half of the shop. She took a deep breath, gathered her anger around her like a coat of armor, and walked out the patio door.
“Geez, woman, did you take the scenic route home? I’ve been waiting over an hour—”
“What the hell are you doing here?” The words came out in breathless wonder; she wished she could grab them back and try it again with more outrage.
“We have unfinished business. You didn’t think you’d be rid of me that easy, did you?”
He took a sip of his water, and Carrie couldn’t decide which she’d rather do, dump it over his head...or kiss him. Focus, Carrie, he’s only here to discuss ‘business’ .
“Whatever you have to say, make it quick. I’m pretty busy.”
“You were about to eat a sandwich and read a book,” he pointed out with a quirked brow.
“You were spying on me? Looking in my window like some friggin’ Peeping Tom?”
“Settle down, sweetheart. I just...I needed to see you. I’ve missed you.”
She stared at him, her hands fisted at her sides. He sounded so sincere…but then, he always did. “Whatever. Again, state your business or get the hell off my property.”
He grinned and took another sip of his water. “You’re pretty sexy when you’re mad. Why don’t you come sit with me and I’ll show you what’s in my envelope.”
“Why don’t you kiss my fat—”
“Watch it, woman. I’ll put you over my knee.”
She rolled her eyes. “Gee, what a great comeback. I’m quaking with─”
Matt leapt from the hammock so fast Carrie squealed in surprise. And the fool just stood there grinning at her. “Made you jump.”
“Oh, my God, what are you, five?”
“I have a present for you. Come here and I’ll give it to you.” He gave the envelope a shake.
So he’d signed Coffee To Chai For over to her. Great. That’s what she wanted...right? She strode forward, her chest tight, as if she were on her way to a funeral instead of on the verge of receiving her freedom back. He capped his water and set the bottle on the ground so he could pull the papers out of the envelope. She stopped just close enough to get a whiff of his aftershave. Damn, the man smelled good.
He held out the papers and asked, “So how do you feel about franchising?”
“What?” She snatched the papers from his hand and looked them over. Apparently, he’d bought a business in Madison. Her heart started pounding. Was he purposely being cruel? He knew her ex owned a coffee shop in Madison. “I don’t understand.”
He smiled as if he’d just handed her the Hope Diamond. “Look at the address. In about a month, Coffee To Chai For II will open up directly across the street from your ex’s shop. I figure you’ll be able to run him out of business in less than a year. Your coffee is ten times better—yes, I tried his—and you’ll be a buck cheaper per cup.”
“But...I thought you were here to sell me back your half of the shop.”
He leaned back against the trunk of the tree. “That would be quite a trick since I don’t own half your shop.”
She stared at him, sure he’d lost his mind. And then the truth suddenly dawned on her. My God, how could she not have thought of it before? “You signed the papers as Matt Jacobs, so the contract isn’t legal and binding.”
“Considering you have three attorneys in your immediate family, I’m surprised you hadn’t already figured that out.”
“I’ve had a lot on my mind this week.” Like missing you so much I could barely think straight.
“I can relate.” He straightened away from the tree and took a hesitant step toward her. “I’ve missed you, Carrie.” When she didn’t bolt, he closed the distance between them and took her in his arms, squeezing her so tight she could hardly breathe. “When I decided to move to Redemption, I only wanted to escape the madness of my life in L.A.,” he said against her cheek. “I’d been suffocating, between the constant hounding of the paparazzi and my parents
“Geez, woman, did you take the scenic route home? I’ve been waiting over an hour—”
“What the hell are you doing here?” The words came out in breathless wonder; she wished she could grab them back and try it again with more outrage.
“We have unfinished business. You didn’t think you’d be rid of me that easy, did you?”
He took a sip of his water, and Carrie couldn’t decide which she’d rather do, dump it over his head...or kiss him. Focus, Carrie, he’s only here to discuss ‘business’ .
“Whatever you have to say, make it quick. I’m pretty busy.”
“You were about to eat a sandwich and read a book,” he pointed out with a quirked brow.
“You were spying on me? Looking in my window like some friggin’ Peeping Tom?”
“Settle down, sweetheart. I just...I needed to see you. I’ve missed you.”
She stared at him, her hands fisted at her sides. He sounded so sincere…but then, he always did. “Whatever. Again, state your business or get the hell off my property.”
He grinned and took another sip of his water. “You’re pretty sexy when you’re mad. Why don’t you come sit with me and I’ll show you what’s in my envelope.”
“Why don’t you kiss my fat—”
“Watch it, woman. I’ll put you over my knee.”
She rolled her eyes. “Gee, what a great comeback. I’m quaking with─”
Matt leapt from the hammock so fast Carrie squealed in surprise. And the fool just stood there grinning at her. “Made you jump.”
“Oh, my God, what are you, five?”
“I have a present for you. Come here and I’ll give it to you.” He gave the envelope a shake.
So he’d signed Coffee To Chai For over to her. Great. That’s what she wanted...right? She strode forward, her chest tight, as if she were on her way to a funeral instead of on the verge of receiving her freedom back. He capped his water and set the bottle on the ground so he could pull the papers out of the envelope. She stopped just close enough to get a whiff of his aftershave. Damn, the man smelled good.
He held out the papers and asked, “So how do you feel about franchising?”
“What?” She snatched the papers from his hand and looked them over. Apparently, he’d bought a business in Madison. Her heart started pounding. Was he purposely being cruel? He knew her ex owned a coffee shop in Madison. “I don’t understand.”
He smiled as if he’d just handed her the Hope Diamond. “Look at the address. In about a month, Coffee To Chai For II will open up directly across the street from your ex’s shop. I figure you’ll be able to run him out of business in less than a year. Your coffee is ten times better—yes, I tried his—and you’ll be a buck cheaper per cup.”
“But...I thought you were here to sell me back your half of the shop.”
He leaned back against the trunk of the tree. “That would be quite a trick since I don’t own half your shop.”
She stared at him, sure he’d lost his mind. And then the truth suddenly dawned on her. My God, how could she not have thought of it before? “You signed the papers as Matt Jacobs, so the contract isn’t legal and binding.”
“Considering you have three attorneys in your immediate family, I’m surprised you hadn’t already figured that out.”
“I’ve had a lot on my mind this week.” Like missing you so much I could barely think straight.
“I can relate.” He straightened away from the tree and took a hesitant step toward her. “I’ve missed you, Carrie.” When she didn’t bolt, he closed the distance between them and took her in his arms, squeezing her so tight she could hardly breathe. “When I decided to move to Redemption, I only wanted to escape the madness of my life in L.A.,” he said against her cheek. “I’d been suffocating, between the constant hounding of the paparazzi and my parents
Similar Books
