Page 9 of Sweet Southern Heat

The driveto the garage was short but tortuous. Whatever was in this box smelled divine. There was a hint of sugar and lemon. Lifting the lid, I peeked inside the box, groaning at what I saw there. How did she know these were my favorite? Was she spying on me? Had Roxi told her this was the only indulgence I allowed myself to have from the bakery?

What exactly was she trying to do? What game was she playing? Did she think she could win me over with some muffins or that I’d forget the pain of the past six years if she smiled at me sweetly enough? If that was the case, she was wrong. Nothing would make me forget.

I pulled up to the garage and hopped out of my truck, begrudgingly grabbing the box. Slamming my door, I marched inside, my mouth clamped shut. I nodded to Murphy but didn’t dare open my mouth. I was afraid if I did, I’d shove a whole muffin in there, and Olivia would win. I’d be damned if I’d let that happen.

The break room was full of mechanics preparing to start their shift when I walked in. Perfect. For the first time in a while, agenuine smile curved my lips. I tossed the box onto the table and waited. It took only seconds for the guys to realize what was in it.

“Damn, something smells good,” Roy said, moving toward the table.

“What’s in the box?” Bobby asked, reaching for it before I could reply. He pried the lid open, and I squeezed my eyes shut. The muffins looked incredible. Their pillowy tops sprinkled with bits of crystallized sugar. My mouth watered at the sight, but I wouldn’t give in. I would stay strong. While the guys surrounded the box like a school of piranha ready to strike, I slipped out the door and headed for the Chevy that was next in the queue. I’d just popped the hood when Murphy approached, wiping crumbs off his chin with a napkin. He’d clearly nabbed one of the muffins before the whole box was decimated by the swarm of hungry mechanics.

“How are things going at the bakery?” Murphy asked, brushing the remaining crumbs from his coveralls.

“Coming right along,” I replied dispassionately, refusing to look up. Maybe if I didn’t engage, he’d leave it alone and let me get back to what I was doing. No such luck.

“I’m glad you two have been able to move past all that mess from a few years ago.” My hands stilled, and my throat tightened. If he sensed my unease at the subject, he didn’t let it stop him. “Things were rocky after the accident, and I realize you and Olivia don’t exactly get along, but being able to work together shows real growth and maturity.”

Chancing a glance at him, I swallowed back my retort at the pride shining in his eyes. He thought I’d set aside my ill feelings toward Olivia out of some noble attempt to be the bigger person, when in reality it was out of necessity. I needed the work, and Olivia had a job that needed to be done quickly. The extra cash would allow me to help my dad. If that meant working for theDevil herself, then so be it. I would do anything so he could have what he needed.

“Right,” I said, offering him a tight smile. “It’s all water under the bridge.” My voice lacked conviction, but Murphy didn’t notice. He clapped me on the shoulder, the tight lines around his mouth softening.

“Give my thanks to Olivia for the pie next time you see her. Me and the missus sure did enjoy it,” he said before turning back to the office. I gritted my teeth, resenting the fact I couldn’t escape her even when she was nowhere in sight.

I finished up with the Chevy just before lunch and checked my phone to make sure I didn’t have any missed calls from Dad. He knew to call the garage if he needed me right away, but still, I worried about him. There were no calls on the log, but I had a message from a weird number. Tapping the notification, I scanned the text and breathed a sigh of relief. My dad’s prescription was finally ready after the medication had been on backorder for weeks. I would stop by the pharmacy on my way, then swing by Dad’s to deliver it.

My relief was short-lived when I arrived at the pharmacy and Julie, the pharmacy tech, scanned the barcode on the bag. She handed it over, and my eyes bugged out of my head when she announced the price.

“That can’t be right. Was it not run through his insurance?” Julie tapped on a few keys, her eyes scanning the screen in front of her, before she turned it to face me.

“It was,” she assured me, pointing to the lines on the screen I couldn’t make heads or tails of. “The price went up, and the insurance only covered a portion of it.”

“This is ridiculous. He’s been on this medication for over a year.” She offered me a sympathetic smile. I was sure this wasn’t the first time she'd dealt with a disgruntled customer today.

“I’m sorry, Landon. You might want to have his doctor look into switching him to something his insurance will cover better. I can give a list of similar medications that might work. Let me just grab Dr. Roth.”

“Thanks,” I grumbled, rubbing my temples at the ache beginning to settle there. This was the absolute last thing I needed. This was the medication I always covered for Dad since he couldn’t afford it. Now, he certainly wouldn’t be able to. Until he saw his doctor again and got a new prescription, I would have to eat the cost and hope Dean Sullivan could throw a little more work my way.

But just like the saying went, you had to be careful what you wished for.

Chapter 11

Olivia

I wipedthe sweat from my brow with the back of my hand and stared at the large bags of flour and sugar I had helped the delivery man haul in. Who needed the gym when you could sling baking supplies like a bale of hay?

The bell above the front door chimed, and I smoothed down the wispy hairs that had escaped from my ponytail before pushing through the swinging door that led to the front of the shop. I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw Honey standing there, eyeing the plastic draped across half the store skeptically. I’d only seen her briefly at the funeral before she’d rushed out. I later learned she’d gotten her period and was desperately searching for supplies. I just hated that we didn’t get a chance to talk before she headed out.

Her eyes found mine, and a crooked grin split her lips. I pulled off my apron and went to her.

“Livy,” she cooed, holding her arms open, and I practically crashed into her. She’d been my best friend back in school, and I missed her fiercely. When I'd left for Atlanta, she tried to keep in touch, but any reminder of home broke my heart. Our phone calls and messages became fewer and further between, andeventually she stopped trying. I didn’t realize until this moment how much I’d regretted losing touch.

“Honey.” My voice came out in a croak as I fought back tears. “I didn’t know you were back.”

“It’s only been a few days,” she said, pulling back and studying my face. “How are you doing?”

“I’m hanging in there,” I answered honestly. Running the bakery while it was being renovated felt like living in limbo since I still couldn’t decide what I wanted to do. Now that Honey was back, it was even more tempting to stay.

“How’s your mom?” Concern filled her eyes as she held onto my forearms. I sighed, unsure what to say. My mom was hard to read. She loved my grandmother, I was certain of it, but she’d never loved anyone as much as she loved herself. Nan’s death seemed to only be a blip on her radar, rather than a devastating blow like it was for me. I had to remind myself that we all grieved in different ways. Where I clung to my grandmother’s homemade quilt and cried myself to sleep at night, my mother required an impromptu trip to the Bahamas to help her heal from the loss.

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