Hold Me

by Alexa Verde

  A happy smile on his twin’s face gave him a pleasant feeling. After being mistreated by her husband and then a disastrous divorce, Kristina deserved a wonderful new man in her life, an adorable little girl, and a happily-ever-after.

  Love for his sister swelled through his heart as he waved back.

  Then his attention snapped to Aileen, who stepped from behind the counter to greet Mrs. MacPherson, the only customer at the counter. The older lady was deep in thought as if choosing what to buy was her most important mission of the day.

  Aileen’s white jeans, worn with black boots that nearly reached her knees, made her shapely legs look even slimmer.

  He moved his attention back to her eyes appearing especially large with her red hair pulled back and hidden under a net. He nearly got lost in her azure-blue irises, like he could lose himself in the ocean when he’d gone swimming as a kid.

  Unlike those fun times, this time he could drown if he wasn’t careful. Getting air into his lungs became more difficult.

  Not good.

  Not good at all.

  “Well, looks like I’ll be repairing the roof, and you’ll be taking care of customers.” He stepped back because the delicious pastry aromas now mixed with a trace of that oh-so-familiar perfume.

  Nai burst into the store. “I’m so glad you’re open. Ivy’s on Spruce opened up, too. But there are no pastries in the coffee shop. I don’t want to disappoint customers. Apparently, a lot of them think nothing helps cheer the mood after a natural disaster like a good book, a yummy pastry, and fresh gossip from Violet.”

  “What about prayer?” Roman gave Nai a quick hug. His cousin couldn’t have brought a better person into the family.

  “Prayer is first and foremost, always.” Nai glanced past him and squealed at the sight of her bestie.

  “Do you have time to sit and share some cupcakes with us?” Kristina pointed to the empty chair.

  When his twin had asked him to donate some of the furniture he’d made to Aileen’s Pastries, he’d been shocked. Kristina had always been sensitive, and though he hadn’t talked about how much pain Aileen’s actions had caused him, he was sure she’d guessed. He surprised himself by agreeing, as he’d surprised himself when…

  Well, better not to think—or even talk—about it. He’d chosen to keep it a secret.

  “Pretty please?” Chelsea lifted her baby-blues at Kristina’s bestie.

  Nai laughed. “How can I refuse that?”

  Then his sister gestured to Aileen and Mrs. MacPherson. “Would you like to join us, too, please? Hermano, you, too.”

  His twin was such a kind soul. She’d even befriended Aileen again, much to the shock of many people in town, probably because she’d realized how much Aileen needed a friend.

  Greg nodded energetically, probably not wanting to be the only guy in the mix, discounting Chelsea’s toy elephant, Taco, of course.

  “Thank you for the invitation, but I have to man the counter.” Aileen shook her head.

  “I’ll do it.” Roman marched to the counter. “I changed after cleaning up mud, so all my clothes are clean. And I can wear an apron, if needed. Besides, selling pastries and waiting tables were some of my high school jobs, remember?”

  What was it about Aileen that always made him want to help her, even now?

  Was he just a fool who didn’t know what was good for him?

  Lord, please guide me. I want to help Aileen, but I don’t want to get hurt for the second time.

  Aileen blinked. “You’re helping me too much already. It’s okay.”

  Mrs. MacPherson pointed at cherry turnovers. “I’ll take two of those with a cup of coffee. Come on, dear, sit down and join us. I need to talk to you, too. And when ladies see this fine man serving them pastries, they might buy more.”

  Warmth crept up his neck at “this fine man.”

  Kristina chuckled. “Aileen, we took a vote here, and we all vote for you to take a break and have a cup of coffee with us.”

  “Yeah. Taco voted yes, too!” Chelsea lifted her purple toy elephant.

  “Outnumbered again.” Aileen sighed, but a smile tugged at her lovely lips, covered in strawberry-colored lip gloss. Did it still taste like strawberries, too, the way it used to?

  “I’ll go wash my hands.” He strode in the restroom’s direction.

  He was drawn to Aileen. He couldn’t deny it. But there was still hurt inside him. And if he fell for her, where was the guarantee she wouldn’t stomp on his heart again?

  Aileen stared at Mrs. MacPherson. “You’re going to do what?”

  “We’re going to do a fundraiser in the town square for flood victims, dear.” After saying grace, the older lady took a sip of her coffee. “Like you, for example.”

  “I’m fine.” Her head snapped up.

  “Apart from a tree on the roof and floodwater in your house.” Nai bit into her cream-filled brioche.

  “I know about your insurance situation.” Kristina leaned over to whisper in her ear.

  Aileen hiked her chin higher. She shouldn’t have divulged that information to Roman this morning. “Roman will help with the roof. And he already took care of the water in my house.”

  “Huh? He already did?” Kristina seemed to hide a smile as she wiped chocolate from Chelsea’s face. “That’s my brother.”

  “Then we’ll need your help, Aileen.” Mrs. MacPherson didn’t skip a beat. “I already talked to Nai, Paula from The Pancake Shoppe, and some other ladies in town. I’m sure if Melanie was here rather than in Portland, she’d be happy to join in, too.”

  Nai’s lips turned down. “Yes. Praying for her and Alia.”

  Small towns were that sort of place. Probably everyone knew about her money issues, just like everyone knew about Melanie’s ill daughter.

  A frown creased the older lady’s already wrinkled face. “We may need to do a fundraiser for her, too. Help with those medical bills. But that may need to wait. For this one, we’ll need to move fast, because people need help now. We have a great community here. We’re going to have different booths at the fundraiser. Like a hamburger booth, hot dog booth—”

  “Kissing booth.” Greg winked.

  Kristina elbowed him. “You’d better not volunteer for that one.”

  “You’re the only woman I ever want to kiss the rest of my life.” He planted a kiss on his wife’s cheek, and a smile blossomed on her face.

  A longing stirred inside Aileen, and her gaze flicked to Roman. Their gazes met and held before he returned his attention to the customer, all smiles. The young female client beamed back at him.

  Brooding, Aileen studied her coffee. If she didn’t hear everywhere Roman was a confirmed bachelor, he might be as good as engaged soon by the amount of flirting he was doing today. She really needed to get behind that counter.

  Of course, that was so Roman could start on the roof repairs.

  And not because she was jealous.

  Hah!

  She took a sip of her flavorful coffee and stayed glued to the chair. She couldn’t leave without hearing what kind of help Mrs. MacPherson needed. The older lady was always kind to her, and Aileen wouldn’t repay such kindness with rudeness.

  Mrs. MacPherson was in no hurry to explain as she took a bite of her cherry turnover. “Good idea about a kissing booth, but Greg is safe. We’ll only ask bachelors for that one.” She eyed Roman who manned the counter as skillfully as if he’d done it most of his life. The older lady had a point, and women seemed to be buying more than usual. “Hmmm, I think I have someone in mind for it.”

  This was the second time in one day Aileen nearly spilled her coffee. Surely, Mrs. MacPherson wouldn’t suggest Roman for the kissing booth, would she?

  Not that Aileen had any voice in the matter.

  Kristina followed Mrs. MacPherson’s gaze and shook her head a little. “What can I do to help? I’m not a great baker like our Aileen, but I can make decent Tex-Mex food.”

  Yay, Kristina to the rescue, c
hanging the subject like that.

  Chelsea lifted her toy. “Taco!”

  “Good idea, sweetie. I can do a taco booth. Let’s make it beef tacos.” Kristina smiled and placed a kiss on the top of the little girl’s head.

  From the love shining in her eyes, Aileen never would’ve guessed Kristina hadn’t given birth to Chelsea.

  “What can I do?” Greg hugged his beautiful girls. “I could donate sports equipment or organize a fishing tournament or a kayak competition or—”

  A picture appeared in front of Aileen. “I know! Maybe have one of those tall rubber slides for the kids that you can blow up?”

  Chelsea clapped, thankfully after putting down the cupcake. “Yay! I’ll help.”

  “Sure. You can take tickets.” Greg tugged a skewed ponytail higher on his daughter’s blonde head.

  Aileen’s heart squeezed as she took a bite of her s’mores cupcake, barely tasting its sweet, rich deliciousness. She was happy with Jonah and tremendously grateful, but to have a little girl like that… She pushed the thought out of her mind.

  Some things weren’t meant for her.

  Mrs. MacPherson nodded. “Good idea. But as you’ll be manning the slide with Chelsea, Greg, perhaps we should leave the manly water sports for warmer weather. Another fundraiser? Building of the hospital, for example.”

  “What can I do?” Nai took another sip of coffee. “Oh, I know. I’ll help spread the word. I’ll post on social media, ask local businesses if they’re okay with us putting up flyers about the fundraisers, print out, and put up flyers in Ivy’s on Spruce, contact the local newspaper.…”

  Kristina chuckled. “It all sounds great, and you know we’ll help. But I think your employee, Violet, might be the most valuable in spreading the word.”

  Nai laughed. “You’re right.”

  Aileen glanced toward the counter where Roman was chatting with another beautiful customer and did her best to ignore the sting of jealousy. The sooner she returned to the counter the better. “You can count on me for putting up the flyers, and I’ll ask neighboring businesses. I’ll give support on social media, too. Um, what other kinds of help did you need from me?”

  “The cupcake booth, of course.” Mrs. MacPherson waved at the chocolate cupcake Chelsea had in her hand, then at her own plate where by now only one cherry turnover remained. “Or a cherry turnover booth. Or a pumpkin spice cookie booth. Those are great for this season. Whatever you decide. I know it’s a lot to ask, but—”

  “I’ll do it.” Aileen didn’t even think. For the first time since returning to Chapel Cove, she could do something good for the community, to feel part of it.

  “Don’t you need to consider it? I know you have your hands full. You don’t have to say yes if you can’t.” Concern shadowed Nai’s dark eyes.

  With concern in her eyes, too, Kristina shifted toward her. “Nai is right. I know you’ve already been working yourself to the bone at Aileen’s Pastries. Putting up flyers and talking to business owners will be enough.”

  “Nope. I’d love to do it.”

  Mrs. MacPherson patted her hand again. “Thank you, dear. I’m sure your booth will be very popular. Before I forget—and I do get forgetful lately—on Saturday we’ll be doing a town cleanup and helping people who can’t do it themselves.”

  “I won’t open shop that day so that I can help, too.” Aileen smiled. She might have aching muscles by then, but giving even more to the community lifted more guilt from her burdened shoulders.

  Growing up, she’d been the daughter of the town drunk, with a mom who’d made a fool of herself on more than one occasion. Roman had helped her to be accepted socially.

  Then Aileen had become “that cruel girl who broke our wonderful Roman’s heart.” She wanted to be somebody else, to really belong in this place, to plant roots. High time she looked into the future not with worry but with hope and gratitude.

  Her heart warmed, and she welcomed the opportunity with both hands.

  Mrs. MacPherson smiled. “Great. Ask Roman if he’ll help us when you have a chance, please.”

  “O–okay,” Aileen squeaked, thinking of the kissing booth.

  If they didn’t put him in that horrid display, she wouldn’t have to work side by side with him, would she? She’d done her best to avoid him since returning to her hometown, and it had worked fine before the flood. Now she seemed to find herself in his company all the time.

  Her pulse spiked. Let’s face it, she was eager to be in his company.

  Badly.

  But that wasn’t wise.

  Mrs. MacPherson helped herself to the second cherry turnover. “Back to the fundraiser. I have people for most of the booths already. Now, finding men for the bachelor auction is a totally different thing.”

  “Oh. Bachelor auction?” Aileen stared at the older woman.

  Really? First a kissing booth, now a bachelor auction. It was getting better and better.

  Not!

  Mrs. MacPherson glanced toward the counter, and her light-blue eyes became thoughtful. Then she raked her gnarled fingers through her bob, once gray but now colored a soft blond. “It’s a pity the same guy can’t be in the kissing booth and be auctioned off, don’t you think?”

  Chapter Nine

  THAT evening, Roman drove up to his townhouse after watching Jonah’s wrestling practice at school. Roman’s muscles ached from today’s physical work, but his heart was content. Together with Jonah, who sat behind him, he sang to the Tejano tune on the radio at the top of his lungs.

  When the song ended, he lowered the volume and turned to Aileen, who was in the front passenger seat. “I hope we didn’t make your ears bleed.”

  “No.” She chuckled. “I’m glad to see you both in such a great mood. Anyway, bleeding ears are a small price to pay for all you’ve done for us. Thank you so much for checking things at my house. And for buying me a take-out lunch at Tía Irma’s. And for patching up most of the roof already. And manning the counter. And going to Jonah’s practice. And—”

  Roman lifted his hand to stop her long list as something trembled inside him. Despite their painful past, it wasn’t just him singing to one of his favorite songs. Somehow, in her and Jonah’s presence, his heart sang to the tune of happiness.

  “I enjoyed doing all those things.” He had, during the times he could forget that wedding invitation with some other guy’s name on it, forget the years apart.… He pushed the image out of his mind. “You did great at practice, Jonah. If you’d like, I could give you some pointers.”

  In the rearview mirror, the teen’s face brightened. “That would be awesome.”

  Roman returned his attention to the road with a newfound feeling his life was about to change. “How do you feel about me picking up takeout again on the way? My treat.”

  “I already made meatloaf and roasted potatoes this morning. We just need to reheat it at home.” She stumbled. “I mean, not at home, of course. At your place.”

  “Thank you for cooking dinner.” His heart shifted. Just her presence—and, okay, her delicious food—made his place smell and feel more like home than it had ever been. Wishing for things that weren’t meant to be didn’t make sense. He needed to change the topic and fast. “I don’t know how I let myself be persuaded to participate in the bachelor auction.”

  Aileen sighed. “Mrs. MacPherson wouldn’t take no for an answer, that’s how. At least, you managed to get out of the kissing booth.”

  He shuddered. “Only because Mrs. MacPherson couldn’t figure out how to get me in two places at the same time. Until she decided the booths would be closed by the time of the auction. So I had to flee. Literally.”

  Jonah laughed. “Hmmm, kissing booth. Maybe I should volunteer for that.”

  “Jonah!” Aileen’s voice went into high pitch.

  “Just kidding. I wanted to see your reaction. Though it is for a good cause, you know.” Teasing notes lilted in Jonah’s voice.

  Roman suppressed a chuckle. That
kid really was something.

  “You’re too young for it.” Aileen’s voice went even higher.

  “I have to agree.” Roman made a turn.

  “I’ll have to start dating eventually, you know,” Jonah grumbled in the back seat.

  “Not until you’re twenty-five.” Aileen spoke with such conviction Roman nearly believed her.

  “What?” Now Jonah’s voice rose. He probably nearly jumped in his seat, too.

  “Keep it up, young man, and I’ll make it thirty.” Aileen sounded deadly serious.

  “She’s kidding—I think.” Roman’s lips curved up.

  Aileen’s ex-husband must’ve been a fool, even if he was a brilliant surgeon. How could he have missed out on having this kid in his life? Or this beautiful woman?

  “By the way, I think I saw a certain blond girl with large blue eyes and pink streaks in her hair watching you wrestle, even clapping when you won.” Roman stopped at the traffic light.

  “Yes! Shannon came to see me practice!” The words nearly pealed with excitement.

  “Who is Shannon, and why is this the first time I hear about it?” Contrasting her son’s exuberance, the sadness and curiosity in Aileen’s voice caught at Roman’s heart.

  “The girl I’m not allowed to date until I’m twenty-five.” Jonah’s speech became fast. “I finally managed to say hi to her today. And she… she actually talked to me! She asked if my mom was Aileen at Aileen’s Pastries and if you could make your famous chocolate cake for her birthday. I said sure. And then I remembered what Mr. Roman told me. I saw she had a key chain with a dog and asked if she had a dog. And she said yes. And we talked about her dog. And I told her about Dawg and how we tried to wash him yesterday, and she laughed, and then….” Jonah stopped, probably to get some air into his lungs. “Mom, you can make a cake for Shannon’s birthday, right?”

  “Of course. Well, given enough time.” Aileen’s voice warmed up. “I’m just sad I’m not the first one to hear about Shannon.”

  Uh-oh.

  Roman moved forward on the green light. He didn’t mean to intrude on her parental territory.