Return to Me (Blue Harbor Book 5) by Olivia Miles (most popular ebook readers .TXT) 📕

that pub. She knew why he’d felt the need to hold onto it, but she didn’t understand why he didn’t feel the same need to hold onto her, too. “Restaurants are risky,” she added quickly. Surely he knew that.

He raised his eyebrows, saying nothing.

She looked back at her ice cream, sadness pulling at her chest for the situations that had brought them to this point. Two strangers with a shared past, sitting on a bench, eating ice cream, thinking about all that might have been.

Jackie’s comments had stung, of course. Kids. Would they have had kids if she’d stayed behind? When they’d talked about starting a family, it felt far off and distant. Something they would have done once they were more settled in their careers. After they’d done what they’d set out to do in the big city.

A time like now, she realized.

Brooke felt her stomach knot and she force-fed herself more ice cream, trying to push away the thought. There was no use in playing out different scenarios. Their decisions had been made.

There was no use in being here at all.

She polished off her last scoop, even though she felt almost sick from the sugar. “Well, this was…” She couldn’t say it was nice. She really couldn’t say what it was. She just knew that it was confusing and that she wanted to leave, to go home, and not think about Kyle for a while. It had been so much easier in New York.

“Next time I’ll have to choose something a little farther out of the center of town and away from prying eyes,” Kyle said, and she felt her stomach drop.

“Next time?” She squared him with a look. A hard one.

He rose slowly. “You promised me six. That was the deal.”

“Kyle.” She was pleading. She couldn’t even believe that he’d want to get together again when this was so awkward, so…difficult.

“Six. This was one.” There was enough authority in his tone to remind her who had the upper hand.

Her heart was torn between confusion, anger, and compassion. “Why are you doing this, Kyle?” she asked softly. “We both know that we’re not right for each other. Would you really refuse to sign the papers if I had them drawn up?”

His expression was unreadable. Finally, he said, “Maybe.”

She stared at him. Would he contest the divorce? And for what reason?

Punishment, she realized. For going to New York without him.

“So this is payback. I knew it. For me leaving you.” She shook her head, feeling all those old frustrations come running back at full speed.

“So you admit that you left me,” he said, rolling back on his heels, his look appraising. “I’ve been wondering why you seem so mad at me when I’m not the one who ended things.”

“You ended everything, Kyle!”

He lifted an eyebrow as if he was curious by her rendition of the story.

She sputtered on her words, blinking quickly, trying to form a coherent defense. Did he not see his part in any of this?

“We had plans,” she finally said.

“We had vows,” he countered, silencing her. Finally, he dropped his shoulders and said, “Looks like we’ll have plenty to discuss at our next date.”

“Meet-up,” she corrected.

“Whatever you want to call it,” he said with a friendly shrug that was downright infuriating. “But you agree? You’ll come?”

“Fine,” she huffed. Because just like last time, he hadn’t left her any other choice.

7

Bella’s Books was tucked on Main Street behind a blossoming tree whose petals were covering the wrought-iron bench below. Just the sight of it made Brooke smile, and she made a mental note to think about ways to incorporate those delicate flowers into a gown for next spring—something cascading and youthful, perfect for a younger client.

Something her old boss would have had another word for: trite. Overdone. Or already done. Or too ambitious. That was the one that always stung the most. Too ambitious. Perhaps because it hit the deepest wound, that she cared too much. Enough to leave her town. Her husband. That she didn’t have what it took. That she was trying too hard and didn’t belong.

Well, now she was right where she belonged, wasn’t she? She was a small-town girl at heart and this was still her home. And the new client from Pine Falls wouldn’t be asking about doing her bridesmaid gowns if she didn’t think Brooke had what it took.

For a moment, Brooke felt better. And with that thought tucked away, she vowed not to think about work anymore tonight—or Kyle, who was forever creeping up into the forefront of her mind, especially since last night. It was book club, and she had promised to attend, even if she hadn’t read the novel. She knew these clubs were often an excuse for the women in town to gather, though some would take it more seriously, like her sister Gabby. It was exactly what she needed—a night with her sisters and cousins and old friends and neighbors that she hadn’t yet bumped into on her quick errands around town.

Brooke transferred the wine bottle she’d purchased on the way over into her tote and opened the door, immediately greeted by the buzz of laughter and conversation, and the smells of fresh baked goods.

She breathed a sigh of relief. This was one thing she’d never found in New York and never could. Family, friends, a community.

And… “Candy!” The door had barely closed behind her and already she was being pulled in for a long hug.

“Oh, I heard you were coming tonight! I swear, that sister of yours has been eyeing the door for the last ten minutes waiting for you.”

Brooke glanced at Gabby over Candy’s shoulder and gave her a conspiratorial wink. Gabby took a long slug of wine and refilled