Page 29 of Playing for Keeps
The old red truck rolled to a stop, and he darted out before the engine cut, crossing the grass in two long strides.
Neither of them spoke—it wasn’t needed. His arms captured her, and she hugged him back with the same fervency. The safety he carried wrapped around her, and she buried her nose in the crook of his neck. Pine and dirt filled her senses, as if he were carved out of the earth itself. A tingling wave ran from the back of her neck all the way down her spine, recognizing the missing piece of herself in the man holding her tight against his chest.
He inhaled, long and slow. “I can finally breathe.”
Crepes and cupcakes, he felt it too. “I know. I love hearing your voice, but I missed your handsome face.”
Justin released her from the embrace and rested her on her feet again. “I missed you.” He brushed her hair out of her face and cradled her cheeks in his hands. “I missed you so much.”
His lips met hers in a fiery kiss that had her leaving the ground once again. She was weightless. Every brush of his mouth against hers and hisfingers threading in her hair was a promise and a prayer. A plea for mercy and more all in one.
When he broke the kiss, he rested his forehead against hers and let out a deep breath. “Listen, there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you.”
“Oh?”
His dark gaze fixed on hers as he linked their fingers together. “There’s something I want to say. Need to tell you.” He looked at the ground, then at her mouth, and took a breath like he was standing on the mound with the bases loaded. “Caroline, I love you. I know it’s soon, and I know there’s really no way to know what love is, but… I know this is it.”
Her jaw fell open, and she quickly closed it. “You… what?”
“I love you. I mean, I don’t think I’ve ever loved anyone in my life. No one ever cared about me, and I never wanted to be close enough to anyone to be that… vulnerable.” He squeezed her hands in his. “You’re unlike any woman in the world, and you’re the only one for me. I love you?—”
“I love you too!” Caroline shouted, bouncing on her toes.
Good gravy, did that just come out of her mouth? No recipe, no pre-heating. Just threw it on the table.
Justin’s eyes widened, and he stilled. “You do?”
“You bet your sweet snickerdoodle I do!” She jumped into his arms, legs wrapping around hismiddle. “I love you more than I love strawberry buttercream icing!”
Justin’s chest heaved as he entangled his arms around her. “I wouldn’t let myself believe you’d say it back.”
“Do you know me at all?” she whispered against his ear with a giggle.
His large hands held her against him as he swung her from side to side. “I should have known. You jump head-first into everything.”
“Why would I want to do anything halfway?” she asked, playfully tugging at the hairs on the back of his neck that had grown out just a little bit since he’d been back at school.
“You’re right. There’s nothing halfway about this.” He hugged her tighter and whispered, “You’re my everything, Caroline.”
Her heart would burst from happiness. She was sure of it. “And you’re mine.”
11
CAROLINE
Present Day
The lunch crowd swarmed the bakery. Kids grabbed at parents’ hands, moms jerked their heads back and forth between siblings, and dads were ordering one of everything just to keep the peace. Groups of women huddled around the tables, and some people sat alone with their earbuds, hunched over laptops and tablets.
The Christmas season was in full swing, and Caroline needed all hands on deck. She turned and grabbed a mocha latte from Skye before handing it to a red-haired woman with a smile. “Here you go. Merry Christmas!”
“Mom! Look at the reindeer!”
The kids loved the life-size reindeer Caroline set in the corner for a photo op with the Christmas decorations every year. Tiny colored lights wound around its antlers. The rest of The Cakery was filled with nutcrackers, Santa Claus figurines, and garland.
Christmas was Caroline’s favorite time of the year, but it was tough to enjoy when it was the busiest time at the bakery.
She swiped a few stray hairs behind her ear as she greeted the next customer in line. “Hello! What kind of sugar rush?—”
