I whip my head around after the deep voice speaks close to my ear. Liam.

He’s much taller than my five-six frame with bright, brown eyes crinkled at the corners, dancing with mischief. A boyish grin takes over his handsome face. The bit of scruff along his strong jaw that frames his full lips and the messy brown hair make him look as if he just rolled out of bed. Pictures of him comfortable, warm, and naked in a huge bed float through my mind. I bite the inside of my cheek trying to rid myself of those dirty thoughts, blaming the book I’m reading.

Scanning him from head to toe, I notice Liam’s broad shoulders and chest stretch out his black T-shirt to the point that I can see the outline of his muscles through the thin material. His blue jeans encase muscular thighs, and his hands are tucked into the pockets, causing his arms to slightly flex. His grin widens as he notices me checking him out. Turning back around, I look at him over my shoulder and say as nonchalantly as I can muster, “It’s rude to look at people’s devices.”

“In my defense, I didn’t mean to read what was there. I said ‘Hi,’ but you didn’t hear me, so I leaned in a bit. That’s when I saw the word cock and got curious.” He shrugs, only highlighting his shoulders. My body buzzes with unwanted awareness when he says the word cock. I feel a blush creeping over my cheeks, making my face hot as I turn toward the front.

He leans close to my ear. “I am sorry about that. Can we start over?”

When I turn around again, his grin is gone and it’s replaced with a chagrined expression. I nod. “Sure. It’s no big deal.” I start to turn again, but he sticks his hand out.

“I’m Liam.”

I know, I want to say. I’ve thought about you once or twice since I saw you at the gym. “Savannah,” I say, shaking his hand.

“I saw you at Raise the Bar the other day,” he says.

“I remember. You were with Hudson.”

He gives me another grin. He can turn on the charm. I bet that smile gets him out of a lot of situations and into a lot of panties. “Glad I’m memorable.”

I shake my head. “It was nice meeting you, Liam.” I start to turn again.

“Wait!” he says. I look at him. He seems to be trying to find something to say. His mouth opens and closes slightly. “How do you know Hudson?” is the question he finally settles on.

“I met James when I started going to Raise the Bar. James is good friends with Hudson, so he’s there a lot helping out with different things. James introduced me to him one day.”

“Hudson and I go way back. We grew up living next door to each other. I just moved back to town.”

“From where?” I ask, but I remember James telling me he moved back from Chicago.

“Chicago,” he confirms.

“I’ve only been once, but I loved it there.”

“It is great, but nothing compares to home. Are you from around here?”

“I’m from Texas, but a few hours south of here. There really is nothing like going home again,” I say wistfully, rubbing my hand over my chest where I feel my heart clench. I’ve fallen in love with Austin since moving here, but nostalgia and longing fill me when I think of the family I left behind. My hometown is filled with too many bitter memories for me to live there, but it’s not the place that makes the home, it’s the people. Liam’s gaze connects with mine and I know he gets it. In one conversation he latched onto a part of my soul. An invisible string makes me sway toward him, needing the connection I’ve denied myself for so long. He leans toward me, neither one of us breaking eye contact.

“Next,” is called out behind me. Gasping, I look around, startled to find myself turned toward Liam. I didn’t realize I’d turned to face him. Completely transfixed by his gaze, I forgot we have been waiting in line for coffee. The line seemed to move a lot faster after I started talking to Liam.

I step up to the counter, Liam steps up next to me. I look over at him. He’s making it seem as if we’re together. He hands his credit card over to the cashier before either of us speaks. “I got this,” he says to me with a smile.

“I can get my own coffee,” I say, a spark of defiance igniting inside of me before I can smoothe it away.

“I have no doubt that you can, but I’d love to treat a new friend.” Liam’s eyebrow slightly raises and his lips are twitching, holding back a grin. Charm oozes off him in waves.

“Shouldn’t I treat you? You’re the new one in town.”

“Ah, but I grew up here, so really, you’re the new one.”

I roll my eyes, not quite ready to give up this fight.

“Would you like your usual, Savannah?” Swinging my focus back to the new cashier and Cassidy, a high school senior and my usual barista, I notice she’s isn’t looking at me. She’s looking at Liam with hearts in her eyes.

“Sure, Cassidy,” I say. “My usual coffee and a cinnamon roll.”

“Make that two cinnamon rolls and a large black coffee,” Liam says.

“Thank you,” I say to Liam. After Cassidy asked if I wanted my usual, I forgot to continue our argument about who should pay.

“My pleasure,” Liam says. He drawls out the world pleasure. I bite my lip to stop my whimper. This man is sexy. He looks down at my tucked lip and back up to my eyes. I turn away from him quickly, rushing away from him to find a spot. My favorite chair in the corner is available, it’s one of my favorite spots to enjoy my coffee and read. I snag it immediately and wait for my order to be called.

Liam wanders over to me. “Can I sit with you for a few minutes?”

I hesitate, not sure if I want to continue talking to him, my pounding heart and fluttering stomach wish I would flirt with him, but my brain is signaling a red alert. “Sure,” I say after a beat.

He walks back over to the counter when our order is called and then sits down in the chair right next to mine. He hands me my coffee and cinnamon roll with a fork and knife. I start cutting little pieces of the cinnamon roll. I look up when I hear a loud groan. Liam didn’t waste time cutting a portion of his, he just bit off a huge piece. His cheeks are full as he’s chewing, but there’s a small smile on his lips. His eyes are rolling back into his head. Even with the full cheeks, he looks sinfully sexy. His groans are rough and masculine. I watch his throat as he swallows.

“Wow. That’s good,” he says, breaking me from my trance. He rubs his stomach with a content smile.

“I thought you hated it.” I press my lips together, holding in a laugh.

He looks at me with a smirk. “You’re sarcastic. I like it. Sassy.”

I shrug. I’ve been told that once or twice.

“I’m sorry about the pornographic moans. I just really love cinnamon rolls. They’re my favorite.”

“They’re my favorite, too. My mom makes them from scratch, and I’m not even being facetious when I say they are to die for.” I breathe in deeply and close my eyes, imagining I’m back in the kitchen of my childhood home. The scent of freshly baked cinnamon rolls is waking me up on a Sunday morning.

“Oh, yeah? Did she make them a lot?” I open my eyes at Liam’s soft, curious tone, surprised to see he’s leaning toward me with his head slightly tilted, waiting for an answer about my life.

“She still does. She will make them for celebrations or broken hearts. They’re the answer to just about anything.” I smile wistfully.

“Try these,” he prompts, waving his hand with the cinnamon roll in it. He takes another gigantic bite. The cinnamon rolls started out as big as our heads, but his is almost gone after his second gargantuan bite. They are warm and gooey, vanilla icing melting off the top and along the sides. The swirl in the center is perfect. I bring my first forkful to my mouth. I make my best Liam impression with the moaning and eyes rolling back. After I finish the bite and my impression, I start laughing and turn to Liam, expecting to find him laughing, too. He’s not. He’s staring at me hungrily. He’s staring like he wants to eat me, not the cinnamon roll. My thighs press together.

“See how ridiculous you looked?” I ask him, even though I didn’t think he looked ridiculous at all.

“You certainly did not look ridiculous, Savannah,” he says in a low sexy voice. He’s staring at my lips. Heat sizzles between us.

“So,” I say a little awkwardly. “What brought you back here?”

“I wanted to be closer to my family,” he tells me. “I missed them. Although, my mother and sister let themselves into my place this morning, so they could furnish it for me. I wasn’t so sure I missed them when they woke me up.” He has a grin on his face, telling me that he loves to have his family close. The butterflies zooming in my stomach pick up their pace while my heart screams at my brain, He’s a good guy! We want him!

“They’re furnishing it for you? You didn’t have any furniture in Chicago?”

“Yeah, they own Southern Charm Interiors, so they wouldn’t take no for an answer even if I tried. I decided it would be easier to start over with new stuff down here instead of hiring a moving company. Probably cost about the same, too. I sold everything—furniture, car, condo.”

“Wow,” I say.

“Yeah, but it’s been fun buying new stuff,” he says with a boyish grin. He looks down at his watch. “Savannah, I’ve had fun talking to you, but I have to go. My mom and sister sent me out for breakfast, I need to get their coffee and food back to them.”

“Of course,” I nod with a smile, hating that I’m wishing he could stay.

“After I saw you here, I talked myself into making them wait just a few minutes. I’d love to take you out sometime.”

I hesitate before responding. He’s been nice to talk to and I don’t want him to leave. I’m relishing the feelings he’s stirring up inside of me, but after my disastrous date the other night and all the disasters that came before him, I’m not sure I want to get back in that saddle. Also, Liam goes to my gym, and I won’t date someone from my gym. That place gave me so much when I needed it. I don’t ever want to put James in a position where he has to kick someone out because I had a bad date. Raise the Bar is my safe haven. I don’t want to risk being uncomfortable there.

“I like talking with you, too. I can’t go out with you, though. I’m sorry.” I truly am sorry. Wishes of a different past and a different future won’t make my reality any different, though.

His smile falters a bit, but it’s back in place before I can read any emotion other than the determination settling in his eyes. “Can we at least be friends?”

I nod. “Of course.” Friends. I can do friends. I’m almost positive I can be a normal friend.

“I do need to get their food ordered and back to them. I hope I see you soon, Savannah. If you change your mind, let me know. My dinner offer stands.”

“Thanks for breakfast.”

“Anytime.” He gives me one last devastatingly handsome smile before walking up to the counter. I can’t tear my eyes away from his perfectly taut ass in those jeans. His order comes quickly. I probably would, too. I need to stop reading those steamy romances. Or read more of them. He gives me a gorgeous smile and waves as he walks out the door. Possibly hotter—and sweeter—than a cinnamon roll.