Page 4 of Maggie’s Match

“Where is she?” he asked, picking up his fork.

“Up near Austin.” She turned and walked away, but not before throwing over her shoulder, “You’re too late.”

What the hell did that mean? His entire body stilled. He was too late? He wanted to yell across the diner and ask Mama what she meant but knew better. Mama had boxed his ears many times in his youth for yelling in her diner.

Instead, as he ate, he pulled out his phone and stalked Maggie’s social media. It was all there. Updates about her bakery in town. Her social life. Her family life. The trip to help her cousin Becca open up her very own bakery in Bottle Creek. According to one post, it would sort of be a branch of Maggie’s Bakery.

He’d been so proud of her, as had everyone else in town, when she’d purchased the old gas station across from the Grocery Stop shortly after graduating from high school. It had taken her less than six months to turn it into her bakery and open the doors.

The sign, Maggie’s Bakery, hung in bright teal letters over the building in a strong but feminine cursive. He’d expected the inside to be very pink and girlie, but she’d used a very natural light teal on the walls. The tables and chairs were made of reclaimed wood, and the rustic wood floors and walls made the place warm and inviting. It was a great place for people to hang out in the morning hours. Almost as popular as Holly’s Bookstore and Coffee House.

If you were in the mood for baked goods and a cup of coffee in the morning instead of a full sit-down meal, Maggie’s was the place to be.

The business had been an instant success.

Now, reading through her social media posts, he realized that she planned on spending three months out of town to help with her cousin’s business launch.

Three months! And from the look of it, she’d just arrived at her cousin’s ranch in a small town called Bottle Creek on the outskirts of Austin.

His heart sank as he kept scrolling through her life. Not because of the thought of spending the next three months waiting for her to return home, but because of a post she’d put up the night before of her hugging a blond man.

Was that what Mama had meant when she’d said he was too late?

When he finished eating his meal, he paid and headed back to Saddleback Ranch. When he stopped at the main house, he wasn’t surprised to see his parents out on the front porch swing, snuggled up against one another with several dogs at their feet.

“Evening,” his father said as he approached and bent to pet the dogs. “How was your first day back?”

“Good,” he said with a sigh.

His father’s eyes narrowed. “What?”

“Nothing,” he started, but then his father tilted his head and gave him the look he always did when he knew he was holding something back. “It’s just…” He sighed. “There’s this thing I have to do.”

Both his parents’ eyebrows shot up.

“Thing?” his mother asked.

“Something I have to check out first.”

“Where?” his father asked.

“Bottle Creek,” he answered quickly. “Austin area.”

He was surprised when, instead of arguing or asking more questions, his parents looked at one another and smiled.

Shit. That meant they knew.

“Take your time,” his father finally said after a moment. “We can hold things down here until you get back.”

“You know, I have some friends that live in Bottle Creek. I’m sure you can stay with them if you need,” his mother said suddenly with a grin. “I’ll arrange everything.” She pulled out her phone and started texting.

“Thanks.” He leaned against the railing as he crossed his arms over his chest. “It’s not what you think,” he tried to tell them, but they continued to smile at him like he’d just won the biggest award.

“We aren’t thinking anything,” his father said with a chuckle.

Rick sighed. It was pointless. After he’d invited Maggie to a family event the year before, the entire town had been buzzing about them. Then he’d up and moved to Tyler, a larger town about an hour away. That had shocked and confused everyone, including Maggie. Hell, he’d been bewildered by his decision as well.

But he’d needed that time away to get some perspective. Now he was positive what he wanted. And what he desired the most was currently hanging on the arm of another man.