Page 17 of Secret Southern Promises

The last thing I needed was for Boone to be hitting on me on top of it all.

Nope.

Chapter Ten

Boone

I was here again.

To anyone watching, it would look like I just liked to have a bagel in the morning, the same as any other guy. But that wasn’t the truth, not really. I was here at the Bagel Bin because I was hoping to catch a glimpse of Dolly. A glimpse, a moment, hell, I’d take anything.

Dolly loved the bagels at this place, always had. That hadn’t changed in the fifteen years since we last… well, since everything.

Two days ago, when I’d casually dropped a hint about needing to learn how to cook—hoping maybe she’d offer to teach me—she hadn’t taken the bait. It wasn’t like Dolly to brush off something like that. If anything, she’d always been willing to help someone out. That’s how I knew something was bothering her. I didn’t like that one bit, but I couldn’t fix it if she wouldn’t talk to me.

I paid for my sausage, egg, and cheese bagel and made my way to the table by the door, the perfect spot to watch without being too obvious. I settled in and unwrapped the bagel just as the door chimed. I didn’t even have to look up to know who it was. I felt it.

Dolly breezed in with that same energy she carried everywhere. The kind that made people stop and take notice without her even trying. Her hair, long and curly, bounced against her back, the kind of curls you wanted to wrap your fingers around and never let go. She moved with an easy grace that was all Dolly—confident but not showy like she owned her space without needing to announce it.

She didn’t see me yet, too focused on heading straight to the counter to place her order. “Bacon, egg, and cheese, please,” shesaid, her voice as familiar to me as my own name. She was in a savory mood today. I wasn’t sure if that said anything about the mood she was in, but I tried to read into it anyway.

While she waited for her bagel, Dolly struck up a conversation with Jo, the cashier. Her laugh, soft but genuine, floated over to where I sat, and I couldn’t stop myself from watching her more closely. She leaned against the counter, chatting easily with Jo. Her long curls swayed as she moved, catching the light from the windows and shining like caramel in the sun.

I couldn’t help but notice the curve of her hips and the way her jeans fit snugly against her waist. She always had that same figure, soft in all the right places but strong, too. There was something about the way she held herself—like she knew she didn’t need anyone but herself. That had always been one of the things I loved about her.

Jo handed her the bagel, and I saw Dolly glance at the clock above the counter. “Looks like I’m running early today,” she said with a smile. “Guess I’ll get to enjoy my bagel here for once.”

The moment she turned around, her eyes locked on mine, and there was no missing the way her face changed when she saw me. Her smile faltered, but she caught herself quick, her features smoothing out like she hadn’t been surprised at all. But I knew better.

This was my chance.

I leaned back in my chair, trying to keep it casual, though my pulse had kicked up a bit. “Mornin’, Dolly.”

She hesitated for a beat, like she was deciding whether to acknowledge me at all, then finally gave a small nod. “Boone.”

“Got an open chair here,” I offered. There were only a few other people at other tables, and there were plenty of open tables she could have sat at. I wanted her to sit with me.

“Thanks.” Her voice was calm and even, but I could tell she wasn’t exactly thrilled to see me. Still, she walked over to my table, bagel in hand, and pulled out the chair across from me. For a second, it was like old times—Dolly and I, sitting together, sharing a meal like we used to. But that was years ago, and things were different now.

“Didn’t expect to see you here,” Dolly said, taking a small bite of her bagel, her eyes narrowed slightly as she watched me. “Haven’t figured out how to fry an egg yet?” she teased, a hint of a smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

I shrugged, trying to play it off. “I’ve been trying, but nothing seems as good as a bagel from the Bagel Bin.”

She eyed me closely, chewing thoughtfully, but didn’t respond. I could feel her sizing me up, trying to figure out what I was doing here. I knew this wasn’t just about the bagels, but neither of us had gone there yet.

“What’s going on in your head, Dolly?” I asked, leaning in a little, trying to close the distance between us, even if it was just through conversation.

She quirked her lips and wiped her mouth with a napkin before setting it down. “That’s a loaded question. My mind is like a computer with fifteen browsers open all at the same time.”

I smiled. That was classic Dolly—always juggling a million things and always keeping herself busy. “Well, tell me what one of those browsers is,” I said, leaning back a bit to give her space but hoping she’d give me something real.

“I’ve got a load of produce coming in later this morning,” she said, picking at the edge of her bagel, not meeting my eyes. “I don’t know if we’ll have enough space for all of it. I’ll probably have to discount a few things to clear them out and make room for the fresher stuff.”

I nodded. Produce and grocery stock. That was safe ground for her—nothing too personal, nothing too deep. It wasn’t whatI wanted to hear, but at least she was talking to me. “I can swing by and grab some. Help make some room. What else?”

She set her sandwich down, and this time, her gaze locked onto mine. I could feel the shift in her energy; something more serious was hanging between us now. “Why are you here, Boone?” she asked, her voice soft but direct.

“At the Bagel Bin?” I asked, though I had a sinking feeling she wasn’t asking about my breakfast habits. “I like a good bagel as much as the next person.”

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