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Reaching up to scratch his balding head, he spared me another glance. “Man, you look just like somebody I knew. But I can’t remember where she told me she was from. I swear she could be your twin.”

“I get that a lot,” I chimed in, hoping the words comforted him. “People say I look like somebody they know everywhere I go. I must have at least ten twins walking around out there,” I added with a forced laugh.

Chance nodded, a weary look settling on his face before he rocked back on his heels and sighed. He looked around the gutted shop and I took the opportunity to study him.

He couldn’t have been more than fifty years old. He was on the shorter side, about five-six with a salt and pepper beard and a slim build. He was polished and the Jaguar he pulled up in every time we met told me real estate had been good to him. That and the fact he was a close contact with Lorenzo told me everything I needed to know. The man was well-connected in every sense of the word which made his odd fascination with me even more confusing.

“I’m excited to see what you do with the place,” he said, breaking me out of my thoughts. “I’ll get out your hair, but youhave my number if you decide you want to expand next door. Don’t hesitate to use it.”

“I won’t.”

When he left a few minutes later, I pulled my phone out of my pocket to check the time.

Shit. It was five-thirty. I was supposed to be dressed and ready for a date with Sincere at six.

I ran around the shop, grabbing up my purse and checking my phone. Happy to see I still had five percent of my battery left, I typed out a quick message to Sincere and locked up the store.

Me:

Don’t kill me. I lost track of time. I’ll be home in 15. I just need to shower and change clothes.

Sincere:

I could never kill you, love. Drive safe. I’ll be waiting when you get here.

When I pulled out of my parallel parking spot, it was with a smile on my face and my encounter with Chance forgotten.

This had to be the most peaceful date I’d ever been on. We sat in the back of Sincere’s open Bronco, the lake a few feet away from us. The view of the mountains and sunset reflected on the surface of the water was hard to pull my eyes away from,but when Sincere grasped my chin and extended a fork in my direction, I made an exception.

The cinnamon roll melted on my tongue, the cream cheese frosting making my eyes roll to the back of my head.

“God, Sincere. I need you to open a bakery so I can have this every day of my life.”

A smile softened his handsome face as he lowered the fork. “I’ve been thinking about that honestly.”

I swallowed and stared at him wide-eyed. “Wait, really?”

He gave a sheepish nod and looked out at the water, releasing a contemplative sigh.

“Yea, really. Being around you for the past few weeks has got me thinking about a lot.”

I leaned into him, scooting closer to him in the back of the truck. “Thinking about what?”

My head found the perfect resting place on his shoulder and when he dropped his head on top of mine, a smile stretched my lips.

“About finally doing something about my baking. I don’t know, Goldy. Just listening to you talk about your bookstore and everything you want to do with it…I’d kill to be that passionate about something. I know I’m good at things, but I never see them through. I never try because if I don’t try, I can’t fail. And I think it’s finally getting to me.”

“I hear you.”

He drew in a breath, the soft timbre of his voice pulling me in. “I love Lorenzo with everything in me. I know he’d do anything for me. And he has. For years. Everything I want, I get. And I love making sure he’s good. But I’ve always been the only one in our group without something outside ofusto occupy my time. He’s a consultant and he loves it. Rome has his shop and he loves it. What can I say I love other than them?”

His voice dipped and the sadness clinging to his words hurt my heart. I hated hearing him like this, but at the same time I was so happy he trusted me enough to speak his truth.

“I’m not complaining. I swear I’m not.”

“I know you’re not,” I offered, my voice quiet as I ran my hand down his forearm until our fingers threaded in a loose grip. “I can see how much you love them. You could never say it and I see it, every day. And your feelings are still valid. You want something that’s just for you and that’s more than fair. I’m sure they’d want the same for you.”

He went quiet, gripping my hand tighter.