Temptation Trails (The Haven Brothers #3)

“We haven’t had the chance to actually meet,” she said.

“Yeah, that’s me,” I said. “And I’m sorry about that.”

“Oh, it’s okay.” She waved her hand, like it didn’t matter. “It was for the best.” She turned back to Owen. “Anyway, some of these are missing—in your stomach, of course—and others are broken or smashed. While I do appreciate, and accept, your apology, I can’t sell these now.”

Wait, for the best? Why? Had she met someone else while waiting for me?

I bet it was one of my brothers. Was it Luke? Theo? I’d have their asses.

“I don’t have money to pay for them,” Owen said.

“Hmm.” She tapped her lips again. “I have an idea. Dad, can I see you back here for a minute?”

She was talking to me. I cleared my throat again, trying to rid myself of the anger at my brothers that they probably didn’t deserve. I didn’t know if either of them had even met Harper.

“Stay here.” I leveled Owen with a stern dad-stare.

He nodded.

Harper’s lips twitched in the hint of a smile and she motioned for me to come around the counter. I followed her into the kitchen and my heart beat a little harder as she stepped closer to me. She cast a quick glance toward the front of the store, then took another step.

Right onto my foot.

“Sugar cookies,” she muttered, as if it was a curse word. “Sorry. I was just thinking, I don’t want to step on your toes because you’re the dad, and then I literally stepped on your toe.”

I didn’t feel a thing, except a mild pang of disappointment that she’d moved back. “It’s fine. Didn’t hurt.”

“Good. Anyway, it seems like it would be a good idea for Owen to pay the bakery back somehow. And I don’t mean you, I mean him. But, as he said, no money.”

“What do you have in mind?”

“What if he works off the cost of everything he took? He could come in on Saturday. Do dishes, sweep the floors, that kind of thing.”

“That’s brilliant.”

Her smile almost knocked me over again. “Yeah?”

Looking right into her eyes—and at that smile—my brain stopped working again. So I just nodded.

“Okay, great.”

“I’m sorry about all this. He’s usually a good kid. He’s never done anything like this before.”

“Yeah, he doesn’t look like a hardened criminal. Yet.” She winked.

She was killing me.

“I’ll make sure he’s here on Saturday.”

“It’s a plan.”

We were done. I needed to go back to Owen. Take him to school or home or wherever I was going to take him so I could get back to work. But I couldn’t seem to tear my eyes away from Harper.

“So, okay then.” Her eyes flicked toward the front of the store. “You probably need to take him home or something. You know, before he goes on another crime spree.”

“Right, yeah.” I blinked, feeling like an idiot. “Sorry.”

She just smiled.