“She controls every aspect of Caro’s life.”

Calculating the dates quickly in my head, I replied, “But Caro’s twenty-two now.”

“Aye. But she’s lived with that woman for most of her life. I’ve tried my best. My mum has tried her best, but she’s got this grip on Caro.” The anger dimmed from his eyes, leaving only the melancholy. “I’m the closest thing she’s ever had to a best friend . . . She’s tried but her aunt always managed to chase off her friends. And she’s never had a boyfriend. Helena takes religion to the extreme, and she’s filled Caro’s head with all this toxic stuff about purity and what it means to be a ‘good girl.’ It’s all bullshit. It’s all meant to keep Caro living in that house, looking after the old cow into her dotage.”

Indignation for Caroline simmered inside me as I remembered how shy she’d been. I glanced at her beautiful cupcakes.

“That’s just the tip of the icing.” Roane gestured to them. “The lass is a born baker. Everything that comes out of her kitchen is heaven on a plate.”

“She should be working at the bakery then. Or opening her own!”

His eyes twinkled at my passionate exclaim. “Aye, but you try telling her that. I’ve offered to get her a place of her own, to break away from that woman and start living her life. But she won’t. She’s trapped by guilt.”

We fell into a companionable silence as I pondered Caroline’s situation. Maybe I could talk to Caroline. Roane was perhaps too close. Besides, he was a guy. It was presumptuous to assume a stranger could have more success than her closest relative, but maybe Caroline needed encouragement from an independent, mature woman who lived alone. I could show her how great it was. Plus, praise from a stranger about her baking was always better than support from family. The bias was removed.

“I can practically hear your thoughts turning,” Roane commented, his gaze roaming my face. “I’m not even going to tell you not to do whatever you’re thinking about doing.”

It was a little unnerving how quickly he was beginning to understand me. “I’ll be gentle,” I teased.

Something dark, hot, flashed in his eyes, and he quickly looked away.

Tension immediately sprung between us, and I scrambled to think of something to say to defuse it.

Roane beat me to it. “What are you doing for dinner?”

Grateful for the subject change, I replied, “Well, I was going to see what they had at the convenience store. I haven’t booked a rental yet to go to the supermarket.”