Page 1 of Faking It With the Single Dad

Chapter One

Bella

Some days, this town feels like a trap I’ll never escape.

On days like this, the only thing that keeps me going is working in my little café. It isn’t much, but it’s my little haven, and I love it—just as much as I love Luke.

The rich, comforting aroma of freshly brewed coffee fills the air as I arrange pastries in the display case and sneak a glance at the clock. I just dropped off Luke at daycare, and the café feels oddly quiet without him tugging at my apron, asking for a snack or a “big kid” drink like the regular's order. I miss his little giggles, but I have a whole day of work ahead of me.

Just as I finish setting up the pastries, the bell above the door jingles and Marlene Thornton, Cedar Ridge’s most relentless busybody, walks in. I brace myself and force a smile as she steps up to the counter. Her gaze sweeps over every corner of the café.She looks ready to pounce, as if she’s gathering intel for the town gossip mill.

“Morning, Bella,” she says with the smirk that never quite reaches her eyes. “How’s little Luke doing? Growing up fast, I bet.”

“He is,” I reply, keeping my tone light. “Keeps me on my toes.”

She nods and looks me up and down like she’s searching for cracks in my armor. Staying in Cedar Ridge and raising Luke alone after Caleb left me hasn’t been easy, and Marlene knows it. Everyone in town does. That’s the thing about a place as small as Cedar Ridge—privacy is a luxury nobody gets to have.

“Well, I hear Ryan Blackwood’s back in town.” Marlene raises an eyebrow. “It must be strange, seeing your ex’s brother after all these years.”

I keep my expression neutral and offer her a polite smile as I pour her coffee. The last thing I need is to give her more fuel for the rumor mill.

I hand Marlene her coffee, letting the silence stretch while I collect my thoughts. It’s a habit at this point, really smiling just enough to seem polite, but not so much that she thinks I’m inviting a deeper conversation. If she notices the tension in my shoulders, she doesn’t mention it, but I can tell by the glint in her eyes that she’s preparing for something.

“So, have you spoken to Ryan yet?” She stirs her coffee as if that’s the most casual question in the world.

“No, I haven’t. I’ve been busy with the shop.”

“Ah,” she says as she tilts her head. “You know, it must be tough seeing him around after everything that happened. I mean, you two were practically family, weren’t you?”

There it is: a not-so-subtle jab at the gaping hole Caleb left in my life when he walked away. Marlene is fishing, trying to lure me into giving her something juicy for the town grapevine. But I’m not biting.

“I suppose it’s nice he’s back for a visit,” I say with a shrug, and pretend to be interested in wiping down the counter. “Cedar Ridge always welcomes its own.”

Her smirk falters for just a second. She expected more. Instead, she gets the same nonchalance I’ve been perfecting since the day Caleb left.

“Well,” she says, undeterred, “if you ask me, it’s odd. You know, him showing up out of the blue like this. Some people say he’s here for more than just a visit.”

I arch a brow but keep my hands busy stacking napkins by the register. “I wouldn’t know,” I say simply. “But I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”

She huffs a laugh. “Oh, Bella, you always were good at playing your cards close to the chest.”

“Not much to play with.” I flash her a quick smile. “Coffee is on the house today, Marlene. Let me know if you need a refill.”

Her lips purse as she realizes she won’t crack me open today. But Marlene Thornton isn’t one to give up so easily. She glances around the café. Her gaze lingers on the chipped paint near the windowsill and the slightly worn floorboards. I can almost hear the gears turning in her head.

“Business looks…steady.” This time, her tone drips sweetness.Fake. “But I couldn’t help noticing you haven’t expanded or made any updates lately. Are you…managing okay?”

I lean against the counter and meet her gaze head-on. “The café is doing just fine, thanks. It’s a cozy place, and people like it this way.”

“Of course, of course. But you know, there’s no shame in admitting when it’s time to move on. I mean, with little Luke and all…it must be a lot to handle.”

“Marlene,” I say too sharply, then calm myself. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“You’re not getting offended, are you? I’m just trying to help. I thought you might’ve heard about the people buying up property around town. They’re offering good money—great money, actually, so…it might be worth considering.”

I shake my head, my smile still in place. “I haven’t heard anything, and even if I had, the answer would still be no. This café is my home.”

“Hmm.” She sips her coffee and eyes me over the rim of her cup. “But what about Luke? Don’t you want more for him? A bigger space, maybe? Better opportunities? It’s not like Cedar Ridge is exactly booming with options.”

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