Chapter 4: Cole

Cole SAT SHOTGUN in Scarlett's Jeep, the cracked window blowing warm air on his face, which was not helping him cool down. He glanced at his chauffer, her hair dancing wildly in the wind.

Every time he looked at her the world felt as though it fell away and all that mattered was her, this moment. He hadn't touched her and somehow sharing space with her felt intimate.

Guilt bit into him.

A couple of weeks ago he'd been engaged to another woman. A woman who now barely registered in his thoughts.

Cole had to get a grip on his thoughts.

Puppies.

He should focus on that.

Damn he missed going home to a dog. His old lab had passed away months ago and his new dog had bonded more with Allie seeing as how she was at home all day. Sometimes he wondered if he missed the corgi mix pup more than his fiancé. That was rather telling, but he wasn't ready to examine those feelings. He'd rather get on with it, settle into his new life and leave Allie behind.

"Sorry about the AC. It's getting fixed tomorrow." Scarlett glanced at him, her sweet smile bringing a bit of light into his day.

"Thanks for driving me around all afternoon. I don't think I'd have made it to this many places on a bicycle." He thumbed over his shoulder at his bike in the back. "I don't think I was ready for how small this place really was. There's no Uber or anything."

"I don't think half the residents even know what Uber is. You live in Ransom now." She laughed, a musical sound that he wanted to remember. "We take care of each other."

"I thought small towns were all nosey neighbors and stuff," he said.

"Oh, people here are super curious, but they're the good ones. Promise." Scarlett glanced at him, her grin putting him at ease. "Okay, it's just the bakery, right?"

"Yeah. That should be it."

"It's the least I could do given everything you're going through."

He almost didn't want this trip to end, but that was silly. It had to, and they'd go back to their lives. But maybe he'd repay her sometime? As friends, nothing more. If he'd learned anything through this ordeal with Allie, it was that he was better off alone for now. He'd allowed himself to get wrapped up in being needed and having someone there that he'd forgotten to be in love with her. It just hadn't been there for them.

"You grow up here?" His life didn't include Allie anymore. He was going to focus on what came next. He was no stranger to restarting life in a new place with no roots or friends. It was how he'd been raised. He'd manage here until he got his feet back under him and take it from there.

"Almost my whole life." Scarlett's smile was a thing of beauty with the way it transformed her face. "The land the barn sits on has been in Lively hands for generations. My mother and her husband lived just east, other side of the highway."

"Where are they now?"

"They died when I was younger." Her smile faltered for a moment.

"I'm sorry," he said quickly.

"It was a long time ago. Anyway, my aunt and uncle took me in. Lived here ever since."

"You've never been tempted to move into the city? Go anywhere else?"

"There's no space in cities, even in a place like Fort Worth or Dallas. Besides, everyone I know lives here. I've lived outside of Ransom a few times. It never went well for me." There was a story there she wasn't sharing and for some reason he didn't like that barrier. It wasn't his place to press her though.

"I lived in a few small towns." It had rarely been pleasant. Allie had talked him into it because of the on-coming urban sprawl knocking on Ransom's door. City amenities weren't that far away, or so she'd said.

"Ransom's different. I promise. Give it a chance. You might like it."

"I'm open to new experiences."

"Here we are." Scarlett pulled the Jeep into a parking spot out front of the bakery, Eats and Treats.

The front window sported a few festive cakes and two tables sat out front. This time of the afternoon the place seemed quiet. Almost empty.

He got out and made it to the door first, opening it up for Scarlett. She'd changed into jean shorts and a maroon T-shirt with flip-flops after her shower. Her hair was up and out of her face, save for the unruly bits. He'd been fighting the urge all day to tug the elastic out of it and run his fingers through the strands.

"Thanks." She placed her hand on his bicep as she passed.

It was a casual touch, maybe even friendly, but it sent a zing of awareness through him. Almost as powerful as when he'd first stared into her shocked eyes, that bit of mud sliding off her upturned nose.

"Afternoon," a woman called out, but he couldn't see the person.

"Harper?" Scarlett leaned on the glass display case that was almost empty save for a tray of cookies and wrapped muffins.

"Scarlett? Is that you?"

"Plus one."

"Come into the back," Harper yelled.

Scarlett waved him to follow her past the display case and through a set of double doors into the bakery. A woman stood at one of the three stainless steel tables set up in the middle of the bakery. Her jet black hair was swept up under a hair net and her turquoise T-shirt was covered in white powder. She had an airbrush machine in one hand and her focus was on a cake that seemed to be made of balloons.

"Wow, this is amazing." Scarlett got a few feet closer then stopped.

"If she changes the theme one more time, I'm going to dropkick this cake into her car and tell her she owes me double."

"Maybe we should come back later." Scarlett glanced up at him.

"Is there someone we need to have a talking to?" Cole braced his hand on the table.

"You can try to get a word in, but my money's not on you." Harper glanced up and cracked a smile. Her gaze traveled up and down Cole's body not the least bit shy about her evaluation. "And who are you?"

"I'm Cole Odell." He offered his hands.

"Sticky." Harper wiggled her fingers. "Why do I know that name?"

"That's what we're here to talk about." Scarlett glanced up at him. "AK called the wedding off."

"The Hume wedding." Harper finished washing her hands and turned toward them. "Shit. It's off?"

"Yeah." Cole nodded. The more he faced up to the fact the easier it got. He was still embarrassed and his ego had taken a hit, but deep down he was relieved. Allie was no longer his burden to watch after or care for.

"Sorry to hear that, man." Harper came back to where they stood. "I guess you won't need the cake then?"

"That's what we're here for; to see if it's possible to cancel the order, maybe get a refund." Scarlett leaned against the table, thumbs hooked in her pockets.

"Probably. I mean, all we had was a deposit. I don't have any notes on what it was supposed to be or anything. I'll have to talk to the boss, of course."

"Allie paid for it in advance," Cole said.

"Shit. Okay. Let me see what I can do. I'll have to talk to my boss. Really sorry to hear that, man." Harper's gaze narrowed. "What are you even doing here? If I'd been walked out on like that, I sure as hell wouldn't be here."

"I have a job here and a house," he said.

"Oh, double shit." Harper's brown eyes widened and her mouth hung open.

"And that's the other reason I wanted to swing by." Scarlett turned toward Harper. "You're friends with one of the vet techs sons?"

"Mrs. Billy's son. We lift together. I don't know that I'd call us friends." Harper wrinkled her nose.

"Shoot. I was hoping to pick your brain about whether or not Cole could start work early." Scarlett sighed.

"Oh hell yes. That much I know." Harper nodded.

Outside a horn blared followed by a crash.