Page 54 of Wild Heart

“Then I’ll definitely be back. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, Ava. Enjoy.”

At that moment, a customer had walked up to the display case, so I excused myself and moved to one of the tables in front of the bakery. I opened the bag, pulled out my breakfast treat, and took a bite. It was delicious. If Jules hadn’t been with a customer, I would have been singing her praises.

As I sat there, I considered her suggestion. Part of me didn’t want to do what she’d recommended, given the idea came from Tate. I was much more of a free spirit, so the idea of lists was something I’d expected would make me break out in hives.

I sighed, digging into my oversized handbag and pulling out the paperwork I’d received on each of the properties. Maybe if I just went through the pros and cons in my head, it wouldn’t feel like I was taking advice from Tate.

Though Jules had indicated just how much it had helped her to create some lists when it came to deciding exactly what she wanted for her bakery, it still surprised me how quickly I was able to rule out one of the apartments I’d visited. The second apartment as well as the condo were both still in the running as I shifted my attention to the townhouse paperwork.

Of the three remaining properties, I loved the location of the townhouse. But when it came to the cost and size, it really was a whole lot more than I needed. It was just me, so I simply didn’t need all the extra space and bedrooms.

Another one down.

With the choices narrowed to two, I placed the documents for each in front of me and considered all the same pros and cons of each.

There were so many things I liked about both properties, and neither one stood out as beingthe oneto me. I was so caught up in what I was doing, that I’d been oblivious to what was happening around me.

And that’s when everything took a turn.

Because just a second or two before I saw him, I felt him. I didn’t have to look up to know I’d see him close by. But what shocked me the most was when my eyes landed first on the lower half of his body as it came to a stop beside my table.

Immediately, the scent of him invaded my senses, taking me back to the night of his brother’s wedding. I closed my eyes, every muscle going taut, and I prayed for resolve, because I wasn’t sure just how tough my defenses were.

No matter what happened next, I couldn’t allow the love I felt for him for so many years to overshadow the hatred he’d displayed for me just a week ago. I couldn’t take one look at him and fall back into a state of sadness and despair. I silently hoped for the strength to get through whatever was about to happen.

So, I took in one last deep breath, opened my eyes, and allowed my gaze to travel up Tate’s body to his face.

One look was all it took for my shields to snap into place.

Tate

How did I let this happen?

The moment our eyes locked on each other, one thing became clear. I’d lost Ava, and I had nobody but myself to blame.

Gone was the fun-loving, outspoken woman with the radiant smile and shining eyes. She’d been replaced by someone else. This new version of Ava wasn’t even the woman I’d seen a week ago, the one who’d been consumed with sadness, guilt, and despair. There was nothing in her gaze that reeked of desperation or longing.

Nope.

I was staring into the eyes of a woman I didn’t know—a woman scorned.

Though I hadn’t expected the first time I saw her after the way I treated her last week would have been easy, I never expected this.

Not the pinched mouth and flat look in her eyes. Not the way she leaned away from me instead of toward me. And certainly not the stiffness in her normally relaxed posture.

My stomach was roiling, my throat dry. There was a heaviness that consumed me, regret and sorrow seeping into every inch of my body.

Despite the clear tension between us, I had to try to fix this. “Hi, Ava.”

Her eyes cut away from mine. “Tate.”

That single word came out harsh, clipped. She couldn’t even look at me.

I had to try harder.

My eyes shifted to the papers on the table, quickly discerning they were for properties in the area. Maybe I could play this adifferent way, show some interest and soften her up that way. “Looking for an apartment?”