I sat in my truck, my hands curled around the steering wheel as I stared through the bakery’s front window. I remembered her talking about opening a shop way back in the day, and vividly remembered her letters about how she and Carly had started the business. But this was the first time I was actually seeing it in person.

My heart swelled at the thought that my girl had done what she’d always wanted to, that she’d fulfilled her dream.

And then I saw her through the front window and my entire body tightened. My heart raced, and I could hear the leather of the steering wheel creaking as I tightened my hold on it. A part of me said I should’ve told her I was coming, shouldn’t be surprising her like this, but a selfish part wanted to see the reaction on her face when she saw me for the first time after so long.

I don’t know how long I sat in the truck, maybe it was only minutes, maybe far longer than that, but fear had me staying put. I was nervous, afraid to face her after so long, anxious about the fact that I wanted to propose to Cora in the worst kind of way. I took the ring with me everywhere, that small box tucked inside my coat jacket, a reminder of what I wanted to do, how I wanted to make Cora mine irrevocably.

I pulled my hands off the steering wheel and manned the fuck up. I’d waited too damn long to do this, and it had been so fucking long since I’d seen her. I was wasting time sitting here, worrying, thinking about the what if’s. I got out of the truck and slammed the door, the hinges creaking as it closed.

I crossed the small street, and once I was standing in front of the bakery I found myself frozen. I could see her through the window behind the counter, her back toward me, her long blond hair moving along the center of her back in gold waves. I lifted my hand and placed it on my chest, my heart hurting in that moment. I hadn’t seen her face clearly yet, but it didn’t matter.

My soul knew when its other half was near.

I’d been in love with her since the moment I saw her. It was that BOOM! It was that recognition that she was the one. That pull that she was my other half.

A few people passed by, a car honked in the distance, but I was focused on Cora. I was always focused on Cora. I took the few steps it required to get to the front door, reached out, and curled my hand around the brass handle. I pulled it open and a little bell above the door jingled at my entrance.

“Welcome to Sweet Treats,” Cora said, her back still toward me. “I’ll be right with you. Just got to put these buns down,” she said and laughed softly. I couldn’t help but smile that she still had that sense of humor, the one where she’d laugh at her own jokes.

God, her voice sounded like angels singing. I felt dizzy, lightheaded with being so close to her. She didn’t even know I stood only feet from her, the anticipation building inside of me.

She had a tray in her hands as she turned around, her focus on the baked goods. I found myself taking a step closer, and then another one. I swear I could smell her, this sweet, floral scent that brought back memories, that was completely Cora. Her scent was stronger than the bakery aroma, the one of donuts and rolls, sweet little treats that they baked by hand.

And then she lifted her eyes and our gazes locked. For long seconds we just stared at each other, the realization that I was standing just feet from her covering her face. It was the sound of the tray she held crashing to the floor that had me rushing back to reality.

Something in me snapped and I couldn’t help myself. I stalked toward her, placed my hands on the counter that separated us, and scaled the fucker. I had her in my arms seconds later, her body so much smaller than mine, her scent slamming into my head and making me drunk. I was so damn possessive. All I wanted to do was throw her over my shoulder and take her far from here.

Silence stretched between us, but it was perfect.

“Is this really happening?” she whispered against my chest and I tightened my arms around her. “Are you really here, Xavier?” I could hear the tears in her voice, knew she was probably crying. I was on the verge of crying myself.

I don’t know how long I held her, seconds, minutes, Hell, maybe I’d been standing there for hours. She was the one who pulled back, but I didn’t want to let her go. I looked down at her, at the tears tracking down her cheeks. I reached out and brushed them away, wanting to bring that wetness to my mouth and memorize it, take it into me.

“You’re really here,” she whispered again and I couldn’t help but smile.

“I’m really here.” And then I pulled her in for another hug, wanting to just kiss her senseless, but also knowing that I needed to take this slow. I needed to work up to that, tell her how I felt, that I was so madly in love with her I could barely breathe.

I needed to do a lot of things, but I had all the time in the world.

* * *

I laughed at something Xavier said, still not believing he was sitting just across from me. If I wanted to I could have reached out and stroked my finger along his stubble-covered cheek, reveling in the fact that he was actually here in person.

It seemed like a lifetime since I’d seen him, since I’d talked to him in person. The letters we sent back and forth had been a lifeline for me. But they didn’t compare to actually seeing Xavier in person, to taking in the masculine, woodsy scent of him, to hearing his deep voice.

“I still can’t believe you’re sitting across from me, in the flesh.” I felt my face heat after saying that last part, mainly because I wanted to see Xavier in the flesh, more than in the innocent manner I’d just mentioned. I couldn’t count the number of times I’d thought about him lying in my bed all those years ago, his big body pressed against mine, his hand dwarfing mine as he held it.

Even now I could remember the feel of him running his finger along the back of my hand as he whispered that everything would be okay, that he’d protect me, always keep me safe. And he had. He had done that and so much more.

“I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere again.” He said that with such determination I felt it in my very marrow.

I ducked my head and pieces of hair fell along my face, partially obscuring my view of him. We sat in the bakery, half-eaten donuts in front of us, and cups of coffee billowing with steam. I could hear Carly helping a customer and Meghan, one of our employees, brewing an espresso.

“Let me take you out tonight,” he said and I glanced up, seeing him smiling at me. “Let me take you to dinner, a movie. I don’t care what it is. Let me just spend some time with you, where it’s just the two of us.”

My heart started thundering, and butterflies moved in my belly. I opened my mouth, the words right on my tongue, admitting that I loved him, was in love with him, right there at the tip. But I closed my mouth, knowing this wasn’t the right time. Maybe tonight, though. Maybe when we are alone, just the two of us, I can finally admit how I feel.

Surely this was fate giving me a nudge. Xavier had just shown up, the surprise of a lifetime. And I had just been thinking about wanting to tell him, wishing I had all those years ago, that I was in love with him. If this wasn’t a big flashing neon sign from the very heavens demanding that I be honest and open with him, I didn’t know what else it was.

“I’d like that,” I finally said. Xavier grinned even wider, his straight white teeth flashing, his happiness over my answer clear. I tucked my hands in my lap, under the table where he couldn’t see. They were shaking, my nerves over what I was going to do tonight taking over. But I had to do this, no matter how it ended up, no matter what he said.

I just hoped this didn’t ruin our friendship, put this wedge of awkwardness between us. Because I needed Xavier in my life like I needed to breathe.