Page 74 of A Tempting Seduction

“Consider it done.” Florence's eyes gleamed with the satisfaction of a woman who'd just been handed the juiciest piece of gossip in weeks. “I'll have the whole town knowing by lunchtime.”

That was exactly what I'd been counting on. Florence was better than a phone tree when it came to getting information out to people. By the time she finished her rounds today, half of Jasper Creek would know about the party.

The thought of the party made me smile. It felt good to be part of something, to have people to invite and plans to make. Two years ago, I would never have imagined myself helping to organize a community gathering. I'd been too busy keeping my head down and trying not to attract attention.

Now, I was talking about parties and introducing my boyfriend to family recipes and planning a future that stretched beyond just surviving each day. It felt like stepping out of a shadowy corner and into warm sunlight.

The lunch crowd started filtering in around eleven-thirty, and I moved back behind the counter to help Jordan with the sudden influx of customers. The usual suspects appeared: construction workers grabbing coffee and pastries, office workers from the courthouse looking for caffeine fixes, and stay-at-home moms treating themselves to fancy lattes.

I was in the middle of making a complicated order involving extra shots and alternative milk when I turned around and nearly dropped the ceramic mug I was holding.

Lance Leeds stood three people back in line, wearing an expensive suit and a smile that used to make my knees weak. Now, it just made my stomach clench with dread.

He looked exactly the same. Perfectly styled blonde hair, blue eyes that missed nothing, that politician's bearing that made him seem taller than his actual height. He was handsome in that clean-cut, all-American way that photographed well and played perfectly on campaign posters.

He was also supposed to be two thousand miles away in California, basking in his recent election victory and planning his bright political future.

I managed to finish the current order without completely falling apart, but my hands were shaking as I passed the drink across the counter. Lance's presence filled the small coffee shop like smoke, making it hard to breathe. Every instinct I'd developed over the past two years was screaming at me to run.

But I couldn't run. Not here, not in front of the whole lunch crowd, not when Jordan was counting on me to help manage the rush. So, I forced myself to keep working, to smile at customers and take orders and pretend that my entire world hadn’t just gone sideways.

When Lance finally reached the front of the line, he leaned across the counter with that familiar smile and spoke in a voice just loud enough for nearby customers to hear.

“Ruby Miller. You look absolutely beautiful.”

I felt every eye in the coffee shop turn toward us. In a town the size of Jasper Creek, strangers got noticed, especially handsome strangers in expensive suits who seemed to know the quiet girl behind the counter.

“What can I get you?” I kept my voice steady and professional, but inside I was screaming.

“Actually, I was hoping we could talk privately. Is there somewhere we could go?”

“No.”

The word came out sharper than I'd intended, and I saw a flash of irritation cross Lance's features before he smoothed his expression back into that practiced charm.

“Ruby, darling,” he said, his voice carrying across the suddenly quiet coffee shop. “It's so good to see the woman I love. I've missed you so much.”

The entire shop went dead silent. I could feel Jordan's concerned gaze from where he stood at the espresso machine, could sense Florence practically vibrating with curiosity at her table by the window. Every person in Java Jolt was hanging on our every word, and Lance knew it.

He'd always been good at creating scenes that served his purposes.

“Back office,” I said through gritted teeth. “Five minutes.”

Lance's smile widened like he'd just won the lottery. “Thank you, darling. I knew you'd want to hear what I have to say.”

I walked toward the small office behind the counter on legs that felt like they might give out at any moment. Lance followed, and I was hyperaware of how he moved through the space like he owned it, how his expensive cologne stank up the space that normally gave me comfort.

I closed the office door behind us and walked behind my desk before I turned to face him. I crossed my arms. “What do you want, Lance?”

His politician's mask slipped for just a moment, revealing something sharper underneath. “I want you back, Ruby. I want us back.”

I stared at him for a long moment, then started to laugh. The sound bubbled up from somewhere deep in my chest, carrying with it two years' worth of anger and hurt and bewilderment. “Are you completely insane?”

“I know you're angry⁠—”

“Angry?” I cut him off. “Lance, I found you in bed with my sister. You told me I was lucky anyone would want to marry me. You made it crystal clear that our entire relationship was a joke to you.”

“I admit I made a mistake.” He stepped closer, his hands resting on my desk. “But I've changed, Ruby. I've won my state senate seat, and now there are a lot of rumors swirling around about me and Carla. I need to put those rumors to rest. Marrying you would take care of that.”