“I think I’ll be fine. Maybe if you could grab the door?”

“Sure thing.” He flashes the smile that worked on me so long ago. It seems genuine, and I’d like to think that it is, but I’m not so sure. He is an actor. And I’d thought I was special to him once only for him to stab me in the back.

Josh crosses the room with Dave, and holds the door open for him before heading back to the counter.

He sits on the stool and picks up his spoon. “Do you know what I like about your mother’s apple pie, Amelia?”

She screws up her nose. “What?”

He runs his spoon across the crust. “Well, the crust is nice enough. It’s not too tough, and it’s perfectly cooked. And the apple’s not mushy; it’s soft and yet firm. But the best bit?”

I want to look away, but he fixes his intense gaze on me.

“The best bit is that it’s sweet, but just a hint of sour. I love the sweet. Don’t get me wrong. But the sour is what keeps me coming back. I love the way it gently bites and keeps you wanting more.”

I suck in a breath, and he holds me in his sights for the longest time.

“I like the ice cream.” Amelia beams.

Josh chuckles. “You know what? I do, too.”

He ruffles her hair, and she laughs, and all it does is infuriate me.

His gaze shifts back to me, and I look away. I can’t watch them together. It hurts way too much.

We could have had all of this. A life together. A family. Instead I dealt with all the blows alone while he grew rich and famous.

And now he’s waltzed in here as if nothing’s happened.

I want him to leave.

I want him to stay.

What will happen when he leaves town? Will he forget we ever existed?

I should intervene and make him go before Amelia gets too attached. But how can I do that with the way she watches him, entranced by the sight as he joins her eating pie and ice cream?

She’s twisted around his little finger. I always knew she would be.

“Hey, Delaney,” he says.

I meet his gaze. “What?”

“Are you sure your favourite Canadian is Ryan Reynolds?” he asks.

I shrug. “What can I say? Deadpool won me over.”

“Huh.” He smiles. “Guess I’ll have to work at regaining my title.”

“I’m not sure that’s possible.” I sigh. “Ryan is pretty damn hot.”

His eyebrows rise.

“Very, very hot.” I shoot him a smug smile, all the while knowing it won’t be Ryan I’m thinking about tonight in bed. But he doesn’t need to know that.

“I’ll work really hard then.”