the next morning when Ronan was going to meet me at Seaton Bakery for breakfast. It was the first breakfast date I'd ever been excited for.
When my alarm went off in the morning, there was already a message on my phone from Ronan.
Ronan: Good morning, beautiful.
Three words that completely melted me from the inside out. I found myself smiling giddily, in a way I had never done before. Was this what falling in love felt like? Was this what I would be missing out on if I couldn't change my father's mind about the arranged marriage?
I never wanted to lose the sense of excitement and wonder and happiness that I had in this moment. So I clung to it as I got in my car and drove to the bakery.
I looked around on the road, wondering if I would somehow see Ronan driving to meet me, catch a glimpse of whether or not he was as excited as I was. I hoped he was. When I arrived at the bakery, he was waiting outside, and he came toward me, holding a book.
“For you,” he said.
I smiled and took it. It was a book of love poems from the eighteenth century.
“Open it,” he said.
I flipped it open, and the book automatically turned to a central page where a light purple flower was pressed inside. It was stunning, better than a massive bouquet that cost hundreds of dollars, because I could tell it had come from Ronan's heart.
“Thank you,” I breathed.
His smile was genuine. “You're welcome.”
We walked inside together, my fingers slipped through his, and this time, I said, “Let me order. I have a few favorites here.”
With a smile, he said, “Okay, I'll go get a cup of coffee.”
After I ordered, I glanced over and saw him pressing drip coffee into a cup and carefully stirring the contents. His body was long and lean, and now I understood why he wanted to write. It was like every part of him was in control—had the strength to be in control. It hurt my heart thinking about the reason why he might need to be so strong, both physically and mentally.
Gayle grinned at me from behind the counter and said, “Hi, Zara!” She lowered her voice. “Are you here with him?”
My cheeks flushed as I nodded.
“He looks like a bad boy.” She waggled her eyebrows, then her expression turned serious. “Is he good to you?”
I glanced back at Ronan, who was walking back to our corner booth. Since his back was to me, I lifted the weathered book of poems. “He gave me poetry and a flower.” I couldn’t believe how happy the simple gesture made me.
She smiled even wider. “Chris still writes me love notes. Sometimes when he flours the counter for baking, he’ll leave messages for me so I see them when I go to make the dough.”
I’d thought my heart couldn’t be any fuller, but it expanded painfully. “My dad used to leave messages for my mom in the shower steam on the mirror. It would disappear when he was done, but when she finished her shower, she could see it there.”
Gayle covered her chest with her hands. “That’s so precious.”
My eyes stung as I nodded. “It was.”
A concerned look crossed Gayle’s face, but I couldn’t indulge my emotions, not with Ronan waiting on me. I wanted this to be a happy day. I ordered muffins for both of us and a latte for me.
When I reached into my purse for money, Gayle said, “This one's on the house.”
“Are you sure?” I asked, holding up the bills I planned to pay with.
“Your money's no good here.” She lifted her chin toward Ronan. “Have a good date with the bad boy.”
With a smile, I nodded and met Ronan, sliding into the booth. Suddenly, it struck me why he always wanted to sit here. He wanted to see everything going on in the bakery—who came, who left, who might cause us harm.
I’d never had to worry about that.
Shaking the sadness that gripped me, I pushed a pumpkin cream muffin his way. Ronan wouldn’t want my pity, and I needed to honor that, even if he couldn’t hear my thoughts.
“This is good,” he said appreciatively after taking a bite.
“The best,” I said. I took a sip from my latte. Perfection.
He took a swallow from his drink. “I feel like you know everything about me.”
I snorted. “Hardly.” Ronan was the most elusive person I knew.
“What? You know I live a one bedroom with four