The heat of the unexpected kiss scorched a path all the way to the tips of Hadley’s toes. She could end the kiss, probably should end the kiss. They were standing in a church parking lot, for goodness’s sake. But the melding of lips had heat percolating low in her belly, and she forgot everything in the pleasure of the contact.

Hadley wound her arms around his neck, yearning for more.

Then, as quickly as the kiss began, it ended. David stepped back, his eyes dark and unreadable in the dim light.

“We’ll pick up Brynn on our way home.” A small muscle twitched at the corner of David’s jaw.

Hadley nodded, understanding his frustration. She didn’t want to stop with a kiss or two. She wanted more. More kissing. More touching. More…him.

Though David’s hand remained on the passenger-side handle, he didn’t open the door. Concern blanketed his face. “I didn’t plan on kissing you.”

“Plans change.” Hadley reached around him and opened the door. “In case you didn’t notice, I kissed you back.”

He shoved his hands into his pockets. “Things between us are moving fast.”

“It was a kiss, Chapin.” She gave the air a casual brush with her hand. “We didn’t have sex on the concrete.”

She shot him a wink, pulled the door shut and buckled her seat belt.

While he rounded the front of the vehicle, she touched her fingers to her tingling lips. Kissing David—again—might not have been the smartest thing she’d ever done, but then again, it was only kissing.

David didn’t need to worry.

She didn’t need to worry.

Because that was as far as it would ever go.

* * *

David’s deepening feelings for Hadley were on his mind when he dropped Brynn off at her rock-climbing class Monday morning. Instead of heading straight home, he decided to grab a cup of coffee and do some thinking.

“You’re out early.” Behind the counter of the Daily Grind, Ryder lifted a hand in greeting. “I didn’t expect to see you this morning.”

“Brynn has a class at the Y.” David glanced at the nearly empty bake case and pointed. “What kind is that?”

“Pumpkin and cream cheese with pecan streusel.” Ryder shook his head. “I’m surprised we have any left.”

“I’ll take it.” David reached for his wallet. “And a coffee, black.”

Ryder opened the bake case, looked up. “When you see Hadley, be sure and mention how much I appreciated her helping Cassie at the ice cream social.”

David pulled a bill from his wallet and placed it on the counter. “Will do.”

“To stay or go?”

“Stay.” David took the muffin and coffee around the corner to where a wall of windows overlooked a pretty park-like area.

Pastor Dan glanced up and smiled a greeting.

“You look hard at work this morning.” David gestured with his head to the pile of papers on Dan’s table.

“Just putting the final touches on tomorrow’s sermon.” Dan pushed the notes aside. “I’m at a point where I need a break. I’d appreciate company.”

David set the coffee and the muffin on the table. Only when he was seated did he notice the lines of fatigue edging the minister’s eyes.

“How are things?” David figured the general question was one the pastor could take any way he wanted.

“It isn’t easy having someone you love walk away.” Dan’s hands cupped the red mug sitting before him. “You know how that feels.”

David wished he’d gotten the coffee and muffin to go. He had enough on his mind without bringing his ex into the mix. “Whitney and I stopped loving each other long before she left.”

The words surprised David, though he realized it was true.

“I’ve done a lot of thinking since Lindsay broke off our engagement.” Dan’s eyes took on a faraway look. “One of the questions I’ve been asking myself is, did I ever really love her? Or was I in love with the person I wanted her to be?”

David took a long drink of coffee. If he was going to get into a philosophical discussion with a minister, he needed to bolster his brain with caffeine. “Come to any conclusions on that?”

The grateful look in Dan’s eyes took David by surprise. He realized the man who was there for everyone in the congregation didn’t have anyone to confide in. Well, if he needed to talk, David would listen.

“Lindsay told me she broke it off because she couldn’t see herself as a minister’s wife.” Dan’s lips lifted in a wry smile. “Which was odd, because I could easily see her in that role.”

David brought the cup of steaming coffee back to his lips, but didn’t take a sip. He thought of Whitney. She had it in her to be a good mother. David had seen the loving, caring, compassionate side of her on more than one occasion. In the end, the demands of motherhood hadn’t been what she wanted. “I guess the more pertinent question is, did she want to be the first lady of the congregation?”

“Good point.” Dan gave a humorless chuckle. “I don’t really know the answer. Lindsay and I haven’t talked since she told me it was over. I’m grateful she was honest with me.”

David ate a piece of muffin and chased it with coffee. The rich Colombian blend offset the sweetness of the streusel. He pointed his fork at the minister. “When you get burned, it’s difficult to trust your judgment.”

“It’s true.” The tips of Dan’s ears reddened. “Not that I’m ready to start dating. But when I do, I don’t want to make the same mistake again.”

Before David could respond, the minister hurriedly added, “Not that Lindsay was a mistake.”

David told himself to simply let the comment pass. But his growing feelings for Hadley had him feeling edgy. He set down his cup, leaned forward.

“Your engagement was a mistake.” David watched shock widen Dan’s eyes. “For some reason, you were unable to see what she was really like, what she wanted. You saw her as you wanted her to be.”

Because the minister looked as though he’d just punched him in the face, David tried to smooth the waters. “I did the same with Whitney. Only, I married the woman. Looking back, I can see warning signs I ignored.”

Understanding dawned in Dan’s eyes. The minister slowly nodded.

“Lindsay had no interest in my sermons.” Dan’s laugh had little humor. “I thought—hoped—she’d enjoy talking with me about them, but from the beginning, she was hands-off.”

David nodded. “When Whitney and I began dating, we were in college, so our social life was robust. There were nights I would have preferred to watch a movie at my apartment, but that bored her. I thought that would change once we married, as we got older.”

“It didn’t.”

“Life in Good Hope was too slow-paced for her.” David glanced down at his coffee. “But even when we were in Chicago, she wasn’t happy unless she was on the go.”

“I’m sorry your marriage ended.”

“Desperately holding on to something that no longer works isn’t the answer.” David held up his hand when Dan opened his mouth, probably to talk about the sanctity of marriage and vows made. “Whitney’s constant disappearing act was hard on our daughter. Brynn didn’t understand why her mother was never around and, when she was, why she didn’t want to spend time with her.”

“Divorce is more difficult when there is a child involved.”

“Sometimes, keeping a family together is the answer.” David expelled a harsh breath. “Sometimes, it’s best to let go. Whitney and I are better apart.”

The bells on the door jingled as it opened. From where he sat, David couldn’t see the entrance. But he recognized the voice that called out a greeting. Hadley.

“You didn’t have to bring them over.” Ryder’s smile held a warmth that had been missing when he’d greeted David. “I could have sent someone for them.”

“Delivery is part of the contract.”

“Your boyfriend is around the corner.”

Hadley appeared a second later, wearing a pink T-shirt emblazoned with “Baking Up Some Love,” a pair of cropped jeans and the blue floral Chucks on her feet.

David smiled. Earlier this morning, she’d been baking up a storm in yoga pants and a faded Brewers T-shirt.

Her lips curved as she closed the distance to the table. “What a nice surprise. Two of my favorite men.”

“The streusel muffins are fabulous.” Before David realized what he was doing, he stood and brushed a kiss across her cheek.

Her cheeks pinked as she shifted her gaze to the minister. “Good morning, Pastor.”

“Hello, Hadley.” There was an unmistakable twinkle in Dan’s eyes.

“I dropped Brynn off at the Y.” David lifted the cup to his lips. “I decided to stop in for a muffin and coffee. Dan is working on his sermon notes.”

“Everyone raves about your sermons,” Hadley told the minister. “Biblically based, yet the lessons are easy to put to use in one’s daily life.”

“That’s kind of you to say.” Dan appeared sincerely touched by the compliment.

Hadley returned her attention to David. “I take it Brynn is still at her climbing class.”

David glanced at his watch. “The class will be over shortly. Why don’t you ride to the Y with me? We may be able to catch a few minutes of the class, and you can see for yourself how she’s doing.”

“Sure.” Hadley spoke equally casually. “I’d love to cheer her on.”

“You two have fun.” Dan glanced down at his stack of papers.

Hadley wiggled her fingers and shot the minister a warm glance. “Good luck with the sermon.”

She wrapped her fingers around David’s bicep as they strolled out of the shop. It struck David that he hadn’t gotten any thinking time. But when Hadley smiled up at him, he wondered what there was to think about.

* * *

Children were exiting the Y when Hadley and David arrived. David headed in to find Brynn while Hadley waited outside.

Though she didn’t tell David why she preferred to stay on the sidewalk, Hadley found pleasure in imagining Brynn’s response when she walked out the door and saw her standing there. Besides, the sun was warm against her face, and she wanted to enjoy the late summer weather as long as possible.

“Don’t you look pretty.”

Hadley froze and slowly turned.

Clive stood on the sidewalk, dressed for a workout, the straps of his gym bag across his body. The younger Gourley brother wasn’t unattractive. His features were regular, and his body fit and toned. But his pale blue eyes had her shivering in the sunshine.

If eyes really were windows into the soul, it seemed that Clive had lost his soul years ago.

“Hello, Clive.” Hadley inclined her head, spoke coolly.

“You and me, we didn’t get to finish our conversation the other night.” His gaze dropped and settled on her breasts.

It took everything in Hadley not to cross her arms across her chest or take a step back. Only the knowledge that men like Clive thrived on intimidation had her holding her ground.

Justin had been just like this guy, only a younger, smoother, more handsome version. But at the core, the same.

“I didn’t have anything to say to you then.” With great effort, Hadley kept her tone level, but there was no mistaking the chill. “And I don’t have anything to say to you now.”

“Uppity bitch,” she heard him mutter as she turned, dismissing him.

When Clive grabbed her arm, she inhaled sharply. Then reacted. She whirled and stomped hard on Clive’s instep. While he howled, she brought her foot up and kicked him in the groin.

He was on the ground, moaning, when David appeared at her side, Brynn hot on her father’s heels.

“Are you okay?” Brynn’s voice came out in short puffs.

David frowned. “I told you to wait by the building.”

“I wanted to help Hadley, too.” Brynn gazed down at the man writhing on the concrete and grinned. “Looks like you didn’t need our help.”

David studied Hadley. “Do you want me to call Cade?”

Hadley shook her head, barely resisting the urge to kick Clive in the side for good measure. “Naw. He won’t bother me again.”

“He better not.” David crouched down, grabbed Clive by the shirtfront. “Understand? You stay away from me and mine.”

“Yeah, whatever.” Barely audible, the response wheezed out.

Still, it appeared to satisfy David, who rose. His gaze searched Hadley’s face, and the concern she saw there touched her. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” Hadley was even better when Brynn’s hand slipped into hers.

“I’m fine, too.” Brynn smiled broadly when both adults looked at her. “Anissa said I have good problem-solving skills.”

For a second, David looked blank at the abrupt change in topic.

“Her climbing instructor.” One Hadley knew wasn’t easy to impress. “That’s high praise from Anissa.”

Brynn swung their joined hands. “I think we should celebrate my climb and Hadley’s fight with ice cream.”

“It wasn’t really a fight. It—” Hadley stopped at Brynn’s look. “Okay, it was a fight.”

“Let’s go to IwannaCone.” Brynn suggested the popular shop.

“It’s barely ten,” David protested.

“If you’ve never had ice cream in the morning, I’d say now is the time to start.” Hadley’s tone turned teasing. “C’mon, Chapin, it’s time to live a little.”