Page 10 of Playing for Keeps
The dark eyes of the only man she’d ever loved stared back at her. They were older and deeper than they’d been twelve years ago, but the recognition struck her like a lightning strike straight to the heart.
Justin sat at a table with a donut stuck in his mouth. Even caught in a candid moment, he was irresistibly attractive. His black hair was cut short and lay to one side, perfectly and obedientlyshowing off the control he’d always possessed—something Caroline always lacked.
Everything in his life had a compartment, and the things of importance always fought for the top spot. Hair, baseball, feelings, the few people in his life who had earned his loyalty.
She’d never made it to the top, though she’d certainly tried. There were times when she’d falsely believed she was worthy of his attention, but it had all been a pipe dream.
Everything in her head flew into chaos. Justin was in town. For how long? Why was he wearing a police uniform? Did he have to look so good? He was looking for a date. He’d have no problem finding one, and it wouldn’t be her.
To put the cherry on the top, he was eating a donut that wasn’t hers.
“How dare he.” Caroline fought for control of her shaky voice. “How dare he eat someone else’s donut!”
“Maybe he doesn’t know about The Cakery. Seriously, ours are better,” Skye said, completely confident in their baking skills.
Caroline wasn’t confident about anything at the moment. In fact, she might descend into a fit of rage if she couldn’t get a handle on her shallow breaths.
Justin was back in town, and she didn’t have a boyfriend buffer anymore. Justin would have his pick of any woman in Redemption Ridge, andCaroline would have a front-row seat to the show that would continue breaking her heart.
Caroline turned away from the phone. “I don’t want to talk about it. We need to work.”
“Okay. I’m so sorry?—”
“Please. I can’t,” Caroline said, picking up the remaining eggs and smashing the shells to bits above the mixing bowl.
Yeah, the heartbreaker was back in town. She might have been the first heart he broke, but she wouldn’t be the last.
3
JUSTIN
Ashrill siren jolted him straight up in bed. Justin’s heart got the wakeup memo and pounded harder than a war drum. One second he drifted in a dreamless peace, the next he scanned the dark for the unknown emergency.
The blaring ringtone for his PR manager came from the nightstand beside the clock that read four thirty-two a.m.
Justin dove for the phone and tapped blindly at the screen until the call connected. “What?”
“Good morning to you too,” Nick said in greeting.
Justin pushed his short hair back and swung his legs off the side of the bed. “Sorry. You yanked me out of sleep. What’s wrong?”
“Well, your friend, Garrett, is the worst friend ever. You need to fire him, by the way.”
Justin stood and crossed the darkness, flipping on the light and squinting against its blinding intensity. “What did he do?”
“Did you tell him you’re trying to keep a low profile? Did you mention that your PR team needs to approve all photos and videos before they’re released?”
“Um,” Justin stammered, rubbing the heel of his hand over his heavy eyes. “Not in those exact words.”
“So I should thank you too for this early morning? You know, it would have been nice to sleep in on my wedding anniversary.”
Right. The sun wouldn’t be up for a few hours, and he was getting a call from Nick with more attitude than a moody teenager. “Sorry about that. Happy anniversary. Now, do you want to explain?”
“Garrett Johnson posted a video of you on social media last night. I don’t know of anyone who has gone viral from eating a donut, but you’ve managed to do just that.”
Justin stopped pacing, continuing to blink away the sleep he wanted to regain. “Come again?”
“You’re viral and somehow attractive to the entire female population while eating dessert. Don’t ask me how this worked, but it did. This is exactly what you wanted to avoid, so you’re not going to be happy.”
