The Birthday List(14)

“We were still married. I was—am—still in love with him. I understand why he’s hurt and angry. Some mistakes you just can’t forgive.”

Or forget.

Molly would regret that mistake for the rest of her life.

“Enough about that.” Molly forced a smile, steering the conversation away from her and Finn like usual. “How was your karate class last night?”

Unlike my brother, Molly was more accepting about my decision to work through Jamie’s list.

“It was . . . interesting.”

So interesting that I’d stayed up most of the night thinking about that class. My mind had run on a loop all night, but not about karate. About Cole Goodman. It had certainly been a shock to see him again, but more surprising was the rush of feelings he’d invoked.

Feelings—chemical, electric feelings—I hadn’t had in a long time.

“So? What happened? Did you learn how to kick some ass?”

“Oh, yeah. I’m an expert ass kicker,” I deadpanned, then laughed. “I’m just glad that I survived the workout. To me, that’s a win.”

“Did you mark it off the list?”

I nodded. “Last night when I got home.”

“Are you okay?”

“I think so. I cried like usual, but when the tears stopped, I actually felt kind of good.”

“I’m glad. That’s what you were going for, right? Some closure?”

I nodded and rolled another bundle of silverware. “I’ve actually been thinking about trying to go through the list more quickly.”

Finn’s big objection was that going through Jamie’s list would drag on for years, and I could see his point. Now that I was starting to cross off more items, I was feeling motivated to keep going.

“How quickly?” Molly asked.

“A year? Maybe less?”

She thought about it for a moment. “It’s ambitious. Do you think it’s even possible?”

The biggest item on Jamie’s list had been the restaurant. It had also been the item requiring the most money. For the others, I mostly needed time. Luckily, some items I’d already set in motion.

“I think so. A year is going to be a push, but if I make the list a higher priority, I might be able to wrap up everything before Jamie’s birthday.” That would give me until New Year’s Day.

“Well, you know I’ll help with whatever I can.”

“Thank you.”

She moved her finished rolls of silverware into the tub. “You haven’t eaten yet. Why don’t you head back to the kitchen and I’ll finish up out here?”

I glanced at my watch. 7:49. “We survived the first day. I think I’ll head back and make a sandwich. I’m starv—”

The front door swooshed opened. Damn. I spoke too soon.

Turning to the door, I smiled, ready to greet my late-evening customer, but faltered as the door closed behind him.

Cole Goodman was walking my way.

My belly dipped as I took him in. His aviator sunglasses were perched on top of his chocolate-brown hair. A black polo stretched across his broad shoulders and pulled tight across his muscled arms. His pale-blue jeans molded to his Herculean thighs before draping down to his black, square-toed boots. The leather belt on Cole’s trim waist held both a shining badge and a holstered gun.

Cole smiled and locked his light-green eyes on mine as he crossed the room.

His straight, white teeth made my breath hitch—something that had happened last night more times than I wanted to admit.

Molly, who had turned around from her seat to greet our customer, spun around so her back was to Cole. Her cheeks flushed as she whispered, “Wow.”

Wow was right.

Cole Goodman was—simply put—gorgeous.

He could give a woman a speeding ticket and get a thank-you in return. He inspired women to attempt push-ups in a karate class just for the chance to watch him sweat through his gi. Cole made grown women blush like teenagers and giggle in corners, like those girls at the dojo last night.

Besides Jamie, I’d never seen a man so handsome. And if I were being honest with myself, Cole had even Jamie beat.

The blush in my cheeks paled as a knot of guilt settled in my stomach. I loved Jamie. Jamie had been a gorgeous man too. And as his wife, I shouldn’t be attracted to another man.

My smile turned to a frown the moment Cole stepped up to our table.

“Hey, Poppy.”

“Hi, Cole.”

His smile fell. “You don’t look happy to see me again.”

“Again?” Molly asked.

Cole looked down to my friend and held out his hand. “Cole Goodman. I ran into Poppy at the karate school last night.”

“Oh!” She stood and took his hand. “I’m Molly Alcott. Nice to meet you. Poppy was just telling me about your karate class.” She turned to me. “But she didn’t tell me she’d been bragging up the restaurant.”

“I wasn’t—”

“Actually, I heard about this place online,” Cole said. “I saw Poppy’s name and decided to check it out.” He looked my way. “I hope you don’t mind.”

“No. Not at all.” I stood, shaking off my strange feelings. I couldn’t afford to turn away customers, even if they were handsome and made me feel uncomfortable things.