Page 14 of A Gingerbread Romance

And what should she do about the bakery? Raise her prices? Cut staff? Extend the store’s hours? She sighed. None of those, alone, seemed like the answer.

A knock came at the front door.

Greta frowned. It was eight p.m. on a Wednesday, and of course, the sun had been down for hours. Her neighbors rarely stopped by in the evenings in winter. Who could it be?

She rose in her socked feet, dropping the woven coverlet onto the sofa, then shuffled down the hallway to the door. Cautiously, she peeked through the peephole.

Jonathan?

He had to be kidding.

She paused, her hand on the brass doorknob. What was he doing here? Her heart fluttered, unable to deny her attraction to his tall, chiseled frame, but she steeled herself.No.That ship had sailed. Like it or not.

Dating him was off the table.

Still, it was cold outside. She opened the door wide. “Can’t take a hint, I see?” she said flatly. She’d neither answered nor returned even one of his four phone calls today.

Jonathan seemed to disguise a shiver. His nose was a bit red even though he was smartly wrapped in a black winter coat and a beanie tonight, hands in his pockets. Not that it dulled his movie star looks, of course. “Greta, I want to explain, but you didn’t return my calls.”

Lips pursed, she crossed her arms, debating. “Okay, okay.” She relented. “Come in. The cold air’s coming in.”

“Thanks.” He stepped into the foyer and unzipped his coat, and she shut the door behind him and relocked it. She didn’t offer him a seat in the living room or even suggest he take off his coat, but she stood and waited for him to begin, arms still crossed at her chest.

“Look,” he said, sensing her impatience, “I feel terrible about the situation we’re putting you in. But this sale and the renovation of the other building—it’s going to be great for the community. It will probably even helpyourbusiness. Brett and Elaine—they’re interested in revitalizing different parts of town, and what they’re doing for New Haven Falls will generate tax dollars for the city in the long run. They’re responsible for a lot of positive changes across the state of Maryland already, and—”

“—While putting good, hardworking people out of business?” Greta glared at him, doing her best to ignore the ridiculously handsome set of his jaw. Or those lips that had caressed hers just twenty-four hours ago. “Spare me the details.”

Jonathan frowned, and Greta felt her stomach churn. How could he come in here and defend himself? But he went on. “In the name of progress, yes, but Lennie’s store apparently hasn’t seen a profit in five years. He agreed to vacate without any pressure on our part. Turns out he’s been looking for a reason to retire.”

“And what about Nancy?”

He shrugged. “I’ll help her find somewhere else in town. She’s planning to move the store.”

“And how much is that going to cost her?” Greta frowned.

“Look, Greta, it’s just business.” He took a step closer. “Things like this happen all the time.”

“Do they?” Nostrils flaring, she stepped back. His intoxicating scent was too much. She couldn’t decide which she wanted to do more—scream at him or kiss him.

“Butyourbusiness doesn’t have to vacate. The LLC is not asking you to move out.”

“Not yet, they’re not, but as soon as I can’t afford the new rent, I won’t have any choice.”

Jonathan frowned again, but he didn’t reassure her otherwise.

Her gaze met the deep brown of his eyes, and she wished so badly that things could’ve been different. She could’ve fallen for this guy based on who he’d seemed to be only yesterday. She put a hand to her hip. “What I don’t get is why you couldn’t have just told me about this last night? Why surprise me and upset me in front of all of those people? You had every chance to warn me this was coming.”

Jonathan looked stunned. “You don’t honestly believe I knew aboutyourinvolvement when we were out last night?”

She only stared at him. This was his deal. How could he not have?

“Greta, I had no idea the Smithfield wasyourbakery until I saw you this morning at the meeting. We only had your grandmother’s name. The letters that went out explained what was happening with the building next to yours. Didn’t she tell you about them?”

Greta thought for a second, then held up a finger. “One letter. She told me about one letter that said the occupants of our buildings were being summoned for a meeting with the buildings’ owner on today’s date.”

“That’s right, but there were two letters. The second one explained part of what I announced today about the sale. The meeting wasn’t intended to surprise you or your grandmother.” His dark eyes met hers. “I apologize for the mix-up. I’m not sure what might’ve happened to it.”

Greta heaved a sigh. She didn’t know him well enough to tell if he was being truthful. But admittedly, things had been a bit chaotic when Jean’s retirement, the inheritance paperwork, and her vacation had all come up within six short weeks of each other. Add a retirement party to that and then Greta’s promotion as boss and owner, and she could understand how a second letter could’ve been missed.

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