Page 25 of Mountain Bean Dream

Or maybe not. “They can’t do that, can they?”

He shrugged. “Apparently so.”

“Well, that sucks.” For him. For me too, because now my ex-boyfriend was still going to be around town. How long was I going to have to keep up the charade of dating Jeremy? Could we fashion some sort of public break-up? That always worked in the movies. Or did it?

Derek looked deep into my eyes. “But maybe it’s not the worst thing.”

My heart fluttered. Hard. My breathing also ratcheted up a notch.

Jeremy cleared his throat and tightened his finger-laced grip on my good hand.

Derek rose, a mask of seriousness once again shadowing his true feelings. “Well, I think you’re good to go home. Rest. If you take any more pills, don’t drive within twenty-four hours. Follow up with your health care provider in a few days.”

After a long lingering look, he sauntered over to Annie and placed an order.

“How you doing?” Jeremy’s voice broke the silence; he’d been so quiet until now. His words were low but steady, like a grounding force that kept me from floating away.

His presence was a constant. But it wasn’t enough. Not yet.

Twisting in my seat, I faced Jeremy. “Thank you.”

The words felt inadequate, but I had nothing else to give. I glanced at his eyes—his warm blue and brown mix. But there was something in them I didn’t understand. Was it concern? Or something else?

He inhaled deeply and released his breath. “For what?”

“Being here. Helping.” I whispered the words like theydidn’t quite belong to me. I felt too exposed, too raw. I hated how this scene had happened, that he’d witnessed the cracks in my armour.

Jeremy didn’t say anything. He just nodded, as if he understood more than he let on.

I stood, my legs wobbly. His hand was right there to catch me if I stumbled. And I wanted toleanon him more than I should.

“I’m okay. Now to figure out how to get home.”

“Seriously?”

“What?”

His chest expanded, pushing out the tabs on the end of his hoodie ties. “I’ll take you home.” His voice was low, measured. He didn’t need to say more, because the weight of his presence said everything.

I slowly faced him. His eyes weren’t unreadable anymore. They were... searching.

My pulse quickened.

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.

For a moment, the world seemed to freeze. The air in the room was thick with unspoken words, unresolved feelings, and choices I wasn’t ready to make.

Then, from across the room, Derek’s voice broke through the stillness again. With a drink in his hand, Derek walked by slowly and stopped, as if pensively selecting his words. “Take it easy, Molly.”

I didn’t know how to answer, wasn’t even sure if I could, so I just stared at his back as he opened the door of the Coffee Loft and exited out onto the street.

“Wow.”

I whipped my head in Jeremy’s direction. “What’s that?”

“You still like him, don’t you?” His Adam’s apple bobbed.

My gaze returned to the tall, strong man before me.“Remember? I had been dating him prior to Wednesday until he admitted to using me to pass the time while he’s here.” I couldn’t help the sass on the tip of my tongue.