The Gingerbread Bakery (Dream Harbor, #5)

by Laurie Gilmore

Do you have a little notebook where you write down every offense I ever committed?’

Bennett leaned toward Kira and whispered, ‘Do we know why she has such strong personal feelings?’ Kira shrugged. ‘Complicated history?’ she whispered back. ‘Not complicated,’ Annie cut in. ‘We don’t have any history at all.’ Mac flinched at that, something like sadness or regret flickering in his eyes.

She’d never been friends with Mac. They’d never made sense together. It was exactly what she’d told him eleven years ago. But Mac had never been good at listening.

but all he really saw was Annie. Story of his life since he moved back here. Annie was all he ever saw. Annie frowning at him. Annie scowling at him. Annie huffing and sighing and occasionally, if he was lucky, yelling at him. And because he was some kind of masochist, he still wanted to be around her.

And now he was stuck here, forced to admire her in all her Annie-ness, and just pretend like it wasn’t slowly killing him.

‘It’s nice to see you, too, Annie, although somewhat unexpected.’ Her gaze shifted back to her son. ‘I hope you were a gentleman,’ she said with a pointed look. ‘And that you remembered that it’s only fun if everyone's having fun. And in the bathroom cabinet we have plenty of⁠—’ ‘I know!’ Mac cut her off with a wince.

‘Did your mom actually just remind you about the location of condoms in your house?’ she whispered back. Mac’s face turned even redder, but he laughed with her. ‘Yeah, and to make sure both partners get off.’

‘I’m sorry I hurt you,’ he murmured. Annie pulled away. ‘You didn’t hurt me.’ ‘Christ, Annie, will you just accept my apology? I fucked up, okay? We had one perfect month together and then I ruined it. Can we move on, please?’

And you want things to be perfect because you think being perfect shows people that you love them, and a little piece of you believes they would love you less if you weren’t.’

‘And I know that a part of you wants to forgive me but you’re too damn stubborn to do it.’ That cocky grin spread across his face at her wide-eyed expression. He leaned in closer, so his words brushed across her lips. ‘But lucky for you, I’m just as stubborn. And I haven’t given up yet. Your little admission earlier today gave me even more motivation. I’m not nineteen anymore, Annie, and I don’t leave women unsatisfied.’

And then she’d gone and put his dick in her mouth. When had that ever helped anyone find clarity about their feelings? She was pretty sure never.

The Annie he’d known all those years ago was gone. This Annie wasn’t his anymore. This was the Annie he’d hurt. Now he had to figure out how to live in the same town as her and not lose his mind pining after her. Because while Annie wasn’t his anymore, he would always be hers.