Page 2 of Almost Love

“We looked everywhere for you,” someone said and she watched Mack’s expression turn thunderous. He released her, but didn’t move.

Her friends appeared, pouts and fake looks of concern etched on their faces. They stretched their arms out, like they were going to hug her, but she shook her head and stepped back. Mack snorted, but she didn’t look at him. She stared at the girls she thought were her friends and forced a smile.

“I’m okay. You don’t need to stay.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?” one asked. “We can stay.”

She shook her head. “I don’t want you to stay.”

“Clementine,” her mother said in her ‘I raised you better than that’ tone.

Glancing at her parents briefly and then at Mack, who gave her a firm nod of support, she turned to the girls she never wanted to see again.

“Look. I appreciate you being here to help my family try and find me, but you knew where I was. Because you left me therehoursago and then went off to do whatever you usually do after I get my heart broken.” Her friends at least had the decency to look chastised, even if they also seemed ready to defend themselves. “You’ve been using me as some kind of sick entertainment for years, but we’re done. Please leave.”

“We were just helping, Clem.”

“Helping me embarrass myself over and over again, so the three of you can giggle and enjoy my suffering.”

Now they looked genuinely guilty, but that didn’t matter. The damage was done. She couldn’t trust everyone who had only ‘good intentions’, because they could break her heart. She stepped aside as Mack pulled open the front door and the girls walked out. Her parents were mumbling in confusion behind her, but she was more focused on making sure herfriendsleft. Once Mack closed the door, her body crumpled and he was right there to catch her.

Patting his chest, she gently pushed out of his arms and looked at her parents. “I’m really sorry about worrying you. But I’m exhausted, so I’m going to bed.”

“I hope you’ll talk to us about what happened, sweetheart.”

She nodded and gave her mother a hug. “Tomorrow, Mama. Right now, I…” Tears sprang into her eyes again and she blinked them away.

Her father kissed the top of her head and she looked at everyone standing around her; these were the only people she needed. Her entire world could fit into this living room and that was enough. She had never worried about how trusting people could hurt her, but she knew what it felt like now. Letting someone into her life only for them to use her was never going to happen again.

And crushes? She was done letting her heart lead the way.

CHAPTER 1

WILDES, DELAWARE | JANUARY, PRESENT DAY

The first time he saw Clementine Kinney, she was bent over a table, tongue sticking out and frosting cupcakes.

It had been a pretty good December morning and Oakley had been on his way to a job interview. Frankie, his new neighbor,insistedthat he grab dessert from Pretty Baked to convince them to give him the job. He walked into the bakery, adjusting his cap and froze when his eyes landed on her.

It was so rare for him to be rendered speechless, for his heart to stop and knees to wobble that way. But everything about the woman in a light yellow chef coat and a red bandana tied around her head had his attention. She probably didn’t even know the effect she had on people, because there was flour and a rainbow of icing on her neck, in her hair, and along the sleeve of her coat. He let his eyes trail over her curvaceous figure too—thick thighs and sturdy legs encased in black leggings, full breasts that were snug in her coat.

Then there was her face. Admiring people for their beauty was normal, everyone did it. The woman was so much more than attractive. With an oval face, high cheekbones and a perfectly curved jawline, she was alluring. She hadn’t paid him a second ofattention as he stood there gawking, but he had noticed her dark brown eyes moving over the table as she counted the cupcakes.

He walked out with a dozen donuts—thanks to someone named Luna who smiled way more than most people did—and promised to come back soon. If not for the dessert, then to see the beautiful chef who had his complete attention.

The second time he saw Clementine Kinney, she was standing in front of a Christmas tree, a stoic expression on her face while someone animatedly told her a story.

He’d been in the small town of Wildes for all of three weeks, got himself the job at a tattoo shop and an apartment in a building that he was certain he could not afford long term,andhe’d been invited to a Christmas party across the hall. Frankie and Milo were his new neighbors and outside of inviting a total stranger to their big holiday bash, they were also the most beautiful couple he’d ever seen.

So to see the chef that invaded his dreams there was a bit of a shock. He’d been introduced to the gang, then met a few people individually—Gavin poured him a club soda without follow-up questions, Everleigh admired the tattoo sleeve on his right arm and Lachlan basically told him to keep his hands off his girl, aka the aforementioned tattoo admirer, with a growl and a glare—but his attention kept drifting back to the curvy, dark haired beauty. It was only when they sat down to dinner that he knew her name. By then, he was addicted.

Unlike at her bakery, Clementine was polished and not a single color was where it didn’t need to be. Wearing a dark green dress that hugged her delicious body, she was the only person he’d been able to look at. Her dark brown hair fell in waves past her shoulders, light makeup was dusted across her beautiful features and a smile never graced her full pink lips. That didn’t take away from her beauty, though. If anything, the lack of a smile drew his attention to every other part of her. The effort ittook to not stare, to not want to know everything about her was excruciating, but he focused on conversing with the rest of the gang.

The third time he saw Clementine Kinney was that morning, when he stopped by to grab donuts before heading into work.

Dressed in a lilac chef’s coat and bright yellow bandana, her head was tipped back as she laughed and it was the most beautiful sight in his entire life; and he’d surfed the waves in Hawaii. He’d seen the focused and impassive versions of her, but this one? It was probably his favorite. Clementine was absolutely captivating and her joy was infectious.

“You’re back!” Luna greeted him with a wide smile. He nodded and forced his eyes towards the young blonde. “More donuts?”

---