Page 66 of One Sweet Match Up

She grinned up at him. Fine by her if he wanted to leave now. She couldn’t wait to get him alone and rub her hands over his rock-hard abs underneath his black V-neck sweater. Although, she’d still like to see Bethany and Adam and offer her congratulations before they go.

“What do you mean she’s not staying?” Abby asked. “Of course, she’s staying. Go away.”

“Suit yourself.” He turned without even an acknowledgment in Zoe’s direction and headed for the bar.

Zoe’s jaw dropped. What the hell had just happened? She immediately closed her mouth.

“Did you two have a spat at work?” Abby asked.

“I don’t think so . . .” Had they? No. There definitely had not been any fighting. Far from it. Once they got dressed, he’d brought her into his arms for one final steamy kiss before saying he’d see her at the Inn. “Um . . . no. We didn’t, but it looks like we’re about to.” She paused, gaining her composure. “I mean, will you excuse me?” she said and proceeded to the bar.

Donovan was now sitting at the far corner, his back to her. She smiled at everyone as she made her way to him. Adam and Bethany clearly had a lot of friends and family because the place was packed. She reached out and tapped Donovan’s shoulder. “Hi.”

Donovan took a long drink, not saying a word.

“Did I do something?” she asked, dread paralyzing her in place.

He finally twisted on his stool to face her, his eyes dark. “When did you move to Buttermilk Falls? One week after I fired you? Two?”

Oh, God. He knows.She knew it was only a matter of time, but she thought she had more of it. When did he realize she was one of his line cooks? Did Marc tip him off? She scanned the crowded room. Maybe they could go upstairs or on the porch. “Can we go somewhere and talk about this?”

“Why? You don’t want others to know?” He raised his voice well over the crowd around them. “Why all the secrets, Zoe?”

Her back stiffened as the room silenced. She didn’t need to turn around to know many eyes were now on them. “One secret. It was one secret. I didn’t know how to tell you,” she admitted, voice shaky.

He scoffed, his tone still harsh. “It’s simple really. ‘Hey, Donovan. Remember me? I’m the line cook that sent the Governor to the ER and could have ruined you.’”

Her eyes welled up, and she forced the tears back to keep her composure.Do not cry.“I needed a new start.”

“So instead you decided to move tomytown.”

“I didn’t know you were from here.”

“Yeah, right.” He finished his beer and set the bottle down. “I knew you looked familiar. Hell, I asked you the night in the Sugar Spoon if we’d met. You lied to me then. You’ve been lying all along. By the way, nice dye job.”

His accusation sliced into her. How was it possible that this man was giving her another public verbal lashing? This time it was worse because he was aiming straight for her heart. “I didn’t mean to mislead you.”

Donovan smacked his head. “Oh, that’s an understatement. Why’d you do it? Revenge? Did you want to get back at me? Was letting me cook out of your shop part of your twisted plan? What’s your end game, Zoe?”

Twisted plan? End game? How could he suggest she was only motivated by revenge? What kind of person did he think she was? She started to speak, but he cut her off.

“Go back to Denwood. If that place even exists. We’re done.” He turned back to the bar, striking up a conversation with a brunette she didn’t know. The woman cautiously looked over at Zoe before answering whatever question he had asked.

Devastated, Zoe turned to leave. He didn’t want her here, that much was painfully clear. She put her head down, just like she did that night at the Rocky Top, and took a couple of steps for the door but stopped.

Her hands clenched. She didn’t deserve the humiliation then, and she didn’t deserve it now. Not this time. She might have let him toss her out of his kitchen, but this wasn’t the Rocky Top and she needed him to know that.

Sure, she deserved that last dig about Denwood not being real, but how could he possibly think she’d planned their going into business as some twisted act of revenge? Did he think their having sex today was another way for her to manipulate him? She took a deep breath and tapped his shoulder. It took him a second to twist back around. This time he stood. “You’re still here.”

She jutted her chin, mustering all of her courage. “Yes, because our conversation is not over. First of all, I didn’t know you were from Buttermilk Falls, and I sure as hell didn’t know you’d be back. You can bet if I did, I wouldn’t be standing here right now.” She jabbed a finger into his chest. “And as for ourbusinessrelationship, you’re the one that pushed me into going into business together. Not me. I would have been fine on my own. It wasn’tmyspark that burned out, you arrogant jackass. It was yours.”

She spun around and bolted for the door, apologizing to Bethany and Adam as she left. Alone outside, the tears began to fall.

Yeah, she’d finally stood up to Donovan Foster. Eight months in the making, but it didn’t matter.

The truth was out. Her shoulders slumped as she started to walk toward her car. She didn’t belong here.

17

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