her cheeks, deeper this time. “I had somewhere to be.”

“Hmm.” He let the quiet run exactly long enough for them both to know it wasn’t true.

She studied him for another moment then turned toward Candace Landry, who was waiting patiently for them to order. “I’ll take three of those. And one Black Forest brownie, thank you.”

Candace nodded. “Good choice.” She shot Jason a small smile, one that could mean plenty or maybe nothing. Could she see how enamored he was? Would she tell the gossips at the salon? He took a small step away from the stranger before he got himself into trouble.

He told himself he was protecting this beautiful woman from the dangers of small-town gossip. The last thing she’d want is to be dragged into common conversation. At least that was how his sisters felt. And yet as he put that distance between them, he missed her nearness already.

The feelings stirring in him were strong. He needed her name. A way to contact her. A way to guarantee they’d see each other again. He turned toward her, and the door was closing.

She was gone.

Jason strode toward the exit, then stopped himself when he caught the gaze of not only Candace but Allison Wood as well. He turned to face the owners of the shop and offered them a smile. “Three cookie dough truffles and two brownies, please.”

The women exchanged knowing looks, but they didn’t utter a single word.