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Together in Thyme (An Urban Farm Fresh Romance 12)

By Valerie Comer

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Chapter 1

He was back in town.

Hailey North hated that her heart sped up at the sight of him walking into her bistro. She’d been doing just fine without Basil Santoro in her life, thank you very much. He’d left Bridgeview in disgrace three years back, which added up to over one thousand days she’d waffled over whether she wished he’d return or stay away forever.

Fickle heart.

She should detest him. She mostly did.

He might’ve entered her café, but there was no way she was fixing the guy a coffee or even talking to him. Not if she could help it. “Astrid! You’re needed over here.”

The middle-aged server glanced over. “Coming right up.” She patted a woman’s shoulder as she topped off her coffee cup.

Basil shifted closer to the counter. “What, you don’t know how to use your own fancy coffee machine?” Amusement glinted in his blue eyes.

“I run the kitchen. Kass runs the floor.” Only, her cousin’s toddler had thrown up all night, and Kass had begged off. They usually had enough staff to cover, but Bridgeview Bakery and Bistro had been extra busy all morning, and Hailey had been called out of the kitchen more than once.

“Good morning! What can I get you?” Astrid turned to Basil.

Hailey turned away to avoid his lingering gaze. She could answer the question for him, unless working at the Fireweed Restaurant in Seattle had fancied him up. For Basil, it had always been...

“Just coffee. Black.”

And he hadn’t changed. He was likely incapable of it. Something she needed to keep in the forefront of her mind.

“Do you have a few minutes, Hailey? You look like you could use a break.”

She stilled in the doorway to the kitchen. Such flattery, telling a woman she looked tired. “Sorry. Too much to do.” Too many regrets to block from her mind.
Astrid smiled brightly. “It’s your usual time for a break. There’s a bit of a lull, and Julissa comes in in five minutes.”

Thanks, Astrid. “I’d rather n—”

“Afraid of me, Hailey? Tsk.”

She pivoted back and gave Basil a hard glare. “Afraid of you? Not in your wildest dreams.”

His eyebrows bobbed as a grin creased his face. “Oh, I wouldn’t want to tell you about my wildest dreams. Or... maybe I should?”

Hailey stiffened. If she could throw the man out into the busy street on his backside, she’d do it in a heartbeat. After everything he’d done. Things no one else knew, but he sure did. Not that he knew quite everything, and she wasn’t about to enlighten him.

This was her place of business. Hers and her cousin Kassidy’s. She couldn’t yell and scream and demand he leave the premises, but it would certainly feel therapeutic.

Not that he’d listen. That sardonic grin was his trademark. The only time she’d seen it disappear was when he’d been sentenced to jail after his drunk-driving conviction three years ago. The facade had shifted then. He’d done his time then moved to Seattle, but it didn’t look like he’d changed at the core.

Rumor had it he’d quit drinking, not that Hailey paid attention to gossip. Okay, she totally did, especially if Basil’s name came up. And if the source was his sister, Jasmine, one of Hailey’s closest friends. That pair of siblings had never gotten along as kids — or as adults — and Jasmine had been furious with Basil over the DUI.

Hailey shoved all that out of her head.

Astrid rang up Basil’s coffee.

He raised his eyebrows at Hailey. “Come on, Hailey. I don’t bite.”

Since when?

Basil smirked.

“A hazelnut latte, Hailey?” Astrid glanced between them. “I can fix it with monk-fruit sweetener and even go decaf if you prefer.”

“Sugar-free. Impressive.” Basil took a sip from his mug, his gaze still fixed on Hailey.

“We try to flex with the times.” Hailey stared him down. “We do a brisk business with folks trying to cut sugar out of their diet.”

“Please don’t tell me you’ve tampered with your cinnamon roll recipe.”

“Never.”

Astrid coughed.

Hailey sighed. “We did introduce a keto version as well, but it’s not nearly as popular.” Astrid had poked and harassed Hailey and Kass to expand into that market, and it had been worth it. Now Astrid acted like she was part-owner instead of part-time staff.

Basil pulled his wallet back out. “Well, now you have me curious. I’d like to try the keto version.”

Hailey narrowed her gaze at him. “It’s on the house.” Why on earth had she said that?

His eyebrows shot up.

Maybe she’d done it to shock him, and it had worked. She picked up the tongs, set a roll on a small plate, and handed it across the turquoise bakery case. “I’ll be interested in your thoughts.”

No, she wouldn’t be.

“I’m happy to pay...” He studied her face. “Never mind. Thank you.”

The espresso machine hissed, but Hailey didn’t break her gaze from Basil’s. It might be childish, like whoever looked away first was the loser. Or she might just be filling her memory banks with his blue eyes, his wavy dark hair, and the scruff on his chin.

“Join me?” he invited again, quieter.

“Here’s your hazelnut latte, Hailey.” Astrid set it on the counter. “Decaf and sugar-free, just what you need.”

Now she’d look like a petulant child by refusing, but she’d speak to Astrid later about usurping authority. “Fine. I can take five minutes.”

“Julissa can finish up lunch prep when she comes in,” Astrid said.

That woman. If she wasn’t Kass’s husband’s ex-mother-in-law, she’d be fired. That ex should count for something.

“Preference where we sit?” Basil poked his chin toward the corner table.

Hailey was going to regret this big time. She already did... except for the part of her that thrilled to his nearness.

She wouldn’t think twice about sitting down with any of their other male clients, including Basil’s brothers or cousins, though she’d only flirt with the singles. She had standards.

But Basil? He’d always been in a category of his own. Like playing with fire.
She’d already been burned.

*

Basil Santoro would totally have gone for the fist pump if he didn’t have a plate in one hand and a mug in the other. Of course, the action would have backfired. Hailey would hightail it back into the bistro’s kitchen like a hurricane-force wind, but seeing her angry was kind of a win on its own.

Yeah, yeah. Not a particularly mature thought and, at thirty-three, he should be well on his way to adulthood. Wasn’t that everyone’s comment to him all the time? Grow up, Basil. This time he heard it in his sister Jasmine’s voice.

He settled into the bright yellow chair in the corner and glanced toward the counter. Yep, this spot still had a perfect view straight into the depths of the kitchen. It wasn’t fair to make Hailey sit with her back to her customers, but whatever. He’d be here long after she stormed off in anger, frustration, or both.
Basil broke off a piece of the cinnamon roll and glanced at Hailey.

She’d only improved with age, much like a fine wine. Right, he wasn’t thinking about alcohol these days. She must be thirty now — she was his sister’s age, and Jasmine had turned the big three-oh in spring. Hailey tugged her blond, chin-length hair out of its net and fluffed it with her fingers.

Vain, his Hailey.

Only... not his.

“Looks like you guys keep busy. You’ve been open, what, six years now?”

She nodded. Sipped her latte.

What must it be like to have a vision for one’s future, buckle in through thick and thin, and make a go of it?

Basil had drifted. He’d tried the college route but dropped out and slid from one job to the next. His older brother had helped him get a job with City of Spokane Public Works. He’d done everything from shoveling sidewalks to fixing manhole covers to watering flower boxes. Whee. Talk about fulfilling.

“You afraid of a keto cinnamon roll?” Hailey eyed the pastry still in his hand.

“Should I be?” He quirked an eyebrow at her as he popped the bite into his mouth. The temptation to dramatize gagging then holler for water flared, but he withstood. “Not bad. The texture isn’t as melt-in-your-mouth as the originals, though.”

Hailey visibly relaxed. “Almond flour just doesn’t react the same as wheat.”

Huh. She actually cared about his opinion? “No, it doesn’t.”

She looked at him, eyebrows raised. “You’ve been experimenting?”

“You have no idea what I’ve been doing the past few years.”

“Serving at a restaurant in Seattle.”

Basil grinned. “The most elite restaurant. Tips were amazing.” Not so amazing he hadn’t taken on other jobs on the side, though.

“Well, that’s nice for you, I’m sure. Thanks for gracing my humble establishment, which is nowhere near as fancy as what you’re accustomed to.”

Ooh, those blue eyes shot daggers at him. This was more the Hailey he knew and loved. No. Not loved. He’d burned any potential bridges a long time ago. “This place has plenty of hometown charm.”

“Just call it quaint and be done with it.”

“Okay. Quaint.”

“Some things never change.” She gritted her teeth.

“You told me to say that.” He leaned across the table and looked her in the eye. “I always do what you tell me.”

Red flashed up her cheeks, and she surged to her feet. “You’re insufferable.”

“As you say.” For a second, he thought she’d dump the remains of her mug in his lap, but she swept away. Behind the counter, she emptied the latte down the drain then set the cup in the bin. She stuffed her hair into its net while retreating to the kitchen.

“What’s with Hailey?”

Basil looked up to see his cousin Peter setting his briefcase on the vacated chair. He shrugged. “You know how she gets in these moods.”

Peter frowned thoughtfully. “I’m going to grab a coffee. Be right back. Hey, is that one of the keto cinnamon rolls? My wife loves those things.”

“Yeah. Not bad.”

“Not bad? Hailey’s a genius.”

Thankfully, Peter didn’t wait for a reply but headed for the counter. The short, older woman — Astrid, Hailey had called her — rang up his order then Peter returned and removed a sheaf of papers from his briefcase.

“Are you absolutely certain you want to do this?” Taking his seat, Peter studied Basil.

Time for that grownup bit to kick in. “Absolutely. I’ve been socking away as much as possible for three years. I’m ready to buy back in.”

“A lot has changed. Your sister and I have worked our fingers to the bone to get Bridgeview Backyards to where it is now. We’re farming sixteen backyards and have dozens of subscribers to the organic box program. And we’re always scrambling for seasonal workers. Jason and Landon both graduated from high school in May and are headed away for college soon. We can’t count on them coming back next summer... and we still have a brutally busy wrap-up in the next couple of months.”

“How does Jasmine manage with a toddler?”

Peter looked at him as though Basil should know the answer already. “Lillian is in daycare in the mornings, and then Nathan keeps her for the afternoon. Thankfully, he works from home and can manage his clients while Lillian naps.”

Jasmine was nothing if not dedicated. Basil had to hand it to her. She would have been the perfect firstborn but had landed in the middle with two brothers on either side. She’d always hated that Basil was older.

Astrid set Peter’s coffee down and topped off Basil’s without asking if he wanted more. When she moved on to the next table, Peter slid the papers across. “Here’s our updated business plan and financial statements. I want you to take your time and read through all of it before committing.”

Did he need to sound like he thought Basil would ditch them again? Like Basil had enjoyed leaving the company in a lurch three years ago! No one wanted to be hauled through court and force his partners to buy him out to pay his fines. Yeah, he’d pretended it was no big deal. What else was he supposed to do?Apologize? Grovel? That wasn’t his style.

Maybe it was time for a different approach.

Movement in the kitchen caught Basil’s eye. Hailey leaned over her worktable, rolling out pastry. She looked strong. In control.

Gorgeous.

Wasn’t stupidity doing the same thing over and over but hoping for different results?

Actually changing meant admitting he’d been wrong all these years. That he’d been selfish. Arrogant. Everyone who knew him already knew all that.

But changing meant letting his guard down. Letting people see who he was on the inside. They wouldn’t like him any better with the added insight.

Especially not Hailey.

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