The Illegitimate Billionaire

Two (#u253bce8b-faff-51f1-9bf3-042387de194a)

In the small office in the back of the bakery, Callie’s gaze rested on the framed photo of Frederick and the boys. She was struck by how much the boys had grown since Frederick passed away. She lifted the picture into better lighting.

It was the last one taken of her sons with their father. It was on their road trip last September. They’d traveled north along the coast, all the way to Virginia Beach.

Frederick had loved driving holidays. She suspected that sitting in a car made him forget about his disability and feel just like everyone else.

James was patient with the long rides, but Ethan was less than enthusiastic about spending so much time in his car seat. Frederick had done his best to entertain Ethan, who had just turned one that trip, while Callie had done the driving. It seemed like such a long time ago.

In November, Frederick had come down with a cold, just a routine cold that James had picked up in preschool. It settled in Frederick’s chest, which was normal for him. He insisted it was nothing to worry about, since both James and then Ethan had run fevers with the bug, coughed a few nights and then recovered.

But in the morning, Frederick’s fever had spiked alarmingly. Callie had rushed him to the hospital, where he lost consciousness and was diagnosed with pneumonia. They started antibiotics immediately. But his lungs had been severely bruised in his fall as a young teenager, and the scarring had left them weak.

He never woke up, and she’d said a final goodbye to him within hours.

Now she looked at the photo, Ethan grinning on Frederick’s lap, James standing with his head on Frederick’s shoulder. James still remembered Daddy, but Ethan only knew him from photos and video clips. Both boys had changed so much, grown so strong, learned so much. Frederick would be proud of them both.

“Callie?” Hannah poked her head through the open doorway.

“Is it getting busy out there?” Callie set the picture back down.

It was nearing the lunch hour. Pam had the boys until two today. With Frederick gone, Callie had modified her schedule. Pam was a godsend of a babysitter, and Hannah kept the bakery running like a well-oiled machine when Callie had to be at home.

“The lineup’s growing,” Hannah said. “The Spring Berry Cheesecake is still really moving.”

Callie was happy with the news. They’d created the recipe and introduced the new item just this month. It was gratifying to hear it was a success.

“I’m on my way.” Callie rose and followed Hannah through the kitchen to the café.

The lineup was halfway across the seating area. A few tables had just been vacated. Callie moved quickly to clear them and make room for more customers to sit down.

As she freshened the last of three tables, she was surprised to spot Deacon Holt sitting in one of the window booths. It had been a week since he was last in the café, and she’d assumed his vacation had ended and he’d left town.

Since she never expected to see him again, she’d allowed herself to fantasize the past few nights. Her fantasies ranged from hand-holding in the park to kissing under the stars to more, much more. She felt her face warm thinking about it. She knew he couldn’t read her mind, but looking at him now felt oddly intimate.

He spotted her. “Hello, Callie.”

She shook off her discomfort and went to his table. “Hello, Deacon.”

His smile went broad at her use of his name.

“I thought you would have left town by now,” she said.

“Still here in Charleston.”

She glanced at his sandwich plate. “And back for more sourdough?”

“I couldn’t stay away.” His tone sounded flirtatious, and she raised her gaze. “I was hoping you’d reconsider my invitation.”

She wished she didn’t feel the same way. She knew she had to fight it. It would be unseemly to rush out and date this soon after her husband’s death.

It wasn’t that Frederick had been the love of her life. They were dear friends, companions, parents together. Frederick had rescued her from hopeless poverty, and she’d given him the family he desired.

“I wish I could,” she said honestly.

“Something is stopping you?” His tone was gentle, even concerned.

“A full and busy life.” She wasn’t about to get into details.

“Someone else?” he asked.

She drew back in surprise. “What?”

“Are you dating someone else?”

“I don’t date.” She glanced over her shoulder to check the lineup, feeling suddenly guilty for standing and talking while Hannah and the others were so busy.

“Everyone dates,” Deacon said.

“No, they don’t. Case in point, me.” Why was she still here? Why was she indulging herself in something that couldn’t happen?

“Maybe not in the formal sense, but the opposite sex is always checking each other out.”

“I’m not checking you out,” she lied.

There was a gentle amusement in his blue eyes. “Well, I am most definitely checking you out.”

“Don’t.”

“It’s not something I can control. But to be clear, I’m only suggesting coffee and conversation.”

She gestured to the lineup. “I have to get back to work.”

“Okay.”

“I can’t go out with you. I don’t have time.” The excuse was perfectly true. Between the bakery and her sons, she had no time for a social life.

“Okay.” He gave up easily.

She didn’t regret saying no. She wouldn’t allow herself to regret it.

She gave him a nod and firmly turned herself around, heading behind the counter.

“What was that?” Hannah asked in an undertone.

“Just a customer.” Callie wished she didn’t feel overheated. Then again, she was in a bakery, and it was May. It would be odd if she didn’t feel overheated.

“He was in last week.”