in here this week.”
He moved closer, standing on the opposite side of the case. “You missed me?”
She felt her face grow hotter, but she tried to give him a light response. “Of course. I’ve had blueberry scones and coffee ready just for you.”
“I’ve been out of town.” He continued to study her. “I tried calling and left a couple of messages on your cell phone. Did you change your mind about tomorrow?”
She furrowed her brow. “I didn’t get any calls or messages from you. Do you have the right number?”
Garrett drew a cell phone out of a holster on his belt and checked it. He gave her the number he’d called.
“You’re off by one number.” She felt a rush of relief. “The last number should be a seven, not a one.”
“Sorry about that, honey,” he said and a pleasant feeling went through her at the endearment, even if he hadn’t meant it to be intimate in any way. “I stopped by since I hadn’t heard from you to see if you still want to come tomorrow.”
“Absolutely.” She smiled. “I’m baking the cookies this afternoon.”
He came closer to the bakery case. His voice was low and vibrated through her. “I’d like to sample another one of your treats.”
For a moment she felt as though he meant her , but then she realized he was talking about her baked goods.
“What would you like to try?” Her voice was a little husky as she spoke and she cleared her throat.
He looked away from her and at the breakfast display case. “How about a cheese Danish and one of those quiches?”
“Coffee?” she asked and he nodded.
When she had everything ready for him, he handed her cash for his items. Their fingers brushed and she felt like he’d done it deliberately, as if he needed to touch her as much as she wanted to touch him.
“I’ll pick you up at eleven-thirty,” he said as he stuffed the change into his pocket. “Potluck is at noon and the softball game is after that.”
She smiled. “I’ll be ready.”
He gave her one more lingering look before he turned and headed out of the bakery. He paused at the door when he pushed it open and looked back at her. He gave her a nod before walking through the entrance.
She put her hand to her belly, her stomach swooping as he left. Had he said without words that he wanted her like she wanted him? She couldn’t be absolutely positive, but she was sure she felt something between them. It was in the way he looked at her, the way he spoke to her.
Old, ugly insecurities reared their heads and made her wonder how a man like him could find a woman like her interesting or appealing.
She closed her eyes tightly for a moment before opening them again. No, she would not give in to those feelings. She couldn’t let life pass her by just because she was insecure about herself.
Maybe she was in for heartbreak, but anything worth having was worth trying for. And as far as she was concerned, Garrett McBride was worth putting her heart out on the line.
Chapter 14
Easter Sunday dawned cold, dark, and cloudy, and it looked like rain on the horizon. The weather report had said there was a chance of intermittent showers throughout the day.
Ricki frowned as she looked out the front window of her home. She wondered if the McBride family softball game would be called on account of rain. She rubbed her palms on her jeans, a jittery sensation going through her. She’d be with Garrett and a bunch of the McBride clan soon. What would they think of her being there with Garrett?
A truck pulled up in front of the house and Ricki saw that it was Garrett. She let the curtain slide back into place and went to the kitchen to grab the small cross-body purse she used on outings so that she could keep her hands free. The doorbell rang as she picked up the big box of Easter cookies and headed for the front door.
After she took a deep breath, she unlocked and opened the door to see him standing on her doorstep. He so looked yummy in athletic shoes,
He moved closer, standing on the opposite side of the case. “You missed me?”
She felt her face grow hotter, but she tried to give him a light response. “Of course. I’ve had blueberry scones and coffee ready just for you.”
“I’ve been out of town.” He continued to study her. “I tried calling and left a couple of messages on your cell phone. Did you change your mind about tomorrow?”
She furrowed her brow. “I didn’t get any calls or messages from you. Do you have the right number?”
Garrett drew a cell phone out of a holster on his belt and checked it. He gave her the number he’d called.
“You’re off by one number.” She felt a rush of relief. “The last number should be a seven, not a one.”
“Sorry about that, honey,” he said and a pleasant feeling went through her at the endearment, even if he hadn’t meant it to be intimate in any way. “I stopped by since I hadn’t heard from you to see if you still want to come tomorrow.”
“Absolutely.” She smiled. “I’m baking the cookies this afternoon.”
He came closer to the bakery case. His voice was low and vibrated through her. “I’d like to sample another one of your treats.”
For a moment she felt as though he meant her , but then she realized he was talking about her baked goods.
“What would you like to try?” Her voice was a little husky as she spoke and she cleared her throat.
He looked away from her and at the breakfast display case. “How about a cheese Danish and one of those quiches?”
“Coffee?” she asked and he nodded.
When she had everything ready for him, he handed her cash for his items. Their fingers brushed and she felt like he’d done it deliberately, as if he needed to touch her as much as she wanted to touch him.
“I’ll pick you up at eleven-thirty,” he said as he stuffed the change into his pocket. “Potluck is at noon and the softball game is after that.”
She smiled. “I’ll be ready.”
He gave her one more lingering look before he turned and headed out of the bakery. He paused at the door when he pushed it open and looked back at her. He gave her a nod before walking through the entrance.
She put her hand to her belly, her stomach swooping as he left. Had he said without words that he wanted her like she wanted him? She couldn’t be absolutely positive, but she was sure she felt something between them. It was in the way he looked at her, the way he spoke to her.
Old, ugly insecurities reared their heads and made her wonder how a man like him could find a woman like her interesting or appealing.
She closed her eyes tightly for a moment before opening them again. No, she would not give in to those feelings. She couldn’t let life pass her by just because she was insecure about herself.
Maybe she was in for heartbreak, but anything worth having was worth trying for. And as far as she was concerned, Garrett McBride was worth putting her heart out on the line.
Chapter 14
Easter Sunday dawned cold, dark, and cloudy, and it looked like rain on the horizon. The weather report had said there was a chance of intermittent showers throughout the day.
Ricki frowned as she looked out the front window of her home. She wondered if the McBride family softball game would be called on account of rain. She rubbed her palms on her jeans, a jittery sensation going through her. She’d be with Garrett and a bunch of the McBride clan soon. What would they think of her being there with Garrett?
A truck pulled up in front of the house and Ricki saw that it was Garrett. She let the curtain slide back into place and went to the kitchen to grab the small cross-body purse she used on outings so that she could keep her hands free. The doorbell rang as she picked up the big box of Easter cookies and headed for the front door.
After she took a deep breath, she unlocked and opened the door to see him standing on her doorstep. He so looked yummy in athletic shoes,
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