of the muffins had long since dissipated. Which meant everything we’d experienced together was false.
I knew it was my own fault, but it still sucked. The only good thing about the whole damn situation was I hadn’t become any more involved with Nate. Plus, seeing as I hadn’t fed Kevin anything magical, I suddenly appreciated him a hell of a lot more. Though, there was the wish I’d made with the brownies. So. Maybe that wasn’t real, either?
It seemed I’d learned a lesson. Lessons are supposed to be good, right?
Why, then, did it feel as if I’d just lost something incredibly important?
“It’s time to change your workout,” Kevin said, wrapping the measuring tape around my waist. “We’ll switch things around a bit on Monday.”
“Do we really have to?” I groaned, but my heart wasn’t really in it. Not only did I no longer mind exercising three days a week, but I was seriously considering adding in a fourth day. Between trying to grab Miranda’s attention, forgetting about Nate, and revving up for spring at A Taste of Magic, I needed a way to alleviate my anxiety. And yeah, as much as I hated to admit it, exercise was a great stress reliever.“You’re doing great! A full half-inch off your waist. That’s awesome, babe.” He wrote the number on my fitness chart and tossed me one of his sexier than sin grins. “I wouldn’t have thought it possible, but you’re getting hotter and hotter.”
I flushed. “You have to say that.”
“Why? Because we’re dating?”
Oh. Dating. Actually, that wasn’t what I’d meant, but he looked so darn sweet when he said it, it took me by surprise. Were we dating? Was I dating someone? I smiled. I guess I was. How about that? “Well, that’s not exactly what I meant, but that, too.”
“Speaking of, are you busy on Saturday?”
“I have a couple of hours of work in the morning, but I should be done by early afternoon.”
Kevin dropped the clipboard on the counter and, placing his hands on my waist, pulled me toward him. “I know you deal with weddings all the time, but my brother is getting married on Saturday. I’d love it if you could come.”
“Oh. Sure.” A family gathering. A wedding, no less. “Will your family mind?”
“Only if you give them a hard time about not hiring you for the cake,” he teased. “They can’t wait to meet you.”
He’d told his parents about me? Oh, wow. “All right, sure,” I repeated, a little stunned. “I’d love to go.”
Kevin accompanied me to my car, his arm loosely wrapped around my waist.
“You can either go with me or meet me there. I have wedding duties, so I’m going early. It won’t hurt my feelings if you’d rather come later.”
“What time is the ceremony?”
“Four o’clock. The reception is immediately after.”
My mind flipped through Saturday’s schedule. “Yeah, I’ll meet you. I’ll probably be at work until two or so. Easier if I go home, change, and then hook up with you at the church.”
Leaning over, he kissed me, causing a quick fluttering in my chest, and ushered me into my seat. “Drive safely. I’ll call you tonight and give you directions.”
Putting the car into gear, I aimed toward home. I have to admit the date with Kevin lifted me up a bit. Which was nice, seeing as I’d been pretty miserable since the encounter with Nate. And that, I knew, was entirely stupid. But there was something about the cop that had gotten to me. Hell, who was I fooling? He still got to me.
Also, I sort of worried that this thing between me and Kevin was getting more serious than I wanted. I liked him, and yeah, I could even say he turned me on. But I didn’t want serious. I couldn’t be serious. We weren’t right for serious. But hey, he was sweet, and fun, and he made me feel really good about myself.
There was absolutely nothing wrong with that.
Beyond that, though, something had changed inside of me. I wasn’t sure exactly when it started, but I was beginning to value the time Marc and I were together. Not the way he left, never that. And not the way he’d acted since. But those early years? Maddie had been right on target. They were good. They had to mean something.
Now, instead of anger, I mostly just felt sad about our marriage. About the girl I’d been and the woman I’d become.
“Enough,” I whispered, pulling into my parking lot. Driving slowly, I scanned