French Roast by Ava Miles Page B

I had no idea she was going to show up like this.”
    “And you didn’t think to tell me your ex-whatever was trying to reach you? When did it start?”
    Shit. He looked away. “A few weeks ago.”
    “So, when we were ‘involved.’ And you didn’t think to mention it to me? Wasn’t it bothering you?”
    His shoulder lifted. “I ignored her. I thought she’d give up.”
    Her laugh was bitter. “Yeah, well that clearly worked. I saw how she kissed you. And it sure took you a long time to push her away.” She wrapped her arms around her middle and rose to her feet.
    “That’s not true.” He thrust his hand out to stop her from leaving. “I was in total shock. She was the last person I expected to see.” Brian rocked back on his heels, squishing snow. “I told her I’m with you.”
    Jill snorted. “Great, problem solved.” She pressed a hand to her chest, her wet eyes making his chest hammer. “If it were over, you would have told me about her when I asked. We’re supposed to be friends—first, last, and always. The rest of it…” Her voice broke.
    He ducked his head, not knowing how to respond. Telling her the full truth would be the stupidest thing he’d ever done. She would shut him out again, and he couldn’t go through that again.
    “So what does she want? ‘Cause you don’t come to Dare by accident.”
    His cough couldn’t clear his throat. “She wants me back. I told her I’m not interested.”
    She wiped her nose with her sleeve. “I hear a ‘but’ coming from a mile away.”
    He took off his gloves, grabbed her hands, and put them on her.
    “Oh, Bri.” She rested her head on his chest and sniffed.
    His arms wrapped around her and he kissed her hair, wanting to make the anguished sounds cease. His eyes burned when her tears plopped against his coat. “Jillie, please don’t cry. I’m sorry.”
    “Tell me exactly what she wants.”
    He could at least tell her that. He tucked her close. “She wants to open a restaurant together.”
    She jolted and tried to pull away. “But…” she said. He kept his grip firm. “Oh God, she wants you to go back to New York.”
    Even now the shock gave him a headache. He tried to cup her cheek, but she jerked back. “Yes.”
    “You had talked about opening a place together?”
    His insides jittered. “Yes.”
    Her face crumbled. “And New York is where all the action is. Not like boring ol’ Dare.”
    “Don’t say that! You know I love being here with you.”
    “But you’re considering it.”
    “Well, I can’t just discount it… It’s my dream to run a big-name restaurant. Don’t you remember what I had to overcome to get where I am? All the bad names my dad and lots of other assholes called me? This is important to me, Jill.” He punched the air. “And, dammit, I’m pretty confused right now, too. I never expected this, never!”
    She wiped at more tears. Seeing her wet, blotchy face and runny nose undid him. He took her hands. “I couldn’t stand to lose you again.” He kicked the snow so hard it flew like gunfire. “But the thought of forever still scares me, and the last thing I want to do is hurt you.”
    She finally threw her hands up in the air. The wind blew her red hair behind her like a flaming kite. “Well, you already have. You top the list of People Who Have Hurt Jill Hale. You need to decide what you want because I can’t not be serious about you. I don’t know if I can do this anymore. It’s like high school graduation all over again.”
    The panic hit him like a haymaker punch. He hadn’t even told her everything, and she was already pulling away, retreating to past hurts. He snagged her arm when she turned away. “Don’t say that.”
    She sniffed, looking down at her feet. “You still look at her like there’s something you haven’t resolved. It’s why you came home, isn’t it?”
    “Yes, partly.” He opened his mouth to tell her the truth. Fear strangled him.
    She tapped her foot, waiting.
    He