Page 48 of Playing for Keeps
“Um, yeah!” Alicia turned to Caroline and held out the cupcake. “Can I get a container to put this in so I can finish it later?”
Caroline took the cupcake. Alicia always attracted attention. America hadn’t forgotten their celebrity sweetheart just because she’d slipped out of the spotlight for a quiet life in western Colorado.
Caroline started to walk away, but Alicia held her back with a hand on her arm. “Can you accept a delivery at the back entrance? Someone is on their way with items I need to distribute.”
“What are you talking about?”
Alicia reached for a napkin and wiped her hands. “Justin bought Christmas presents for all the kids that came to visit Santa yesterday.”
Caroline almost dropped the cupcake. “He what?”
“Kathy got the parents’ information, and Justin bought the things the kids mentioned,” Alicia explained.
The door bell chimed again as three women and two men entered, spotting Alicia and coming straight over.
He’d really done it. Justin had bought Christmaspresents forallof the kids. Did he have any idea how much his act of kindness would mean to those kids? How much it meant to her? She set up an angel tree at the bakery every year so people could grant Christmas wishes for kids in town. She promoted toy drives every year and donated to the children's homes. It was a cause that was close to her heart ever since Justin told her he never received a gift when he was a kid.
Now, he was making sure other kids got presents.
“Um, yeah. Sure,” Caroline said, cupping the crumbling cupcake in her hand. “Tell them to call me when they get here, and I’ll let them in.”
After grabbing a takeaway box, Caroline called Justin. He was on his shift, but she could leave him a message if he didn’t answer.
“Hello,” his warm, familiar voice soothed her as it slid down her spine.
Her hand shook as she held the phone tighter. “You bought gifts for the kids,” she said in greeting.
There was a beat of silence before Justin whispered, “Surprise.”
“Justin, that’s amazing. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I repeat, surprise!”
More customers were filing into the bakery, and Skye was scrambling to take orders.
Her throat constricted as she turned her attention back to the call. “That’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen.”
“You’rethe sweetest thing I’ve ever seen,” Justin said.
Caroline rested her hand on her racing heart. “Can I see you after work tonight?”
“Absolutely. Want to come to my place?” Justin asked.
Oh. She hadn’t given much thought to where Justin was living. He’d grown up on the ranch next to her parents’, but his dad didn’t own that land anymore. “Sure. Can you send me the address?”
“Of course. And bring your appetite. I’ll have a late dinner ready for you.”
Muffins, she was not going to cry at work. With a deep breath, she let the last of her walls crumble. “I’ll see you later.”
18
CAROLINE
Thirteen Years Ago
Thunder rumbled, shaking the house with its intensity. Caroline glanced at the clock on the microwave. Justin was ten minutes late.
Ten minutes wasn’t a big deal. She picked up her phone from where it sat beside the warm cherry pie. No missed calls or texts. She found his contact and paused before placing the call. Surely, he was driving slow because of the rain. If she called, it would only distract him.
