The alarm on her phone started to chirp and Sophia reached over to silence it. She pulled back the sheets and let her feet touch the floor. For a moment, she had forgotten about yesterday. She stretched her arms to her sides and shook off the last bits of sleep.

As she padded off to the bathroom, it all came back. Liam. It hadn’t been a dream. He was going to come back today. She reached for her toothbrush and squeezed mint paste across the bristles.

There was something about the silence of early mornings that she loved. She got dressed and made her way downstairs to the bakery. The rest of Bear Lake was still sleeping. She turned on the ovens and the coffee pot.

Today’s orders included a breakfast delivery for the library. They were having a staff meeting. There was also a birthday cake that needed to be made in addition to the usual morning pastries.

Sophia washed her hands, slipped the apron over her head, and began to bring her kitchen to life. The coffee brewed and the baker’s ovens warmed the kitchen.

This was her serenity. Her peace. As long as she was in this kitchen baking, it didn’t matter what happened on the other side of the doors. The sky could fall and she wouldn’t care. There was a rhythm and a comfort here she couldn’t find anywhere else.

She boxed up the muffins and croissants and walked out of the back door. There was an early chill in the air. Sophia drove to the library and delivered the order to a hungry group of book lovers. They thanked her, and she made sure to pick up her check on the way out.

She decided to stop by the bank to deposit the check before returning to The Sweet Tooth. As she drove through the town’s streets, she was reminded of all the things she loved about it. Bear Lake was home. With no family of her own, it was a place that had welcomed her. They accepted her. They supported her.

She pulled up to the kitchen door. Her heart froze in her chest. Liam was standing by the back door.

She slammed the car door behind her. “What are you doing here?”

“I said I’d be back. Thought we could talk some more.” His voice was softer than it had been yesterday.

He was wearing a blue plaid shirt rolled up to his forearms. His hair was slightly damp, as if he had just showered. The closer she moved toward him, the stronger she could smell his cologne. It made her head spin, like too many glasses of wine.

“We don’t have anything to talk about. I said everything I have to say.” She scowled at him.

She didn’t expect him to follow her inside to her warm refuge, but he was on her heels.

“Soph, you can’t pretend this isn’t happening.”

She whipped around, almost toppling a bag of flour to the floor. “It’s not happening.” She closed her eyes. “I don’t want to talk. I don’t want to see you. I don’t want any of this. The last thing I want is to be your mate. I’m no one’s mate. Not anymore.”

His eyes set in a line of determination. “It’s not up to you.”

“The hell it isn’t. I’m not a bear. I don’t have to abide by any of the damn rules.” She walked out of the kitchen and into the shop. It was still dark.

She didn’t have to turn around to know Liam was right behind her. She could feel him towering over her back. He was easily six-five.

“I have a lot of work to do today,” she announced. “I have customers and orders to fill. This is my business. This is what is real to me.” She spun on her heels and almost knocked into his wall of a chest.

She couldn’t ignore how he reacted to her. His eyes landed on her lips.

“Why don’t I stay and help you?” he offered.

Sophia inched away from the closeness. “No. I don’t need help.”

Liam ignored her and brushed past her, grabbing the first chair and placing its legs on the floor. He moved around the café, setting the chairs upright.

Sophia watched, angry and irritated that he was invading her space. She marched back to the kitchen and pulled down her fondant recipe. The cake needed to be delivered by five this afternoon. She didn’t have time to argue.

Liam appeared in the doorway. “Mind if I get a cup of coffee?”

She shrugged. “Mugs are over there.”

She tried to ignore him as he poured a cup. “Would you like one?”

She rolled her eyes. “Sure.”

It was obvious what he was doing—finding little things to keep him in the shop. But it wasn’t going to change things. Their conversation was over.

Liam placed the hot cup on the edge of the table while she rolled out the fondant.

“What are you working on?” he asked.

“It’s a birthday cake for Marcie Hill’s daughter.” She focused on making sure the icing was even.

He took a sip of coffee. “How old?”

“Hmm?” Sophia looked up. He was eyeing her. Every part of her. It made her skin prickle.

“For the birthday.” He nodded at the icing.

“Oh.” She brushed her hands against her apron. “Six. It’s a mermaid theme.”

Liam nodded as if he was acquainted with six-year-old birthday parties.

Sophia placed the roller on the table and looked at him. The air was thick between them. Thick from the tension that she didn’t want to address.

“I don’t want to do this every morning, Liam.”

“Do what?” He grinned playfully, waggling his eyebrows. That was the Liam she remembered—the one who made women pant from just one smirk. He never took anything seriously. He never had.

“This. You here in my bakery, drinking coffee like there isn’t an elephant in the room. I want you to go and leave me alone.”

“You know I can’t do that,” he whispered.

“Even if it’s what I want? Even if I don’t want you?” It sounded strange to say. Just thinking about wanting another man or bear was a foreign thought. It was absurd.

There hadn’t been anyone in her life since Noah. How could there be? And now Liam was here to tell her she was supposed to do all of that again. Open her life to another person. Open her heart to pain and torment. No. She didn’t want it. She was resigned to be the town baker. The town spinster who delivered cakes to all the people who could have families and loved ones. The spinster who spent birthdays alone and Christmases making gingerbread houses for other people. The spinster that would never look at another man. That was who she was now. Liam wasn’t going to change her mind.

“I know it’s a lot to take in. And I know you didn’t ask for this.” His palms pressed into the table. “But I will take care of you, Sophia. I will protect you and…”

“Stop.” She raised her hand. She couldn’t listen to his words. They sounded too similar to promises that had been made years ago.

“Let me finish.” His voice deepened to almost a rumble.

“Why? So you can tell me how you’ll be my perfect mate? I don’t want a mate. I’m single. I like being single.”

He shook his head. “You’re not even giving me a chance.”

“No, and I’m not going to. I’d like you to leave.”

Liam stepped back, leaving handprints in the flour on the counter. “You have a lot of work today. I’ll be back tonight after the shop is closed.” He turned for the door.

“I won’t be here,” she called after him. “Or any other time you try to show up. Stay away from me, Liam.”

“I’ll give you some more time.” He closed the door behind him.

“Damn it,” she muttered.

She knew this was how it would be until she heard him out. He would show up in the morning or at night. He’d be at the shop or at her apartment. Sophia felt a quick smile pop up on her face and immediately scorned herself for letting it form.

Nothing good would come from seeing Liam again. Nothing.