Chapter Four

Stupidest idea ever? Hosting a speed dating night. What had she been thinking?

She would never, ever, in a million years date any of these guys. Gwen looked out at the filled chocolate shop and wondered what had ever possessed her to think this would be a good idea. She hated being judgemental, but she already had a nickname for each one of them. There was the Nerd, no explanation needed. Then there was the Narcissist, the Sexist, the Shyboy, the Mamasboy, the Know-it-all, and the Boobstarer.

She felt awful for the women who came here tonight too—until she saw them all hooking up and leaving her standing in the middle of her shop alone! So, great. The only normal guy that said he would be here—Ben—got called into work so she was forced to deal with this crowd on her own.

And of course, the Muffin Man was MIA.

She shouldn’t be surprised. After yesterday’s weird encounter in the kitchen, she should know not to count on him. First he barged back into the kitchen like he was ready to rescue her from a fire, then he turned all indifferent again—except when he inhaled all the food. He looked totally fine then. And after he inhaled all the food, he just disappeared.

The wind howled outside and snow was falling in large gusts. She didn’t even care. Usually late March snowstorms drove her crazy, but it felt rather perfect tonight. She watched the last of them leave and then locked up behind them. She wiped the tables one by one and tried not to cry. What was wrong with her? How hard was it to find a decent guy? She had been alone for so long. Was she so repulsive that even the dolts that were here tonight weren’t interested in her? She didn’t know how much longer she could wait. Her only other option would be to leave town. Maybe it was lack of men that was the problem. Maybe she needed a city, but she couldn’t leave Shadow Creek. She loved it here. She was too attached to her family, even though they drove her nuts. No, no. Her life was full. She didn’t need a man. Maybe her obsession with the Muffin Man was because he was unattainable. She knew nothing about him. He could be a crazed lunatic. She needed to stop that obsession. Maybe she should go out with Ben, but no, she didn’t want to lead him on.

Gwen finished wiping the tables and then turned off the remaining lights. It was time to call it a night. She’d go back to her apartment down the street, put on flannel pj’s, and drink herself to bed. Then tomorrow when she woke up, she’d continue on this new path she’d set out for herself. The new Gwen wasn’t insecure and she was going to make sure the new Gwen wasn’t lonely either.

…

Luke leaned his head back against the headrest and swore out loud in his empty car. He felt like a stalker. He’d told Gwen he wouldn’t come to her singles night—and he had many valid reasons.

First, he’d rather die than attend something like that. Second, he was supposed to be working tonight. Third…he didn’t want to be in a position where he’d be close to her. Gwen was off-limits to him. He already knew he was very attracted to her and that it was mutual. He already knew she was funny, sweet, and…hell, this was bad. But the crushed look on her pretty face had made him request the night off—which was something he never did. He was planning on sitting in his car and making sure she was fine. You could never be too careful. Jerks were everywhere.

He wanted her to find someone tonight. Well, a part of him did. The other part didn’t want her to find anyone but him, but he did know that he didn’t want to see her cry, and he knew that was what was happening now. He’d also seen all the other losers leave, paired off in couples. Through the blustery snow outside his car, he could see her blowing her nose as she cleaned up the place. He spotted her yanking down the red flyer and tearing it to shreds. It confirmed what he’d already suspected—that tonight was about her finding someone. The way she’d looked at him when she asked him if he’d come tonight replayed in his mind over and over. He had no idea how he’d said no to her, which again was why he had said no to her. Dammit.

He had no idea how any of those guys wouldn’t have wanted her. She looked stunning, even from across the road he could tell. She was wearing a body-hugging red dress, black leather high-heeled boots, and some little black too-small cardigan. Her hair was piled on top of her head and a few pieces dangled down.

His gut clenched when she sat down at a table and put her head in her hands and he saw her shoulders shaking. Hell.

He was going in.

He got out of his car, swore because the storm was blowing gusts of wind and snow in his face, and then jogged across the street. Downtown Shadow Creek was a ghost town at the moment because of the late hour and the storm. Huge drifts had formed and he hadn’t seen a plow out in hours. His gut tightened as he reached the door to her shop and noticed she hadn’t picked up her head yet. He knocked on the door and she sat up with a start, wiping her eyes with a napkin before turning and standing. She stopped dead in her tracks when she spotted him. Her eyes and nose were red, her hair was now all messed up, but as she walked toward him, he knew she was still the most beautiful woman he’d ever known.

She unlocked the door, her brows furrowed, her lips drawn into a frown, as she opened it and let him in. “It’s not morning. I don’t have any coffee or muffins ready.” She then tried to shut the door on him.

Well, genius, what’s your plan? You didn’t want to see her cry, so now what? “I didn’t come for the muffins.” So now he was creeping her out because it was nighttime, her shop was empty, and he was looming over her. What was he going to say? He had been stalking her from across the street?

“Oh.” She blew her nose again and crossed her arms.

“Can I come in?”

She nodded and moved aside. “Right. Sorry. So why are you here?”

Why was he here… “I was driving by and saw the lights were on and you looked like you were crying.”

Her eyes narrowed on him. “I thought you were working tonight.”

“I got off early.”

“Oh. I wasn’t crying. I have allergies sometimes.”

He’d never seen her blow her nose once in the last few months that he’d been coming here. “Oh. Okay, well, if you’re fine then…”

She started tapping her foot which then prompted him to notice those boots again, after an appreciative perusal of her body as his gaze made its way down. He wasn’t prepared for the hot Gwen look. Just as he was about to leave, relieved that she looked pissed rather than sad, the lights flickered and then went out. “What the hell?”

They stood there, in darkness, watching as the entire town went to black.

“Oh, crap. It’s the stupid storm,” she said, her voice sounding slightly panicked. “It’s so dark in here. Omigod, I don’t even have a flashlight. Ah! But I have all the votive candles from this stupid singles night.”

“Do you know where they are?”

“Yup. Matches are behind the counter. You stay there, I know my way around this place,” she said.

“Are you okay?” he asked, wincing when he heard her crash into something.

“Yup! No worries at all.”

He heard another crash, some muffled swearing, then the whisper of a match being lit. He took one of the tea lights once it had been lit and helped her light them. In a few minutes there was enough light in the shop that they could make out their surroundings. This wasn’t good. Candlelight. A storm. And the one woman he wanted but couldn’t have. He couldn’t exactly leave her here like this. “Do you live close to here?” he asked.

“Walking distance. Down the street, actually. I took over my sister-in-law’s place when she moved out last month.”

“Can I walk you home?”

“Do you live in town?”

“’Bout a half hour out.”

She looked beyond his shoulder. “I don’t think you’re going to make it home.”

He turned around to look out the window. His SUV was buried in snow. “It’s pretty good in the snow.”

“Usually the roads get shut down when we have a storm like this.”

He shoved his hands in the front pockets of his jeans.

“Well, as long as you’re not insane or anything, you can stay at my place if you’d like,” she said, walking around the counter to grab her coat. He made sure to not be noticeably checking out the sway of her hips and how good she looked in the dress that clung to everything wonderful.

He couldn’t go home with Gwen. He had told himself not to get involved with her. In his defense, when he’d first moved to Shadow Creek, he’d had a plan, he was focused. He’d walked into this little shop because it’d been the only place serving coffee early in the morning after his shift at the hospital. He hadn’t counted on the owner being one of the people whose lives he destroyed. He hadn’t counted on wanting to see her smile every day. But going home with her would only make the truth so much harder when it came out. God, he hated his life.

“You know what?” she interrupted the silence, and he looked over at her, all bundled up now and marching toward the door like a woman with a bone to pick. He had no idea what he’d done to piss her off since he hadn’t spoken…

“I don’t get you. You look like a guy who has a lot to say, yet you say nothing. You show up every day and barely say a word to me, but you have these…” She paused for a second, came up to him and waved her hand in front of his face. “These wounded eyes that make me feel like you need a friend. Then because you’re basically the only guy who…is mildly attractive, I ask you to this stupid singles night that I will never do again unless I have an early death wish, and you say no. Well, now you’re here, in a blizzard, barely saying a word and I invite you to stay at my place and all you can do is stand there…looking like that?” She waved a hand in front of him again.

“Gwen.”

Her mouth dropped open. “You know my name?”

He tried to fight the smile, he tried to fight the feeling, the attraction. He could. He totally could be in the same room with this woman, in the dark, and not make a move. He shouldn’t have taken a step forward, then. “I’ve been here every day except Sunday for over a month.”

“Right,” she said, her voice suddenly breathless. This was going to end badly. “I don’t know your name.”

“I believe you do.”

She shook her head and another piece of her dark hair tumbled out. He flexed his hand, telling himself not to touch. “No, I really don’t.”

“I think I’m the Muffin Man. Or TMM.”

She slapped a hand across her mouth, her eyes wide as saucers. “Omigod.”

He was done fighting the grin. She was pretty damn hilarious. “Yeah. Your voice has a tendency to carry.”

Her hands covered her face now and she groaned. He laughed, and then he broke his first rule and reached out to touch her; he tried to pry her hands off her face and succeeded after a few seconds. He didn’t want to let go and she didn’t make a move to take her wrist from his hand. Dammit. She was looking up at him with those whiskey-colored eyes filled with the unmistakable sheen of attraction. “Okay, Muffin Man, then tell me what you’re really doing here tonight.” Her voice was soft and breathy, but the challenge was in it.

He didn’t want her to go home with someone else. If he told her that, they’d be starting something. He couldn’t start something with Gwen Bailey. He owed the Baileys an apology, not this. Except she took a step into him, a challenge in her eyes, in the tilt of her chin. Ah, hell. As if he’d ever refuse her, and he’d always been one to walk into a challenge.

He had amazing self-control and self-discipline. He could kiss her once and then walk away, maybe then he’d get her out of his system. Maybe it was just attraction to a woman unlike any other he’d ever been with. But he couldn’t get involved with her.

He shoved his hands in his pockets, because if not, he was going to pull her close. “I didn’t want you to go out with some guy from speed dating.”

Her eyes widened. “Really?”

He gave a quick nod. He hated lying. The truth wasn’t so great either.

“Would you say you find me somewhat attractive?”

Somewhat? He gave another nod. He had no idea where she was going with this.

“Are you married or dating someone?”

“Nope.”

She gave him a huge smile. “Great. Then you can take me out on a date next week.”

He coughed. Choked, really. “Excuse me?’

She nodded. “Yup. I think you’ll be perfect.”

“You…can’t get a date?”

Her face turned red. “Of course I can. I just happen to be very picky. You seem like someone I would date.”

Oh, man. He hadn’t seen this one coming. He couldn’t date Gwen, and why couldn’t she find a date? Any of those losers he’d seen in here would have been lucky to have her. “I can’t date you.”

Her smile dipped and a flash of insecurity dashed across her incredible eyes. “Why?”

His gut tightened. He caught the faint tremor in her voice. Crap. As long as there weren’t tears in her eyes he’d be fine. He’d caused this woman enough tears. He searched for the right words. Finally, he came up with, “I don’t think we’re right for each other.” There. That wasn’t insulting. It also wasn’t lying, but it was firm.

Her chin trembled again, but then she squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. “Oh, like as in, I’m not your type? You wouldn’t date me?”

Uh-oh. It was as though he was falling into some deep, dark hole of female double speak that he was not programmed to understand. It was like there was an entirely different conversation playing in her head. He was about to tell her that he didn’t mean it like that when she continued speaking.

“Never mind. I wouldn’t date you either. I barely even remember your order. It’s not like I know anything about you. Actually, I vaguely even remember you. Are you that guy who comes in here every morning and mumbles out an order and then proceeds to ignore me for an hour and then leaves with a rude wave? The guy who stuffs pie samples and mac and cheese and then takes off?”

Hell. He scraped a hand down the side of his face.

She put her hands on her hips. “So what is your type exactly?”

Her. She was his type. He took a step into her when he should have just turned around and left after reassuring her that the problem was with him, not her. Except he’d wanted her since the day he’d walked into this little chocolate shop and first laid eyes on her. His attraction to her had only grown, and now she was here asking him to be her date and asking him why he wasn’t attracted to her.

“Never mind,” she said making a little shooing motion with her hand. Now he’d really pissed her off. “Just go. I’ve had enough of this one-sided conversation anyway.”

He grabbed her wrist when she turned to walk away. “Gwen,” he said roughly.

She stilled and looked up at him.

He’d regret this later, he already knew.

He smiled and took a step into her, letting go of her wrist. He heard her breath catch and blood started pumping through his veins. She leaned her head back and it took all of his self-control not to kiss her.

“I notice you. I notice everything about you. I know that this entire town loves you. I know you sneak a chocolate muffin in the morning and eat it bit by bit while you’re serving customers. I know you only charge that old guy with the beard half the actual price of his breakfast order. I know you hate tea even though you pretend to know what you’re talking about when customers ask you your favorite. I know you hate wearing mascara. I know that for some reason you used to wear baggy boring clothes and all of a sudden this week you’ve started dressing in color, in clothes that show off an incredible body. And I know that I’ve wanted to kiss you since the first day I met you. I think you’re incredibly hot and sexy and I didn’t want you to go home with some random guy tonight. I wanted you to go home with me.”

He lowered his head and finally took her mouth against his, kissing her, wrapping her up close. She molded herself to him, full curves pressed against his body, setting him on fire. He knew that kissing Gwen would be pretty awesome, but he hadn’t expected just how good. She fit against him like no other woman had ever. She kissed him back, making little sounds that were driving him insane, and he knew that this wasn’t going to be enough.

…

So, the Muffin Man knew how to kiss.

He kissed her like she was the last woman on earth, like he’d been starved for her. She dug her nails into some pretty fine biceps and whimpered as her knees were about to surrender. He backed her up against the wall, supporting her with his strong body and proceeded to kiss her until she didn’t remember where she was.

She screamed and he jumped at the loud pounding on the front door. He swore under his breath and they both turned to see Chase and her brother standing there. Chase was holding a flashlight and Jack looked ready to murder TMM.

“Omigod, hold on,” she said, wiping her mouth and straightening out her clothes. Of all the stupid, humiliating things to happen to her. “It’s my sort-of-brother-in-law and my brother.” She whipped the door open and they came bounding in.

“Why is that guy groping you?” Jack asked pointing at TMM. Chase was aiming the flashlight beam at TMM’s face and this whole thing was beginning to look like a police interrogation.

“He’s not groping me,” Gwen said, looking over at TMM…it did occur to her at that moment that she still didn’t know his name.

TMM shot her a look but didn’t argue. As TMM walked over to join them, her brother’s eyes widened.

“I know you. You’re Doctor Thomson, right?” Jack extended his hand and looked like a normal person again instead of barbarian.

She breathed a sigh of relief when TMM took it. Doctor? Huh. So…not woodsman.

TMM smiled and nodded. “Right. How are you? How’s…Lily?”

Oh, no. Whenever someone asked Jack about Lily he went on for at least half an hour.

“She’s fine,” she interrupted. “What are you two doing here?” she asked. Leave it to the men in her family to ruin her one night of…whatever it was.

“We were at The Roadhouse when the power went out and knew you were in town so thought we’d check in on you,” Chase said.

“Oh, well, thanks, but I’m fine.”

“Clearly,” Chase said with a cough that looked like he was hiding a smile.

Jack’s eyes narrowed on…Dr. Thomson. She really needed to find out his first name, but she couldn’t ask now because that would mean Chase and Jack would know she didn’t know the name of the man that had been “groping” her. She didn’t think referring to him as doctor would do much for her credibility either.

“So you and my sister know each other?”

Gwen kept trying to usher them to the door but they both stood there like trees. She shot TMM a nervous glance. “He’s been coming here every morning.”

Jack snapped his finger and pointed at TMM. “Oh. The Muffin Man.”

She was going to kill her brother. There were many times in her life, growing up with Jack that she’d envisioned herself strangling him, but now, the feeling was so intense that she was forced to clasp her hands together. Just the fact that Jack knew her nickname for him would imply that she’d been so infatuated by him that the entire family knew.

Doctor TMM rubbed the back of his neck. “Luke. My name is Luke.”

Oh. Luke. That was a nice name. She eyed him. Yes, it suited him. Luke the Doctor. Very hot. Much hotter than the Muffin Man/Woodsman.

“Well, I guess now that we know you’re…safe, we’d better get going,” Chase said, backing up a step.

Jack stood still. “Roads are open by the way, so, uh, Luke, you can go home.”

“Jack,” she said.

He held up his hands and backed up a step. “Right. So we’ll see you around, Luke.”

Luke gave her another look, but she just threw him her sweetest smile.

“So she managed to snag the Muffin Man,” her brother said to Chase before the door had closed all the way.

“Well, good-bye, drive carefully!” she yelled, shutting the door on her brother’s face and not waiting for his reply.

She turned her back to the door, raised her arm behind her back, and gave her brother the finger. She heard Chase’s bark of laughter and after a few seconds looked over her shoulder to see them walking away. “So, you’re a doctor.”

He ran a hand over her chin and her body tingled remembering the feel of his stubble against her face. Oh, her brother ruined everything.

“Yeah. ER. Usually I work nights and on my way home in the morning I stop by here.”

“Oh…so that’s why you always look tired.”

“Yeah.”

“So, you’re the doctor who was there when Lily and Jack came into the ER?”

He nodded, but didn’t say anything. She noticed his jaw was clenched and he shifted his gaze from hers. Maybe he didn’t like accolades. But what did this mean for them now? Luke had said he was attracted to her, but now it seemed like all the sizzle had followed her brother out the door.

He ran a hand over his jaw and she tingled remembering what that had felt like against her skin. “Gwen.”

“Yes,” she said clasping her hands in front of her. It always looked like he had a thousand thoughts but never articulated them. It was like he was always in some kind of struggle. She crossed her arms and his gaze dropped to her chest then back up to her eyes. They had that look in them again, the one before he’d kissed her. The one that made her knees feel like they were too jiggly to keep her standing.

“It’s not that it didn’t mean anything to me, it’s just that it doesn’t matter because this can’t go anywhere.”

“Because…”

He dug his hands into his pockets. TMM—Luke, wore jeans like no man she’d ever met. “Because we can’t.”

Her eyes narrowed on him, realizing he was looking guilty. “Do you have a wife?”

He sighed and looked down. “Widower.”

A pang shot through her. That was why he looked so sad all the time. “Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that,” she whispered. His jaw was still clenched and his eyes were filled with a pain that made her ache.

He looked down for a moment. “Thanks. It’s been a long time.”

“Oh.” She needed another word. So much about him made sense now.

“Gwen, I’m not in Shadow Creek for long. Just six more months and then I move hospitals. I’m only here temporarily. I don’t want…happily ever after anymore. I don’t want marriage again.”

“Oh,” she said, looking down at her boots. She couldn’t blame him. “So it would be stupid for us to get involved.”

“Exactly.”

“Because you’re worried that if you get involved with me, I’ll fall in love with you and then you’ll break my heart because you’re a career-oriented doctor who will be able to leave without looking back while I sit here and stuff muffins into my mouth and relive our sordid affair, wishing you were still here?”

He grinned and took a step into her. “Sort of.”

“You can’t step closer to me, smile like that, and then still plan on leaving.”

He shrugged. “So what if I stay…for the evening?”

She looked around. “Here?”

He gave her a nod. “Let’s do the speed dating thing you had set up.”

Her heart was pounding faster than the day she’d had two large coffees in a row followed by the dark chocolate muffin and a shop full of customers that needed to be served. She looked around the room. The tea lights were lit, the questions were still lying on the counter…all she had to do was remember what he’d said. He wasn’t staying. He wasn’t looking for a lasting, committed relationship anymore.

She glanced back at him. He was standing there, his thick dark hair mussed up from her fingers, his stubble all stubbly and appealing, that mouth…she could sacrifice herself. “Okay. I think I’d rather sit on the floor than at the table though.”

“Agreed. Do you have any food?”

“I have chocolate. Chocolate muffins and maybe a chocolate chip cookie left.”

He grinned, his eyes sparkling. She liked that twinkle. “How about all of the above?”

She laughed. “Fine. I’ll put together a small tray of something.”

“Great. I’ll get an area set up for us to sit.”

They both walked in opposite directions and Gwen scrambled to gather the leftovers she had while her mind was racing. She couldn’t believe this was happing. TMM, no, Luke, was here. Just the two of them. Sure, he’d basically said he would only be her date out of pity, but she was an optimist. She was going to have to process the fact that he’d been married and lost his wife. It made her feel so bad for him, yet it explained so much. She also knew that it must be a part of the reason he wouldn’t get involved with anyone else. It had taken her sister-in-law five years to move on after Michael had died. She wasn’t going to think of all this. She was just going to enjoy the moment.

A few minutes later she joined him close to the window. He’d laid out their jackets and taken two of the red pillows they used on the decorative chair in the display corner. The tea lights were surrounding them and it looked cozy and intimate. He took the tray from her and waited while she sat down first and then joined her. He was close enough that she could reach out and touch him, close enough that she felt safe next to his large body.

“Are you eating?” he asked, eyeing the tray.

She smiled. “Go ahead and help yourself. I’ve had enough chocolate today.”

He grabbed a muffin. “Thanks.”

“I’m starting the questions,” she said, stretching out her legs and crossing her ankles in front of her. He made a noise beside her and she looked over at him.

“I like the boots,” he said, his voice thick. A shiver swam through her. “Keep talking. I’m not going to look at the boots.”

She skimmed the first few questions trying to ignore the erratic beating of her heart. She wasn’t sure she was prepared for TMM and this sexy side of him. She could barely handle his appeal when he grunted out hellos and good-byes. “I already know your name, your job, that you’re um…” She coughed. “A widower…okay how about this. Do you believe in love at first sight?”

He frowned and stopped chewing. “I believe in lust at first sight.”

She frowned. “Oh, does that happen often?”

He gave a low laugh and leaned his head back against the wall. “No.”

She wondered about his wife, but that felt too personal to ask. He didn’t seem the type to want to volunteer his feelings.

“But with you, yes.”

Oh. Oh. That was supposed to be flattering…and flirting. “Thanks. Okay…moving on.”

“Wait. I get to ask you the same question, don’t I?”

She crossed her arms and looked at him. Good grief, he was beautiful. She liked his rugged looks. She liked the stubble, the messed up hair. She also liked his mouth, she noticed. “I guess, yes. You’re right.”

“All right, so, do you believe in love at first sight?” Her mouth went dry. His gorgeous face very close to hers, blue eyes twinkling, sensual mouth turned up in a half smile.

She swallowed. “Yes. I believe in love at first sight.”

He shook his head and she wondered how she’d never spotted the arrogance until now. “You’re mixing them up.”

“Uh, I know what I’m doing and I know what I’m thinking. I believe in love at first sight and I’m sticking to that.”

“You can’t fall in love with someone without knowing them. You can be attracted to them. Those are two different things.”

“But what if it turns into love?”

“Well, that’s not at first sight.”

She pursed her lips. “You’re kinda starting to piss me off so let’s move on to the next question.”

He threw back his head and laughed. She smiled at the sound and the picture he made. “Okay, what’s the next one?” She paused as she read it. She didn’t know if it was the right question to ask now that she knew about his past.

“We can skip it,” she said, quickly scanning the page for the next one.

He snatched the page from her. His jaw clenched for a moment then he asked the question. “What do you look for in a husband or wife?”

“You can go first,” she said.

“I’m not sure about husband.”

She snatched the paper back. “Seriously.”

He shrugged. “Since I have no intention of getting married again, I haven’t given it much thought.”

Maybe she should let up with the questions. She was pushing too hard. Clearly, he wasn’t one to divulge personal details, not that she could blame him. This entire thing wasn’t fun and playful given what he’d been through.

“Fine. Honesty. Integrity. Sense of humor. I don’t know,” he said with a rough sigh, putting down his muffin.

Warmth spread through her at his attempt to play along. It had to mean something, that he would sit here and do this with her. “Okay, I’ll go. He has to have a job.”

A corner of his mouth turned up. “That’s a good one.”

“He has to like food, he has to be able to make me laugh, and he has to be loyal. No guy with a wandering eye. I can’t stand that.”

“Agreed.”

“Oh, and smart. I can’t be married to someone stupid, because I might take advantage of them.”

She had to stop speaking because now he was howling, holding his stomach and laughing. She poked him in a very well defined shoulder and waited for him to calm down. He slowly stopped laughing and looked at her in a way that made her toes curl and her breath catch. “We can’t be doing this.”

She smoothed out her hair. “Right. Back to the questions. Do you want kids?”

He frowned but didn’t say anything for what had to be at least a minute. “No.”

Her heart sank. What was she doing? He had the opposite answers than she did on basically everything. How could she be falling for a guy that didn’t want marriage or children? They sat there, neither of them saying anything. She glanced out the large window, the snow had slowed enough that now it looked like it was meandering gently from the sky.

“Do you?” he asked, breaking the silence. His voice was thick, filled with emotion.

She drew her gaze from the window to him. “Yes.”

He gave a nod and then picked up his discarded muffin. “Huh.”

She glanced down at the sheet of questions again, suddenly desperate to push this conversation along. Things weren’t looking good. “Moving along… Do you like animals? Do you have a pet?”

“No. I like dogs though. No time and I haven’t been in the same place long enough to have one.”

She was thrilled. He liked dogs? That was very promising.

He stopped chewing. “Why are you smiling at me like that?”

She lifted the paper to cover her face and smile. “No reason.”

He plucked the paper from her hand. “Do you like animals?”

She smiled and nodded. “We adopted a dog. Lola. It was when my dad was going through cancer treatments. Our house was pretty empty at that point and things were bad. I thought that a dog might bring us some joy and cheering up, and she did.”

He was looking at her intently. “You’ve had a rough few years.”

She nodded. She hadn’t wanted to get into this part of her life, because this was the part that hurt the most. Shadow Creek was a small town so she’d never had to tell anyone what had happened and that was easier. Telling someone she barely knew about the darkest days in her family history was disconcerting.

“You don’t have to tell me, Gwen.”

“A little over five years ago my brother, who was Jack’s twin, was in an awful car accident. He had his son in the car and they both died,” she said, her voice trailing to a whisper. Sometimes it felt as though time had gone so fast, that it all seemed so long ago. Sometimes she didn’t think about Michael and Matthew for a few hours and the world seemed just as it should. But then she’d remember and that hole that she always thought could somehow be filled again, stung again with emptiness.

“Everything fell apart then. We all fell apart. Jack left town, left Lily behind and broke her heart. My sister-in-law Julia left town because she couldn’t cope with her loss either. It was me and my parents…and Chase and his little girl Maggie. They aren’t related to us—well, now that he and Julia are married, I guess in a roundabout way they are. But they were always family.”

“I’m so, so, sorry.”

She whipped her head in his direction because the emotion in his voice was so blatant and was touched to see tears in his eyes, his features tight. “Thank you.”

He ducked his head. “It must have been awful.”

“It was the hardest time in my life. There were so many days that I was just angry. Angry that Jack took off and left me with our parents. Angry that I was so alone. Lily disappeared into herself, not wanting to be around anyone. Julia was gone. I mean, everyone was gone. Chase and I were there and that was it. But I watched my parents age that year and I swear I thought they were going to die too.”

His jaw was clenching and unclenching.

“Sorry, I guess this isn’t really the best topic to be discussing when you barely know someone, right?”

He shook his head, looking down still. “This is part of who you are. You’re a very strong person, Gwen. I’m sure your parents wouldn’t have gotten through it without you.”

She shrugged. “We are a very close family and I know that they would do anything for me too. I guess we can all say we came out on the other side though. We figured out how to live without two people we loved. Jack and Lily are having twins. Chase and Julia are married. Everyone is happy again,” she whispered.

“What about you?” he asked, this time turning to look at her. She couldn’t quite figure out his expression. His eyes looked as though they were filled with pain…and something else.

“Me? I’m…fine. I’m happy I have my business now with Lily. I’m happy we’re all in Shadow Creek and living our lives together.”

“No men? Firefighters?”

She groaned. “I haven’t had time for guys. I haven’t had time for a life, really. I lived with my parents and that was my entire life. I feel like now I’m finally getting back on track and I’m happy I’ve moved out and have some breathing space. Ben and I are friends. Also, I can be slightly picky when it comes to men.”

“So I should be flattered?” he asked with an adorable grin.

She punched him in the shoulder. “You should be very flattered. You passed all my tests.”

His smile faltered for a second and the mood shifted. Him telling her about his wife reminded her that he wasn’t just the average single guy. He had lost a spouse. “Luke, I know that you don’t want a relationship. You’re not going to break my heart. Thank you for telling me about your wife.”

The lights flickered a few times and then turned back on. Blue headlights, rumbling, and then the snow plow driving by the front window ended their captivity. Something happened. It was as though TMM went back to just being the guy at the bakery. She felt his detachment even before he hopped to his feet and offered her a hand. “Why don’t I help you close up and walk you home?”

She tried to hide her disappointment. What was going on? Hadn’t they just shared something special? Hadn’t the kiss meant anything for him? She forced a smile and began collecting the votives, blowing them out as she went. “Sure, I’ll be a minute.” She walked to the back, blinking back her tears as she found her jacket and hat and gloves. She was not going to show him how hurt she was. He had easily ended their evening, he had no problem walking away.

Basically, he’d come here tonight out of pity.

Luke the Doctor believed in lust at first sight and nothing more.

She believed in love at first sight, and now she was going to pay for it.