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"All right. Let's channel Breezy Sascha and get this recipe together." Bella leaned in to look at the recipe. "And then you can help me figure out this new chicken dish, because I've lost my muse, too, big brother."
"It's a deal—" At that moment, his phone rang. He glanced at it, and saw it was Sadie, who was in charge of all the logistics at the bakery. He gestured at Bella that he was taking the call, then put the call on speaker while he began to organize his ingredients. "What's up, Sadie?"
"The driver who was supposed to take the Local C Route has a family emergency, and she's out for the next three days. I don't have anyone to take the route."
Keegan swore. "We have to deliver to them. Switch someone else to that route."
"Everyone has already left. I'd drive, but I need to stay here and keep things moving."
Bella looked over. "What's the Local C route?"
"It's a route that delivers to a bunch of my original customers. The mom-and-pop markets who sold Hart Bakery items when there wasn't a Hart Bakery. They're top priority." He rubbed his jaw. "Maybe we can get—"
"Us," Bella interrupted suddenly. "Let's do the delivery. You and me. Get out there, remember why we do this. Remember the people who matter to us."
Keegan frowned at her. "I need to get this recipe done, and I don't want to leave Millie—"
"Bring Millie, and we can work on the way. You're not making any progress anyway." Bella clapped her hands together excitedly. "This feels right, Keegan. Let's do it. You need it. I need it. It's a gift. Let's take it."
Keegan looked around his kitchen. Ingredients were everywhere. Pumpkin bread was on multiple plates, all of it subpar. In the past, the scene would have ignited a spark of excitement in him. Today? It was a place he didn't want to be.
"Keegan?" Sadie asked. "What do you want to do?"
Decision made. He needed to get out of there. "I'll take the route, Sadie. Bella and I. We'll be there in ten minutes."
"It's an overnight route—"
"That's fine. We'll pack fast." He hung up and grinned at his sister. "You're crazy."
"I know! Yay! Road trip! I'll meet you at the warehouse!" She grabbed her bag and ran for the door, while Keegan dropped to his stomach and stretched out on the floor in front of the chair.
"Mille."
She poked her head out and pricked her ears.
"Want to go on a road trip?"
Her head began to wiggle as the force of her tail wag made her entire body move. She belly crawled out from under the chair and pressed her cold nose against his, her brown eyes fixed on his.
Keegan didn't have time to run around delivering food. He didn't have time for a dog.
But he was also done with waking up every morning and feeling empty, unable to appreciate the life he had.
So, he was going…and keeping the dog.
CHAPTER FOUR
"Girl, you are one badass bitch, and I never knew it!"
Sofia felt her cheeks heat up as she shoved a box of newly arrived romance novels into the arms of her best friend and business partner, Jocie Wilson. "You always knew I was a badass bitch."
"But not when it came to sex! Keegan Hart? Seriously? Millions of women would sacrifice their first born to get in his pants, and you got your first born by getting into his pants. The irony is not lost on me, sweetheart."
Jocie started laughing. "He wasn't the Keegan Hart everyone wants back then. He was the Keegan Hart no one wanted."
"Except you, because you clearly are a visionary woman." Jocie put the box down on the floor with a thump and pointed to the easy chairs that they had nestled around the fireplace, encouraging customers to settle down with a coffee, a pastry, and a newly purchased book to enjoy themselves. "Case in point, the amazing circle of readers you have created in our store."
Sofia smiled. "They are great, aren't they?" Right now, there were Christmas stockings hanging on the fireplace, strands of white lights twinkling all over the store, and signs promising a visit from Santa Claus on Sunday afternoon.
