Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 113272 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 566(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113272 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 566(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
“No, no, you’re probably just going wrong with the icing.”
“I’m going wrong with something, all right.” Someone called her from the back and Iona turned. “I best go. Let me know what you think I can improve.”
Arabella smiled and nodded. She took the slice of cake and walked to the register to pay for it. “Before I pay for this, do you have a list of ingredients?”
The girl behind the counter gave her a strange look. “Um, maybe?”
“Arabella?”
She turned as someone called out her name, surprise filling her as she saw who it was.
Although she shouldn’t be surprised. It had been bound to happen at some stage. Unfortunately, he wasn’t alone. Keira stood next to him, her hand held firmly in his.
They must have just walked in the door. Arabella took the slice of cake, paying for it with a forced smile before turning back to Cole.
He was a handsome guy.
Although not as gorgeous as Eli or Kellan.
Okay, where did that thought come from? She shouldn’t be comparing him to them. It wasn’t like she’d ever been interested in Cole that way.
And she’d been a means to an end for him. She knew that and it didn’t even really hurt. But it did hurt to learn that he could be caring . . . that he had actually always been in love with the woman beside him. And the man who just stepped into the bakery behind them.
Julian’s face filled with surprise as he saw her. Arabella pulled her true thoughts and feelings deep inside her and forced a bland smile onto her face that she knew didn’t reach her eyes.
“Hello, Cole, Keira, Julian. How are you all?”
“What are you doing here, Arabella?” Cole asked bluntly.
Horse growled at him and Cole stared down at him in surprise. As though he’d only just noticed that there was an oversized dog standing next to her.
“Cole!” Keira scolded, looking up at him aghast.
“What?” he asked. “We’re all wondering why she’s here. In Haven?”
“You’re being a bit blunt, though.” Keira gave her an apologetic smile. “Sorry.”
Arabella waved her free hand through the air. “That’s quite all right. I actually live here now.”
“You live here?” Cole repeated. “Why?”
“Why not?” She moved quickly through the tables, tripping over a chair leg.
Urgh! Embarrassing. Why did she have to get all clumsy now?
She quickly sat down before she landed on her butt.
Hopefully that would be it.
“Sit, Horse,” she ordered. Horse sat but he continued to glare at Cole . . . who was following her.
Awesome.
She picked up the cake fork off her plate.
“Why are you living here? Why would you follow me?” Cole demanded.
“Cole, it’s been years,” Julian said. “I’m pretty sure that she didn’t follow you here.”
“I didn’t,” she said, giving Julian a grateful nod.
“Then why is she here?” Cole asked. He leaned over her with a frown. “What’s going on?”
Horse growled and she tightened her hold on his lead.
She had to remind herself that while Cole could be intimidating, he wasn’t going to hurt her.
That wasn’t the sort of person that he was. Although she did wish that he’d back off a bit.
“You want to tell me why you’re leaning over Arabella like that and upsetting her?” a deep voice asked.
“Shit,” she muttered.
This was the last thing this situation needed. She looked down at her cake. She’d just concentrate on eating it.
Cake had never let her down. It had never hurt her feelings or made her feel small or scared her.
Cake was her friend.
Sometimes, it had been her only friend.
“What do you mean?” Cole asked. “I’m not intimidating her.”
The cake looked moist. Not too dry or heavy. Blueberry flavor.
Bringing it to her nose, she sniffed it. Yeah. It smelled good.
Oh shoot. She’d forgotten the list of ingredients. She glanced up and saw everyone staring at her.
“What is it?” she asked.
“Um, did you just sniff the cake?” Keira asked curiously.
“Well, yeah. Don’t you?” she replied.
“Urgh, no. I’ve never seen anyone do that, either,” Keira told her, sounding almost shy. Cole straightened and put his arm around her as he glared at Eli and Kellan who were standing on the other side of her table.
Hmm. She was starting to feel claustrophobic. There were too many people standing while she was sitting. Horse seemed to feel the same way. He was growling quietly.
She put her hand on Horse’s head and patted him.
“Yeah, you are intimidating her,” Eli replied. “She’s uncomfortable and you need to back off. You’ve got no reason to loom over her like that.”
“She doesn’t look uncomfortable,” Cole protested.
“Her fingers are white where she’s holding her fork from stress. She’s sitting very stiffly. And her breathing has increased. Not to mention that her dog is picking up on her nervous feelings and that’s why he’s growling.”
Cole stared down at her in surprise. Then he stepped back and ran his hand over his face. “Fuck, I’m sorry, Arabella.”