Page 46 of Taming Her Temptations

I chug the rest of my coffee and leave my half-eaten plate behind.

When I stand, Dean’s eyes widen upon seeing me. I’m surprised at the guilty expression on his face and somehow it makes me feel worse.

“Ruby,” he calls out and waves me over to where they’re waiting in line.

“Hi Dean. Hi Petra.” I do my best to give them a warm smile. “I was just headed out. You should try to chocolate croissant. They’re orgasmic.” I scrunch my nose at the word choice. It’s not my usual way of speaking either. The guys are getting to me.

Petra looks taken aback while Dean’s eyes dance with laughter.

“Why don’t you join us?” Dean offers.

I just want to get away from here.

“Oh, thanks. Unfortunately, I’ve got to go.” I say, hurriedly.

Dean opens his mouth to object while Petra looks like she couldn’t care less.

Before he can argue, I wave at them while I beeline for the door.

Thwack.

I bump into someone as I’m looking back at Dean and Petra. The smell is sickeningly familiar. A cologne that I didn’t realize just how much I hate until this moment.

I straighten myself up and confirm that my awkward day just went to certified bad.

I audibly groan in disgust at being face to face with Shithead Steve and Madison.

Steven looks annoyed, while Madison has the decency to at least appear somewhat mortified.

“You know this is my favorite bakery, Steven. Couldn’t you have thought to go somewhere else?” I say lowly. I’ve been trying to get this man alone to ream him out. Of course, the one time I get close to him is in a public place where I would like the employees to continue smiling at me every time I come in. Not to mention I don’t want to raise any suspicion with Petra.

“What are you still doing in this town, Ruby?” He says, not looking me in the eye but scanning the space to see who is here. “Don’t you think you’d be better off starting over someplace new?”

I don’t use most of the really bad swear words. It’s a habit my mom instilled in me as a young girl.

But this damn motherfucking shitball fuckface shithead. Did he really just have the gall to say that to me?

I dig my nails into the palm of my hand and grind my teeth. I want to scream at him in response. There is so much I have to say and it’s nothing that can be said at a reasonable volume. But if I yell right now, then I just fit into the stereotype he would love to put me in. He wants people to think there is some glaring reason he abandoned me. And if people in this town see me acting outside of the narrow box they deem socially appropriate, then I’m the crazy one.

“Everything okay here?” I hear Dean’s voice behind me.

“It’s fine.” I can’t even bring myself to turn around and look at him.

“Ruby was just congratulating us,” Steven says, looking up at Dean and Petra cheerily as if he’s the damn mayor of Greenfield.

Madison looks at him with knitted brows, clearly confused by this. It’s the first hint of any emotion she’s shown, instead preferring to stare at the bakery display cabinet. I shouldn’t be surprised that Dean says nothing. I’ve learned recently that I’m on my own completely, so why should I rely on someone now?

“Yeah, I was congratulating Steven on finally getting help with his incontinence issues.” I do my best to calm my angry face with a fake grin at Petra, who I’ve now shocked twice today.

I can’t bring myself to look at Dean.

I just want to get out of here.

Steve starts to protest, but I cut him off as I open the bakery door.

“Enjoy the bakery. Don’t drink too much coffee, Steven, since you gave away all your diapers” I fit in one last jab straight to his deeply reddening face right before I slip through the door.

And while I’m not surprised that Dean doesn’t follow me, I am surprised by the sinking feeling in my chest when he doesn’t.

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