“Hi. It’s been a while since I’ve been here, but you used to have that fantastic New York style cherry cheesecake. Do you have one ready? It’s my mom’s favorite, and I’d love to surprise her with it.”
She perked up right away. “Yes, absolutely. It’s one of our most popular cakes. Right this way,” she said, leading me down the length of the counter. The display of cakes was divine. It was no wonder the place was buzzing with activity. Finally, we stopped at the cheesecakes, and there it was, front and center: the famous cherry cheesecake Mom would go absolutely bonkers for.
I pointed at it decisively. “That’s the one. Please pack one up for me.”
“Will that be all?” she asked as she pulled the cake from the display case.
I nodded. “That’s it, thanks.”
The bell at the front door rang out just as she led me back to the cash register. A man stood there, waiting to be helped, and I couldn’t help but think he looked very familiar, even though I only saw his profile. That strong, elegant nose and chin weren’t commonplace in my hometown.
“I’ll be with you in a minute,” the girl said to the waiting man.
He glanced in my direction and the eye contact knocked the wind out of me—I definitely knew him from somewhere. My heart stopped. It was him, wasn’t it? He was a few years older now, and a few pounds heavier, but there was no mistaking those eyes or that jawline. It was the omega who had stolen my heart and crushed it. Colton Gill.
A look of recognition flashed in his eyes, so I couldn’t avoid the obligatory small talk.
“Hi, how are you?” I asked with what I hoped was an easy grin.
“Oh my God, Parker. How are you? I haven’t seen you in forever.” He took a step closer. His pink cheeks expanded with his wide smile.
“I've been fine, thanks. I’ve been away for a while but I’m back now—at least for the holidays.”
“Wow, how time flies...” His voice trailed off as he stared into my eyes, but then snapped back to reality. “I just came back from a trip myself, although I was only gone for four weeks.”
Oh, God. Only gone for four weeks? What sort of job did he have where could take off just like that?
I shifted from one foot to the other. Although he’d changed, he was just as gorgeous as ever. We’d ended our romance on friendly terms, but I’d been heartbroken, all the same. We’d been going strong, but then I had to move for my job, while he started college out of town, and it fizzled out when we tried the long-distance thing. I’d heard through the Grapevine that he’d dropped out after his freshman year and come back to town, but I didn’t have that option. Kingston had no jobs in my field, and I wasn’t done climbing the corporate ladder yet.
“Where did you go?” I asked. I paid for the cheesecake and the girl packed it into a bag and pushed it across the counter to me.
“I backpacked around Europe. It was awesome, you should try it sometime.”
His face was open and friendly, with no hint of any underlying awkwardness.
“As if I’d ever get that much time off from work at once,” I said, somewhat bitterly. “Anyway, I’m glad you had fun, but it’s nice to be back home, isn’t it?”
He nodded. “It sure is. Maybe we can grab a drink while you’re here.”
I drew in a sharp breath. “That would be fun. Alright,” I said looking from Colton to the salesgirl, who was standing there watching our interaction. “I'd better get going. Have to get to my parents’ place now.”
“Sure. See you later,” he said, extending a hand.
I shook it, and the shiver it sent down my spine lingered long after I left the bakery.
The drive to my childhood home took me past many landmarks from my childhood. A sense of calm washed over me as I crossed the bridge over Catskills River.
I used to fish there with my grandfather, a kindly old man with the patience of a saint and the sharp eye of an eagle. It was our Saturday afternoon ritual. He’d take me down there, probably to give my parents some alone time around the house, at least before my sister was born, but I didn’t look at it that way then. For me, it was a break from my hectic home life, with