Page 84 of Small Town Sizzle

Shit, Maya. You’re staring like an idiot. Get it together.

“Hey,” Garrett says, standing and holding out the coffee like some kind of peace offering. “I was going to leave this with Leti, but she said you’d be here any second, and, well…” He shrugs, his grin crooked now. “This felt better.”

I take the coffee automatically, my hand shaking just slightly as I wrap my fingers around the warm cup. I look at the flowers, the breakfast, and then back at him, my throat tight.

“How did you know I needed this?”

“Just a feeling.” He shrugs nonchalantly as he leans in and kisses my cheek.

“Garrett… you didn’t have to do all this,” I tell him as I go to unlock my office door.

“I know,” he says, his voice soft but steady. “I didn’t do it because I had to. I did it because I wanted to.”

I swallow hard, trying to keep my emotions in check. “I… I appreciate it. Really, I do. But this… it’s a lot.”

He raises an eyebrow, an amused smirk spreading over his lips. “Flowers and breakfast is a lot? Remind me never to buy you a car.”

A laugh bubbles out of me, and I roll my eyes before I shake my head. “That’s not what I meant. I’m overwhelmed at the moment. It’s been a long day already, and I didn’t get much sleep.”

He steps closer, his voice dropping just enough to make my heart thud a little harder. “It’s just breakfast and flowers. Just me showing up for you, wanting to do something nice for the woman that takes care of the world. That’s all.”

I blink up at him, my chest tightening in a way that’s equal parts terrifying and wonderful.

How does he do this? How does he make me feel like I’m both completely safe and completely off balance at the same time?

“I…” My words falter, and I look down at the coffee in my hands. “Thank you. Really. I just—”

I should tell him. I should do it right now, just rip off the band-aid. What if I tell him and he’s absolutely crushed because he didn’t know?

What if he is angry at me for being the messenger or because he’s angry at Megs and she’s not here to take the heat?

I inwardly groan, trying to push all the crazy thoughts out of my head. I love this man, and I have to communicate with him. Otherwise, I’m slipping back into bad habits, and I can’t do that.

“Maya,” he interrupts gently, tilting his head to catch my eyes. “It’s okay. You don’t have to overthink it. I hope this makes your day a little better.”

I laugh again, a small, shaky sound, and nod. “Thank you.”

He smiles, causing me to forget about everything else. Forget about the secret I’m keeping, the fear of what might happen when he finds out. Right now, it’s just him, standing there, looking at me like I’m the only thing that matters.

“Good,” he says, stepping back and nodding toward the door. “I’ll let you get to work. But, Maya…”

“Yeah?”

His eyes soften, and his smile turns almost shy. “I would love to take you to dinner again this week. Just name the time.”

I nod again, my throat too tight to speak, and watch as he walks away.

When he’s gone, I set the coffee and flowers on my desk and sink into my chair, staring at them like they hold all the answers to the questions swirling in my mind.

I lean my head against my desk chair, close my eyes, and blow out a breath.

This would be way easier if he was a jerk.

If he were an ass, I could just break up with him and not care about the repercussions. But that’s not the case. I don’t want to break up with him, but I also don’t want to cause him any pain.

I wish I knew what to do.

“Hey Maya,” TJ says a few minutes later as he knocks loudly on the outside of my door.

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