Page 69 of Two Risks I'd Never Take Again

I needed to figure out what to say because even though I loved him, I wasn’t ready if he asked for more.

Wearingexercise leggings and a baggy sweatshirt, I peeked out to make sure Garrett’s truck wasn’t parked out front.

Since the coast was clear, I climbed into my car and drove to town. I needed a few ingredients that I didn’t typically keep on hand. After buying what I needed, I hurried to the doughnut shop. Right now, I wanted to make doughnuts. More than that, I wanted to eat doughnuts.

I kept the lights off in front, made sure the blinds were closed, and set to work in the kitchen.

Chapter 22

Garrett

The night before the wedding and at the ceremony, the signals I was getting from Tessa had rippled excitement through me. When she looked at me, there was desire in her gaze, but then she hadn’t wanted to talk tonight. As I changed out of my suit and thought about every look and word we’d exchanged, I wondered if I’d misread her.

Chores weren’t enough of a distraction. Tonight, they were tiresome because they kept me away from her.

An hour later, I was still wondering and replaying every smile, every brush of her skin on mine.

I hadn’t kept my feelings a secret. She knew how I felt, and I had to let her make the choice to reciprocate those feelings. I couldn’t make her love me.

I’d be on edge until she decided she wanted to talk.

Slogging through the chores that needed to be done, I kept thinking back to the look Tessa gave me when she’d perched in my lap. Remembering that look, I wanted to believe that she loved me. I hoped...

It was after ten when I parked in front of my cabin, and I sat in my truck staring at the empty parking space in front of hers. Her car was gone.

My concern changed to mild panic, and I sent her a text.Tessa, please call me.

Earlier when she’d said we’d talk tomorrow, I lost a little hope that she’d get past her fear. Now that her car was gone, so was the rest of my hope.

I sat on the couch with my front door open, listening for her car to return.

Hours later, I woke up still sitting on my couch. I ran outside as I checked my phone. Her car still wasn’t here, and she hadn’t texted or called. It was three in the morning, and I wouldn’t be able to sleep until I knew she was safe.

Maybe she’d gone back to her apartment. If her car was there, I’d have a different problem to face, but at least I’d know where she was.

Fishing keys out of my pocket, I ran to my truck. It was tomorrow already, and when I found Tessa, I’d say everything I hadn’t said. How could I convince her that I wasn’t like Skeeter? I wouldn’t take her love for granted, cheat on her, or wound her intentionally. I called her again before starting the engine, but it went straight to voicemail.

Kicking up dust, I tore out of the ranch and headed toward town. The ten-minute drive had never seemed so long.

I turned into her complex and circled the lot at a crawl, hoping to spot her car. I gave up after three loops because someone was bound to call in a suspicious vehicle.

When I made the obligatory stop before turning on to the main road, I noticed her car parked in front of the doughnut shop. She wasn’t supposed to open tomorrow. Why was she there making doughnuts?

Immediately my thoughts jumped to our conversation on the rooftop patio. She’d made doughnuts during the night while she was closed after Skeeter dumped her.

Preparing myself to find her in tears and eating way too many doughnuts, I pulled into the lot and parked next to her car.

The lights didn’t seem to be on, but the blinds were closed. I peeked through the space created by the bent end of one slat. Lights were on in the kitchen. She had to be here. But why?

Pounding on the door, I prepared myself for a conversation I didn’t want to have. “Open up, Tessa. It’s me.”

Peering through the tiny gap, I watched as she ran toward the door. She stopped in the middle of the room when her doughnut slipper came off.

Smiling, she pulled the door open, and her eyes widened. “Garrett! Why aren’t you asleep?”

Her leggings were covered in flour, her sleeves pulled up to her elbows, and she’d skipped the apron altogether. There was chocolate smeared on her face and a half-eaten doughnut in her hand.

“What are you doing here in the middle of the night?” She backed up, giving me room to walk in.

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