As If You Never Left Me (Crimson Romance) (22 page)

BOOK: As If You Never Left Me (Crimson Romance)

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• • •

You can’t go home again.
These words haunted Veronica Barnes for weeks leading up to her return to her hometown.

She cocked her head and watched as the MacDougall company crane put into place the sign advertising the name of her new business, Titus Bakery
.
The temptation to call out to the workers that the sign didn’t look level nagged at her, but surely these guys knew their business. After some measurements, the men did hang it to her satisfaction.

She scanned the front of the building. Not too large and kind of quaint with the old brick facade. This building had been around since the Twenties. The place was hers now, lock, stock, and worn bricks. The ceramic tile by the front entrance looked decades old, but was still in beautiful shape. The large store front windows were also a big plus. However, sun beating in on baked goods might not be a good idea. She would see about shaded glass or maybe refrigerated units for her cakes. Veronica pulled out her iPod Touch and typed reminders for later.

The unmistakable hum of a V-8 engine came up behind her. It had to be her brother, Tyler. Who else would be driving an obvious unmarked police cruiser? Tyler Barnes opened the door of the black Crown Victoria and leaned on the driver’s side window.

“Hey sis, what in hell is this Titus Bakery? You’re a Barnes again.”

Veronica pushed her glasses up her nose; they had a habit of always slipping down no matter how many times through the years she bought new glasses. She slipped her iPod in her pocket, and then crossed her arms in mock annoyance. Tyler, her older brother by two years, was a detective with the Rockland Police Department. He was blond and at least six-one in height with a lean musculature a cover model would envy. He always spoke his mind, at least to her.

“I don’t like the name Barnes Bakery. Besides, since I’m using the settlement money to start this venture, it seems fitting to call the place after Billy-boy Titus.”

William Titus — her fourteen week mistake. A lesson learned. Hot, feral sex doesn’t translate into a lasting love or marriage. She secretly wished it did. Caught up in the throes of a passionate, drunken weekend with rich, real-estate entrepreneur, William Fortesque Titus II, they’d wound up at one of those cheesy Vegas chapels that dot the strip. Thirty-six hours later, they’d realized their mistake.

Now divorced, she’d been given a check with an obscene amount of zeros on it. Sucking up her courage, she quit her consultant’s job in San Francisco, California, and headed back home to Rockland, a small blue-collar city nestled on the Chesapeake across from Washington, D.C. Her brother was the only family remaining in town. Her father died three years ago, and her mother moved to Port Ritchie, Florida, to live with her older sister, Elmira, among the orange groves and alligators.

At twenty-nine, Veronica was ready for a little life change. She took a deep breath hoping to inhale some fresh air. Instead, she wrinkled her nose.

“Ewww, is that the pulp mill? It smells as bad as when I left.”

Tyler shrugged. “I don’t even smell it most days. Besides, it’s always worse when it’s hot and muggy like this.”

This was hot? Tyler should’ve come out to California for a visit, she thought to herself.

Before she could speak, Tyler sighed at what he knew was Ronnie’s unasked question. “Yes, I put someone trustworthy on getting the flyers out, slipped under doors, left on car windshields, yadda, yadda.” He held up his hand to still her response. “Get that look off your face, I supervised. It was done to your exact directions. Besides, I shouldn’t have done it all as it’s actually illegal.” He grinned mischievously.

Veronica hugged her brother tight.

“Thank you, I’m so nervous. The mixers and ovens were delivered this morning and Ty, I had no idea the flour’s in seventy-five pound bags! How am I going to lift it?”

Tyler stepped back and placed his hands on her shoulders.

“Are you sure you’re ready for the grand opening in three days? Have you even hired any help yet?”

“I can manage for a while until it gets off the ground.” she replied.

“You’ve got the money, Ronnie, hire someone and fast. Damn, you told me with the baking alone you will be up at four in the morning. You can’t put in fourteen hour days.”

Veronica rolled her eyes. Tyler always ragged her ass since they were kids. But, she grudgingly had to admit the golden haired Adonis had a point.

“I’ll call the employment agency. The reason I called you besides lifting the flour is I want you to inspect the rooms in back. I’ll be living there.”

Tyler’s mouth dropped open. “Why? I said you could stay with me as long as you like. Why live in cramped rooms in back of the bakery? You’ll never get away from the heat and the smell.”

“There’s nothing wrong with the smell of fresh baked goods. In fact, it’s been proven no one gets angry in a bakery, the odor soothes people. Plus, they come in to purchase baked goods for happy occasions like birthdays and bar mitzvah’s,” Veronica laughed. “How can you have your lady friends over if your sister’s there? I must be cramping your style at the moment. Of course, there were a few nights you didn’t come home.”

“I was on a stakeout. I told you,” Tyler grumbled. “Now you sound like a wife.”

“You know Mom is heartbroken. Last time we spoke she asked if you were seeing anyone serious. She’s dying for beautiful, blond grandchildren, Ty.”

“So, go ahead. Give her some,” Tyler snapped.

“I touched a nerve. Sorry, Ty. Come on, let’s go in and do an assessment. You can help me finalize my list of what products I’ll be selling. I’ll be starting with a just a few things, french bread, parker house rolls — ”

“Cinnamon buns?” Tyler’s face brightened. “Damn, you make the best cinnamon buns!”

Veronica laughed. She’d missed Tyler. Gone from Rockland, how many years? Wow, almost ten years except for a few visits and the funeral.

She missed her father deeply. How she would’ve loved to have him here helping, giving advice and hugs. Teagan Barnes had been a strapping, handsome man who hadn’t been sick a day in his life until a heart attack took him away. His sudden death devastated them all, especially her mother. Veronica lifted her chin in determination. A new beginning, she was due.

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