2. Rory

My heart pumps out of control when I walk up to the bakery doors and I can see her pale blond hair like a halo around her perfectly-beautiful face. Her cheeks are flushed, her sapphire eyes sparkling as she talks to Mrs. French about her daughter's birthday cake that she's picking up.

Every person in town has heard her bragging about the gorgeous cake that the sexy little baker is making for her.

I open the door and her blue eyes widen, her rosy-pink lips parting, her little pink tongue darting out to wet those pretty lips.

I want to take that mouth and do wicked, dirty things to and with it.

Confusion wells up in me because I know I don't want another woman. Not since my wife died.

Most people think that I'm still mourning my Anna. But the truth is our marriage was a disaster from the words ‘I do.'

We were too young and too stubborn to give in at all on any ideal that we had.

Now that I'm older, I know that I'm not made for relationships. And Callie Hart is the definition of relationship. She's made to love and be loved and I just don't have it in me.

But I'd sure like to have one night alone with her to live out all my fantasies. Maybe even make some new fantasies.

But that's not going to happen. She's so young. Way younger than my forty-two years.

But I can't seem to stop making these Saturday morning stops to pick up my latest addiction.

Her cinnamon twists are like drugs to me. Rich and fluffy. Spicy and sweet. It's the perfect sweet treat for a man that doesn't necessarily like sweets.

Mrs. French finally notices that I'm behind her and she shoots me an apologetic smile. "I'm so sorry, Mr. Eastman. Here I am just talking Callie's ear off when you're waiting to pick up something delicious this morning."

I shrug my shoulders and my lip twitches. "Don't worry about it. It's my day off so I'm in no rush."

Not entirely true but close enough. Saturday is my day off but I tend to stick close to the ranch just in case I'm needed.

She pats my arm and smiles back at Callie as she picks up the cake. "Oh, that's alright, Rory. I'll just get out of your way now. Have a nice day!"

I smile at her slightly, uncomfortable with the overly friendly woman. She walks out the door and I turn back to Callie. My breath stills and my heart whips out of control in my chest until it feels like I'm having a heart attack standing right here.

"Hello, Mr. Eastman. What can I get you today?" Her breathy voice makes my cock jerk in my jeans and I struggle to hold myself in check. Not to reach across the counter and pull her over it and into my arms, kissing her soft, plush lips like I'm going to devour her heart and soul.

I shove all that shit down. "Cinnamon twist. Please," I growl under my breath.

Her lips quirk. "Why don't you ever order more than just one? You seem to like them. You're here every week."

"I just want one," I say, holding firm. Control is an important of my life.

"Ohhh-kay," she says, reaching underneath the counter and pulling out a gorgeously-browned cinnamon twist dripping with blackberry buttercream frosting. The whole thing is just right. Not too sweet and just the right size for an end-of-the week treat.

She wraps it up and puts it in a little bag, handing it across the counter as I hand her my card. My hand slips along hers and it feels like a jolt of electricity slips up my arm and stops my heart. I grunt and she gasps, her sapphire blue eyes widening.

"I-I…here you go." She practically throws my card and the bag back at me. "I'm sorry. Something's gotta come out of the oven."

And she whirls around on her heels, her blond ponytail flying behind her.

"Hey!" She whips around, bouncing on her little pink sneakers.

"What's up, Mr. Eastman?" I can tell she wants to run. Her deep blue eyes skitter away from mine and she looks like a deer eyeing a predator.

I'm feeling mighty peckish myself. I'm hungry and she's like a fucking feast standing there in front of me.

But I shove that shit down again. "Call me Rory," I growl under my breath and stalk out the door.

Then like a fucking stalker I sit across the street, munching on that stick of cinnamon, fruity sweetness and watching Callie Hart like my life depends on it.

She's smiling and happy except once in awhile I see her pick up her phone and then her smile fades away and she drops her head into her hands, her shoulders slumping as if she's got the weight of the world on her shoulders.

My heart aches just looking at her and I fight the urge to storm back inside and demand to know why she's so upset. What's wrong. What or who can I hurt to make sure that she's taken care of and safe.

After an hour just sitting there staring at her and wondering what she's thinking, what she's feeling I growl under my breath. Is she thinking about me?

Why the hell can't I stop thinking about this woman?

I finally start my truck and drive away, fighting the urge to turn around the entire time.

When I get to the ranch, I go to the barn where my favorite horse is stabled. She's a pistol and for some damn reason she reminds me of Callie. Her golden palomino coat gleams in the sun and her spun sugar mane and tail wave as she shakes her head at me.

I laugh and pat her head as she nods at me, her front leg pawing at the ground of her stall.

"Give me a few minutes, girl, and I'll come and take you out for a little exercise."

Cody Ironheart comes into the stable after me and smiles. "When are you going to stop talking to that horse and get yourself a girl?"

Rolling my eyes, I turn and glare at him. "I'm not interested in any woman."

Unbidden, Callie's pretty, pale face and the tiny freckles across her dainty nose rise up in my mind. Her dark blue eyes gleam at me and I shake my head, pushing those crazy thoughts aside.

"Well, I hate to break it to you but the ranch runs an auction as part of the charity and you're up."

"No, I'm not. That's for the boys that we've got working here. Not for men who've already had the woman of their dreams and lost her."

Not entirely true. But I'm taking liberties here.

Cody throws his dark head back. "How do you think I met my wife?"

"You two were friends"

"Yeah, but we weren't pushed into doing anything about it until I was up for auction. Then she got jealous." The smug smile on his face makes bile crawl up my throat.

I'm a jealous son of a bitch right now. I was married but it sure as hell wasn't happily. My boss is practically glowing and I wish to heaven I'd have found a love like his instead of messing my life up as bad as I did.

But I sure as hell don't want to get involved in the auction thing. That sounds like my idea of hell.

So like a dumbass, I blurt out, "I didn't want to say anything because it hasn't been very long…but I'm seeing someone."

Cody eyes me cynically, lifting his brow. "You'll forgive me if I don't necessarily believe you, man."

"It's true." Horror fills me as I blurt out, "Her name is Callie Hart and she owns the bakery in town. That's why I go in there all the time."

I've lost my damn mind. Now what do I do?