The next morning over a cup of coffee, James flipped through the pile of biochemistry tests that hadn’t been picked up before the break. His fingers went right to hers: Kate’s familiar letters rising and falling across the page. The paper slid under his fingers, revealing the spot on the table with the scratch from her belt.
How was he supposed to move on when everything around him reminded him of her? He couldn’t stay in his apartment anymore. He grabbed the bag holding the present Jeff gave him last night and got in his car. An errand would be the perfect distraction.
James drove to a shopping area near the university where he waited in the long gift exchange line. He had never been to this part of town, even though it was only a few blocks from the university. He walked down the street, passing a corner market and a bookstore, nearly tripping over a sandwich board advertising the daily special: lemon bars. Even away from his apartment, everything reminded him of her. His stomach growled and his mouth watered.
The bell chimed over his head and when he stepped inside, his mouth hung open. Painted all over the walls, were incredibly delicate chemical structures of sugar, flour, baking soda, salt, chocolate, coffee, vanilla, eggs, butter, and lemon juice. The long counter in front of him was dotted with glass domes containing a variety of baked goods.
A rustling sound came from the kitchen, followed by a familiar voice. “I’ll be right with you.”
Chapter 25
In her bakery, surrounded by recipes and menus Kate could forget about her past and focus on the present. While making lemon bars that day, she wanted to linger on the bittersweet memories she had of James, but because she was working alone, she forced herself to put on a happy face and help customers.
As she was finishing up preparing for the next morning, the bell over her door chimed. Covered with cookie dough, she headed to the sink and called out, “I’ll be right with you.”
She smiled and walked out of the kitchen. “What can I help you wi—?” Her mouth froze mid-sentence as the man strolling down the counter turned to face her.
It was James.
They stared at each other for what seemed like an hour. Kate clutched the counter and tried to talk, but her words were stuck in her throat. There was no way to forget about the past when it confronted her in person.
James seemed to be having a similar problem, and finally cleared his throat. “What are you doing here?”
Kate snapped out of her trance. “This is my bakery.”
“Yours?”
She pointed to the words on her pink apron that read: SWEET CHEMISTRY C12H22O11. “I own it. I tried to tell you, that night.” A tear streaked down her cheek.
James looked around with his mouth hanging open. “It’s so amazing. All that time when you had meetings and stuff going on, it was this, wasn’t it?”
“Yeah, I didn’t want to say anything in case my contract or loan fell through, you know?” Kate wiped her cheek and sniffed. Her heart was trying to pound out of her chest.
“How do you have time for this?”
“I have all the time in the world now.”
“But what are you going to do in January?”
Kate shrugged. “Work just like I do now.” What was so special about January?
James frowned and tilted his head. “What about school?”
“I graduated. On the fifteenth.” Another tear fell down her face. A sharp pain dug into her heart.
“No.” He shook his head. “No. I was at winter commencement. You weren’t there. No one called your name. No one told me.”
She frowned. They had talked about graduation, hadn’t they? In light of how things ended between them, did he really expect her to walk across the stage and make a fool of herself? “I didn’t have anyone to invite, so I opened my bakery instead.” The tears were flowing freely now. She hated how pathetic her life sounded.
“But, I, I didn’t know,” he stuttered. “I thought I had to wait until May.”
A light bulb went off in her head. “So that’s why you said if not now it’ll be next semester.”
James nodded. “I thought it was months. That would’ve been too much to ask of you.” He squeezed his eyes shut. “I ruined everything.” He clenched his jaw as he turned and walked toward the door.
“James wait.” She rushed past the counter and her breath caught as she waited to see if he would stop, and only when he turned to face her did she start breathing again. “I don’t want you to go.”
His fingers slid off the doorknob and his arms hung by his sides.
“I thought you didn’t want me.” A sob escaped her lips.
“That couldn’t be further from the truth.” He took a step toward her. “I’ve missed you so much my body aches.”
She wiped her eyes. “I missed you too.”
“You moved.”
Kate nodded. “I have an apartment upstairs.” She pointed to the unmarked door.
“I wanted to call you.”
“Me too.”
“I didn’t know what to say.”
“Me either.” She took a long shaky breath. “I never meant to interfere with your job.”
“You didn’t.” He looked around again. “I’m so sorry I missed all this.”
“Meg and Tim really pulled through. Meg worked for me all last week.”
When James smiled, Kate’s heart melted. She had missed that most of all.
“It’s all because of you, you know. I need to thank you.”
“For what?” James furrowed his forehead.
“For encouraging me to open a bakery. And helping me make the menu,” she added with a smile. Every one of his suggestions was written in her planning notebook.
“You told me yourself it wasn’t a new idea.”
She shook her head. “No, it wasn’t, but you gave it power. Importance. I wouldn’t have had the confidence without you.” She jumped when his hand touched hers.
“I’m glad I could help.” He was smiling again, and then he shook his head. “I’m so sorry I’m such a fucking idiot.”
“No you’re not. I don’t fall for idiots.” Meg was right.
James took a deep breath. “Yes I am. I should’ve known you were graduating, I should’ve been here for you, and I should’ve told you the truth.”
“The truth?”
He cradled her face between his hands and looked into her eyes. He inhaled and exhaled slowly. “The truth is, I’m in love with you. I’ve known since November, but I didn’t have the nerve to tell you.”
Kate’s body shook as a ragged sigh escaped her throat. “I love you too.”
The moment their lips met, the past was forgotten. They held onto each other as they kissed and when they finally pulled apart, James’ eyes were brimming with tears. “I thought I lost you. I don’t want to lose you again.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” Kate went to the door, flipped the sign and clicked the lock into place. She pulled her apron off and dropped it onto the counter then held her hand out to him and led him to the door to her apartment. “Not without you.”
The End
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About the Author
September Roberts grew up all over the western United States. Her love of nature began at an early age as she explored the Rocky Mountains, the Mojave Desert, California beaches, and pristine glacier lakes. While she was getting her degree in botany, she met the love of her life. She took a break from being a science nerd so she could write the kind of romance stories she would want to read. Stories with love, humor, hot sex, and always a happy ever after.
Table of Contents
Sweet Chemistry
Blurb
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapt
er 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
About the Author
Sweet Chemistry Page 22