“Because I knew you wouldn’t be happy.”

To that his father had nothing to say. Ethan told himself it was better that way. At least heated words weren’t spoken—words that couldn’t be taken back.

And to be honest, his father might be right. When he got back to the firehouse and was around his buddies, everything might fall back in place. He might not long to have sandpaper or a hammer in hand. He might get caught up in his career again and not have time to think about Hannah. He wouldn’t know until he gave it all a chance. But he didn’t think there was anything that would help him get over her. She was unforgettable.

Chapter Twenty-eight

Days blurred into each other.

Hannah made sure each minute of each day was filled with work. Because when she stopped, she thought of Ethan and how much she missed him.

Not long after Ethan had left town, she’d asked Birdie for his mailing address. She’d thought of calling him, but she decided a thank you card was better. It gave her a chance to write out her feelings without getting all tongue-tied.

She’d apologized for the way things ended. The barn fire had gotten to her more than she’d been willing to admit. And he’d ended up getting the brunt of her emotions.

She let him know how much she loved the bakery and told him that he was extremely talented. And she included a check. It was her first payment for the chandelier all of her patrons complimented.

She wanted to tell him how desperately she missed him. That there were countless times she reached for her phone to tell him something, but each time she resisted the urge.

She entertained the thought of starting a long-distance relationship with him. It wouldn’t be ideal, but it would be so much better than this big gaping abyss where he’d once been.

But there was still the issue of him being a firefighter. Could she learn to live with him putting his life on the line every time he went to work?

She didn’t have an answer and she was so tired of questioning her actions, so she submerged herself in her work. At last, the bakery was cleaned from top to bottom. And yesterday afternoon she’d passed her inspection the first time—something she heard didn’t happen for everyone. Thankfully she was one of the lucky ones.

And now it was time for her to rush over to the Lily Pad to pick up the decals for the front door. The words The Elegant Bakery…everything to satisfy your sweet tooth were to be printed in black while encircling the silhouette of a cupcake in the center. It would be the finishing touch.

Hannah rushed out the door and headed down Main Street. She wondered what Ethan was doing now. Was he out on a fire call? The thought sent a wave of worry skittering through her.

She shoved the thought to the back of her mind. Instead she imagined him at his apartment. What would his apartment look like? Would it be messy? She didn’t think so. Ethan cleaned up the tools he’d borrowed and kept the toolbox organized. And while he’d lived across the hall from her, his place had always been neat enough.