11. Haven

11

HAVEN

I walk into Glaze Bakery with my arms full of flowers. As soon as I get in the door and April sees me, she's shaking her head and pointing at the door. "Oh no. No more flowers." She sweeps her hand around the bakery. "This is a bakery, Haven Weston, and you have it looking like a florist."

Every day since I last saw King, he has had flowers delivered to me, and every day I've been bringing them here when I get my daily dose of caffeine.

I glance around the café, looking through the flowers on every table, and I see Cassie already in a booth, smiling at me. "Fine," I call to April. "Cassie will take them home with her, okay?"

April nods emphatically. "That's just fine, but don't think you're going to try and leave them behind. I'm already giving out a rose with every purchase."

I try to smile at her. "Well, I'm sure your patrons appreciate that."

She rolls her eyes. "I don't know what's up with what, but maybe you should forgive the guy. He obviously knows he's messed up and is trying to make it right."

I wave at her before dropping down in the seat across from Cassie. I hold the three vases of flowers up. "Here you go. I brought you something."

She leans forward and whispers, "There's no way I can take those home. Baker will not be happy with me bringing home flowers that were sent from another man."

I plead with her, "If you explain, he'll understand."

She laughs. "Baker will not understand, I guarantee it. He's pretty territorial."

I've always been a little jealous of my friend and her husband. It's almost sickening to be around the two of them for how much in love they are. "How come when you say that, it's like you like it that he's territorial?"

She shrugs and smirks. "It's pretty hot, Haven. "

I roll my eyes. "Geez, whatever. Fine, you don't have to take the flowers home with you, but you do have to help me dispose of them because I'm not taking them home with me."

"Fine, I can do that."

I lean up and do my best to set them up on top of the table. Cassie reaches over to help me, and we both laugh when we can't see each other because of the huge arrangements. I push them to the side and lean forward. "Thanks for meeting me."

"Of course. How are you doing?"

I lean back and think about the loaded question she just asked me. How am I doing? "Well, I've been better."

She nods and leans forward. "Hear me out."

I tense up. "Okay."

At that moment, April comes over with a tray and sets plates and drinks on the table. "Here you go, ladies. Enjoy!"

"Thank you," Cassie and I say at the same time.

She holds the tray against her stomach. "Okay. Let me know if you all need anything."

"Thanks, April."

She nods and walks away.

Cassie points at the food. "I got you a turkey sandwich, but we're having dessert today. I don't want to hear any complaints."

I take a bite of the sandwich, and even though I can't taste it, I take my time chewing it up. "Fine."

After wiping my mouth with a napkin, I tell Cassie, "Thanks for meeting me."

She picks at her own sandwich. "You already said that."

I blow out a breath. "Yeah, sorry. I'm not on my game lately."

She nods her head and then leans forward again. "Okay, you going to listen to me?"

I hesitate for just a minute before answering her. Cassie was my best friend in high school, and I'm closer to her than anyone. "Yeah. I'm listening."

"Okay, so I had Baker look into Ridge."

I throw my hands up. "Cassie!"

She shrugs as if it's no big deal. "Please, Baker's a cop, he can do stuff like that, and the fact that this Ridge guy is sending my best friend enough flowers to start her own shop, I should see if he's legit."

I keep quiet and take another bite.

"Did you know he lives in Whiskey Run?"

I shake my head. Hell, I'm finding out that I don't know a lot about Ridge Beckett .

"Yeah, he lives in that huge house that was built out by the lake last year."

"Okay."

"And well, from what you told me, he was telling the truth about his past. He was raised in foster care and aged out of the system."

I try not to let her words affect me, but they do all the same. I have been wondering if he lied about that to me. I keep thinking back to when he told me he was a foster child. It was that story that made me want to hold his hand. Since I've found out who he really is, I've wondered if he told me that sob story because he knew it would break me.

"And…" she starts and then stops.

"And?" I ask her.

"And, well, he obviously regrets what he did."

My mouth falls open. "Cassie, he lied to me."

"I know it doesn't make it right, but why did he lie to you… did you ask him?"

I shrug. Maybe I did ask him, but that whole meeting on the porch is a blur. I barely paid attention to anything after he dropped the little bombshell where he said we wouldn't be fucking, we would be making love.

She leans forward. "Look, I know he did you wrong, but it's been a week. He's called you a hundred times, texted you, sent flowers to you, and all I'm saying is that maybe you should hear him out… that's all."

I set my sandwich down and take a drink of my water. The truth is, he is wearing me down. I have missed talking to him, and I've spent so much time replaying his messages and rereading his texts. I shouldn't forgive him… but maybe I should hear him out.

"Okay," I say.

Cassie's mouth drops open, and she shakes her head. "Okay? Really? There's no way it was that easy… I even left the best for last."

"What do you mean?"

"Remember a few months ago I told you that someone bought that huge empty building across from the elementary and junior high schools?"

I think back, and I do remember that. "Yeah, but no one had any idea who it was or what the building was going to be turned into. Even the planning commission was keeping it hush-hush, and it's crazy that it hasn't hit the Whiskey Run grape vine yet."

She claps her hands excitedly. "Right, well I know." She rolls her eyes. "Well, actually Baker figured it out. "

I can already guess, but I ask anyway. "Who is it?"

"Ridge Beckett. The word is he bought it, and he plans to put in a community center for kids."

I sit back in my chair with a thump. This makes it all even more confusing. He can't be that bad of a guy if he's planning something like that. "Well, hell…."

Cassie laughs because she knows exactly what I'm thinking. "See, I told you. Hear him out, Haven. See what he has to say."

I press my lips together and finally give in. "All right. I'll listen to what he has to say."