The Forget-Me-Not Bakery

by Caroline Flynn

  Dance.

  The coffee and tea had already been served during the ceremonial cake cutting, which resulted in both Christopher and Allison having to go wash their faces free of the icing they’d managed to smear on each other, and the deejay had already given Paige the thumbs-up to confirm he was ready to go. Paige wasn’t going to make her cousin wait any longer. It was still ten minutes shy of the designated time for the reception to begin, according to the strict itinerary she’d followed to a tee thus far. But it was Allison’s day. If she wanted the music to be played, the music would be played.

  She and Kait got some help from Christopher’s best man, Adrian, and his other groomsman, Lucas, to move the round tables off to the sides of the room, opening up the impromptu dance floor. Allison didn’t hesitate to be the first one on it. She had never been able to resist the riffs of Old Time Rock & Roll.

  Paige wasn’t much of a dancer, but she joined her cousin for a few songs, along with Kait and a few of her staff members from the coffeehouse. Sonya even broke out her best moves, which looked a lot like someone trying to start a lawnmower.

  The entire crowd stared with stars in their eyes as Allison and Christopher shared their first slow dance as husband and wife. That was the part of weddings that always choked Paige up the most – the first dance. To her, it was like watching a couple taking their first steps together, in perfect synchronicity and harmony. The first glimpse of the honeymoon. There was just something about the first dance, with so much love in their eyes and hope in their hearts, that moved Paige to tears. She was wiping the tears away when she heard someone say her name over the slow, melodic rhythm of the music.

  ‘Paige.’

  She turned toward the voice. Her eyes were still blurry, but there was no mistaking that voice. Or the man, despite how different he looked in a crisp, black suit.

  How undeniably handsome he looked.

  ‘Cohen?’ She couldn’t believe her eyes.

  He looked … transfixed. ‘Wow, you … you look amazing.’

  Cue the blushing. ‘You do, too,’ she managed to say. ‘You look so … different.’

  ‘Not weird, though, right?’

  ‘What?’

  Cohen’s mouth turned up, waving his hand to dismiss the notion. ‘Nothing. Long story.’ He paused, running his hands through his hair. Halfway through, he must have remembered there was gel in the strands and stopped, blowing out a long breath. ‘Would it be all right if I asked you to dance?’

  She was overwhelmed by his presence. Surely she would combust from the fire in his touch if he held her against him. Shock flooded her mind, stunned by the fact he was really there. He had come. Just like she hoped he would. She hadn’t even noticed the song had changed and that people were pairing off to dance alongside the newlyweds. All she could do was nod, dumbfounded, and let Cohen lead her away from the sidelines and out onto the dance floor.

  Like a true gentleman, he held one of her hands, entwining their fingers, while his other hand fell to her waist, guiding her effortlessly around their little piece of the dance floor.

  ‘Paige—’

  ‘I’m glad you came.’ She hadn’t meant to blurt it out, but there it was. The real and honest truth.

  ‘I needed to,’ he explained softly. ‘I needed to see you.’

  ‘I don’t care what your reasons are, I’m just glad you’re here, Cohen.’

  The corner of his mouth quirked up. ‘As happy as I am for Allison and Christopher, I didn’t come here for them. I came here for you. And I need you to know that, Paige.’

  Okay, maybe she did care. She was just so acutely aware of his close proximity that she couldn’t focus. Couldn’t think straight. ‘You did?’ Immediately, she felt ridiculous for saying it out loud, but Cohen chuckled.

  ‘I did.’ He twirled her around like he’d practiced the move a hundred times before, bringing her back in just a tiny bit closer to him than she’d been previously before he spoke again. ‘Paige, I’m so sorry. So damn sorry. For the way I acted, and for not believing you. Bryce told me everything.’

  ‘He did?’ She knew she sounded like a broken record but hearing that Bryce had confessed to him about taking the baked goods was another shock to her system. The surprises just kept on coming.

  ‘Bryce also sent me here to tell you he’s a good kid and that he’s sorry for what he did.’

  ‘Of course he is. I would never contest that. You can tell him I forgive him, Cohen. I forgave him the moment it happened. Water under the bridge.’

  ‘He’s still going to pay you back every penny he owes you. And he’s grounded until he’s in college.’

  Paige couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh. ‘Go easy on the kid, Cohen. Maybe only ground him until he can drive.’

  Cohen smiled. ‘We’ll talk about that later. I’m more concerned about how things are going to be left between us before you leave.’ He paused, his expression growing more pleading. ‘Paige, please stay.’

  ‘Before I leave?’ Her brows furrowed, confused. ‘Where am I going?’

  ‘To New York.’ He suddenly didn’t sound so sure of himself. ‘With that—’ He cleared his throat. ‘With your boss.’

  ‘Cohen, I never said I was going back to New York.’ She stopped dancing, unable to pay attention to her footsteps and the muddled conversation at the same time. ‘I’m not leaving Port Landon.’

  ‘But Rhonda heard from …’ Cohen looked genuinely confused now. ‘And you and Alex Livingston …’

  ‘Cohen, look at me.’ Paige’s hand was still entwined with his, and she gave his fingers a little squeeze. ‘There’s nothing going on between Alex and me. I called him, yes. But I had no idea he was going to take it upon himself to show up here.’ She shook her head, still astounded by her former boss’s determination. ‘But that’s not important. What is important is that I turned down the job offer he came here with, Cohen. He’s gone back to New York, and I’m staying here.’ Her gaze never wavered as she searched his eyes for a sign of understanding. ‘This is my home.’

  The way he stared at her, so deep and intense, Paige felt as though he was trying to decide if she was real.

  ‘So, you’re staying in Port Landon?’

  ‘Yes,’ she said again, fixated on him. She should have known someone would have seen Alex on her doorstep and asked questions. And God knew what Alex himself had idly said to people he met in town during his stay. He had been so certain he would have Paige packed up and heading back to the city with him. ‘I can’t leave, Cohen. I love it here.’

  ‘And I love you, Paige.’ Cohen’s words came out in a hurried breath. ‘That’s another thing I need you to know. Another thing I should have said long before now.’ He clasped her hands in his, and Paige tilted her chin, taking in the striking contrast of her mauve nail polish against the creamy white of his palm. ‘I’ve made so many damn mistakes. But, I swear, I don’t want you and me, us, to be one of them.’

  His confession robbed her of her breath and stole her ability to speak. Paige had spent so much time steeling herself against the prospect that Cohen would never forgive her. That they were over before they started. But she was wrong. Cohen was standing before her, telling her they were far from over. Paige didn’t think she’d ever been so relieved to be so wrong. ‘Cohen, I—’

  ‘I don’t want to lose you, Paige,’ he continued, squeezing her hands tightly in his, scrambling for a lifeline. ‘All you ever wanted me to do was let you in. But I see now that you were already in my heart, long before I ever admitted it to myself.’

  ‘Oh, Cohen.’ Paige leaned forward as he leaned down, pressing his forehead against hers. Her eyes clamped shut, desperate to hold on to his beautiful words and his steadying hands.

  ‘God, I thought I lost you,’ he whispered again, his breath caressing her lips with the softness of a downy feather.

  ‘You didn’t,’ Paige choked out quietly. Her emotions were rising within her like the tide, bubbling to the surface and threat
ening to capsize her composure. ‘It was just small-town gossip you heard. You know how people love to talk.’

  ‘Yeah,’ he breathed. Cohen slipped one hand away from hers and brought it up to wipe a stray tear away from her cheek with his thumb. ‘Paige, what do you think those people would say if I kissed you right now?’

  As far as she was concerned, there was no one else in the room with them at that moment. Through the sound of her own racing heartbeat, Paige whispered, ‘Only one way to find out.’

  He leaned forward and touched his lips against hers, cupping her cheek with his hand. Every overwhelming emotion – joy, happiness, sorrow, regret, guilt, relief – melded together and radiated through his kiss, conveying the feelings for her he had held in for too long and flooding Paige’s resolve in one vast wave. Saying all the things their words couldn’t.

  When Cohen finally pulled away to gaze into her eyes, Paige’s eyelids fluttered, completely consumed by the man before her and the intensity of his mouth on hers.

  ‘Want to know another piece of gossip?’ he asked gently, running his thumb across her bottom lip. He lowered his voice to barely above a whisper. ‘Cohen Beckett isn’t the only one who loves Paige Henley.’

  Paige’s eyes shone. ‘Hmm, I wonder if that rumor is true.’

  ‘Bryce and Jazz adore you. But not as much as I do. Not nearly.’

  ‘Is that right?’ The corner of Paige’s mouth curved upward, basking in the warmth and promise of the moment.

  ‘If that kiss didn’t confirm it,’ Cohen said, ‘I will kiss you again. And again and again, until you do believe it.’

  She knew her cheeks must be seven shades of crimson, but she didn’t care. She didn’t have to hide her feelings for him. Not anymore. ‘Want to know a secret?’ Without waiting for his response, Paige turned slightly in his arms and pointed through the throngs of people still dancing around them. People she had forgotten all about until now. ‘I think we’re being watched.’ Across the room, Allison and her pretty white dress were huddled together with Sonya and Kait, watching her and Cohen with lovestruck, wistful stares.

  ‘I don’t think that’s much of a secret,’ Cohen reasoned.

  Cohen and Paige’s gazes met theirs, and all three women waved unabashedly. Sonya, ever the lovey-dovey voodoo queen, nodded toward them, a sincere smile lighting up her features. Then, the woman placed one hand over her heart, left it there for a split second as her eyes fluttered shut, and then released her hand, opening her eyes again slowly before blowing them a kiss and disappearing into the crowd.

  ‘Fine, then I think Sonya just put a spell on us.’

  Cohen lowered his chin, a wry grin on his lips. ‘Again, tell me something I don’t know.’

  She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him again, wrapping her arms around his neck. ‘I love you. In every sense of the word.’ She pulled away, the heat from her gaze emanating into his and igniting something comforting within his hazel eyes. ‘Do you believe that secret?’

  Cohen’s throat moved, but he never looked away. ‘Trust me, Paige, I’m starting to.’

  Epilogue

  Cohen

  One Year Later …

  There was a sense of calm that settled over Port Landon in the evenings of summer, transforming the hot and bright dog days of August into warm, starry-skied nights. Midday, folks milled about on the streets and sidewalks, but the fading sky ushered people away from Main Street and toward their patios and backyards to enjoy the heat they had waited all year for. Autumn would be upon them again soon enough, and there wasn’t a Michigan resident who failed to remember that.

  Cohen unlocked Paige’s apartment door for her and stepped back to let her go first. For Christopher and Allison’s first wedding anniversary, the happily married couple had invited them over to celebrate with a backyard barbeque and ice cream. Bryce had been ecstatic to go, being a big fan of Christopher’s original Nintendo system. He called it ‘vintage’, which made every adult in the vicinity groan.

  The evening had gone later than they had planned, ending only when Allison announced that she and Christopher were going to miss their movie in North Springs if they didn’t leave soon.

  Cohen and Paige’s own plans included a long walk out to the Hansel and Gretel House. Cohen had suggested it, since it was usually too long to do that route during their busy weekdays with the vet clinic and the bakery. Bryce had quickly backed up his father’s decision. Paige was outnumbered.

  Not that she minded. Paige loved the longer walks on the weekends just as much as he and Bryce did, and the Hansel and Gretel House had since become their spot, a place where they didn’t have to be the veterinarian, the baker, or even members of their community.

  They could just be Cohen and Paige, together.

  ‘We’ll round up Jazz, then we can head out.’ Paige embarked up the stairs to retrieve her trusty canine friend, who was no doubt snoozing on the end of the couch like she always did when Paige left her for a few hours.

  Paige had surprised everyone by asking to officially adopt the brindle boxer last year, only a few days after Allison’s wedding. The fact that she wanted Jazz to live with her permanently wasn’t the surprise. To Cohen and Bryce, it was that it had taken her so damn long to admit to herself how in love with the dog she really was.

  Cohen liked to think she’d had to admit to herself that she loved him first, then she could deal with her adoration of Jazz.

  Either way, Paige was gracious enough to make room for Jazz in her home. She was even more gracious to make room in her heart for Cohen and Bryce. They came from different backgrounds, had been through things that shaped them into who they were, flaws and all. But they had overcome obstacles that Cohen was proud to see long behind them. He planned to leave the past exactly where it was, and he hoped that meant he could focus on the future.

  Their future.

  ‘Paging Paige Henley and her diva dog! We’re running out of daylight!’ Cohen cast an amused glance at Bryce, who obviously found humor in his dad trying to rush Paige. The boy was eleven, and he knew better – women couldn’t be rushed.

  ‘I couldn’t find Jazz’s collar,’ Paige announced, breathless as she bounded down the stairs with the dog following close behind her. ‘She likes the purple one.’

  ‘You like the purple one,’ Cohen chuckled. ‘Jazz doesn’t care whether her collar and leash match.’

  Paige quirked a brow down at the dog. ‘Do you hear this? Are you going to tell him, or should I?’ Jazz glanced over at Cohen, and he swore if the dog could talk she would have told him he didn’t have a clue what he was talking about. ‘Come on, Jazzy girl. Let’s go before the Hansel and Gretel House gets dark and creepy.’

  The shadows stretched out long in front of Cohen and his entourage as they made their way to the edge of town and along the tree-lined path into the forest. By the time the old cottage came into view, the sun was peeking through the trees, creating patterns of shadow and light all across the grassy opening, reflecting brightly off the dirty windowpanes. There was a sense of beauty in the old, dilapidated cottage, a long since forgotten charm that wasn’t in the residential structures of modern times. One glance over at Paige, who still held his hand even though they’d stopped to take in the sight of the house, and Cohen knew she felt the same way about it.

  ‘It really is the perfect spot, isn’t it?’ He said it in a low voice, as though speaking too loudly might awaken whatever ancient entities inhabited it when they left.

  ‘It really is.’ She gave his hand a gentle squeeze.

  Bryce tramped through the leaves around to the other side of the cottage with Jazz in tow. The boy had practically run the entire way, forcing Paige to take Jazz’s leash from him because the poor dog couldn’t keep up with the stamina of an eleven-year-old.

  Cohen’s stomach knotted, but he was thankful his son had made it out of sight without alerting Paige to his overflowing excitement.

  ‘What do you think it would be perfect for?’
He tried to sound nonchalant, but even to his own ears he knew he’d failed.

  Paige’s forehead wrinkled, confused. ‘What do you mean?’ She eased her hand from his grasp and turned away, about to trudge around and explore, dismissing his odd question.

  Cohen reached forward and clasped her hand in his again, tugging her playfully to him. Her free hand came up to land on his chest. ‘I said, what do you think it would be perfect for?’ He couldn’t keep the smile out of his voice.

  ‘I don’t know,’ she chuckled. ‘It’s just … perfect.’

  ‘It is,’ he replied. ‘But is it perfect for us?’

  ‘For us?’

  God, she was adorable when she was bewildered. ‘I think this should be our place, Paige.’

  ‘I thought it already was.’ She laughed, but Cohen could see that she was starting to realize something was going on.

  He leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. Then, he entwined his fingers with hers and pulled her along to where he hoped Bryce was set up and ready.

  His son didn’t disappoint.

  Rounding the corner of the rundown cottage, Bryce stood there with a rustic makeshift table set up. It was an old wooden crate he and Cohen had found the day before when they’d come there during the day while Paige was still working, but Bryce had set the table up with three place settings. The dishes were gold-rimmed, bone china that Cohen’s grandmother had given him, the glasses cut crystal with starburst motifs from the same era. It was rustic meets classic, and he and Bryce had been planning it for days.

  It wouldn’t be the bone china or the crystal that Paige would be talking about later, anyway. The topic of conversation wouldn’t even be the raspberry iced tea Bryce had poured into the glasses or the silverware he’d brought from home.

  The cake stopped Paige in her tracks. It had taken a few white lies to get her recipe for the Oreo fudge cake with chocolate fudge icing – the same cake Paige had sliced up for Bryce on the first day Cohen met her – but he and Bryce had managed to borrow the recipe card and bake a cake of their own. One layer, still in the nine-by-thirteen glass dish, but they’d baked and decorated it themselves. And Cohen wasn’t sure whose eyes were wider, Paige’s or Bryce’s.