A Very Crimson Christmas (Crimson, Colorado 4) by Michelle Major Page B

take a minute. Would you like a cup of coffee while you wait?”
    “I’m fine. Thanks.”
    She disappeared through a doorway behind the counter and he walked closer to the display cabinet, wondering for a moment what it would be like to have someone care about his favorite preferences besides the people he paid to care.
    The café tables near the front corner of the store were filled with an older couple, a group of teenagers and two mothers with younger children. Sparkling holiday lights hung across the exposed brick on the far wall and snowflakes dangled from the ceiling. Holiday music played softly in the background. A teenager came out from the back to help a customer who approached the counter. Liam moved out of the way, although he couldn’t quite take his eyes off the pastries and treats that filled the display.
    “Do you have a favorite?” Katie stood next to him, a brown bag tied with red ribbon in her arms.
    “I’m not much for sweets,” he answered automatically.
    “He says to the bakery owner,” Katie finished.
    Liam gave a startled laugh, unused to good-natured teasing. “Lemon bars,” he amended. “They’re probably not popular this time of year, but I like lemon bars.”
    “I’ll remember that.” Katie slipped behind the counter.
    “How long have you owned the bakery?”
    “My grandmother left it to me when she passed a few years ago.”
    “I’m sorry for your loss.”
    She nodded. “I was lucky to have her in my life. Every kid needs someone to give them unconditional love. She was it for me.”
    “Ruth was my nanny, but she was the closest thing I had.”
    “Oh, she loves you all right. Have you seen her scrapbook?”
    Liam’s stomach dipped. “What scrapbook?”
    “The one with every clipping and article she could find that mentioned your name. She used to have the local librarian save the old finance and business magazines for her. She was so proud of everything you did, used to brag about you like you were her own.”
    Liam felt his mouth drop open as a swarm of emotions went through him at the same time. Disbelief, gratitude and an overwhelming sense of loss. He’d kept his distance from Ruth for so long while she was collecting stories about him.
    Katie’s smile was infinitely gentle. “I’m going to put in one of my mini pecan tarts. You’ll need a cold-weather favorite, and it’s my personal mission to make everyone in town a fan of my bakery.”
    The bell rang and another group came into the store, pulling off scarves and hats as they did.
    “I haven’t talked to one person in town who doesn’t love this place.” He took the bag she set on the counter. “Besides I’m only here through the holidays, not regular customer material.”
    “I heard you may be moving your new company here.”
    All the emotion, the newfound affection for Crimson he’d been feeling dried up, like an errant drop of water in the desert. It didn’t stand a chance against the harsh light of the truth. The only reason Katie Garrity was being nice to him, the only reason anyone in this town gave a damn, was because they saw dollar signs when he walked into the room.
    He was used to it, so why did it rankle him so much? Maybe that’s all he truly had to offer anyone. If that was the case, did it matter if he set up LifeMap in Crimson or some other town?
    As if he’d summoned it, his past came walking into the bakery at that moment in the form of Logan Travers. He was bigger and broader than he’d been in high school, his long arm draped casually around the shoulders of the polished and surprisingly straitlaced-looking woman next to him.
    Katie looked stricken for a second before pasting on another bright smile. She waved to Logan and the woman.
    “Olivia, I don’t think you’ve met Liam Donovan.”
    The woman’s dark eyes remained focused on Liam, but she wrapped a hand around Logan’s waist and squeezed, as if calming a wild animal.
    “Welcome back,” Olivia said. “I’m sure Ruth