Yet, being broke in Rescue had sure ended her isolation. Her jobs here required more than a polite, efficient librarian—Dante and Bull expected her to be friendly.

She couldn’t even hole up to do research—not with an internetless cabin…and people talked to her in the coffee shop.

Then, after talking the town into reopening the library, well, she had to prove how essential the place was. And it was working. More and more people came into the library. Had her order their favorite movies. Talked about books. Asked her help in selecting children’s stories.

Then there was Knox. Satisfaction bloomed in her heart. He’d already mastered the alphabet. He was so much smarter than he believed, and she was proud of him. And he was changing as he viewed himself in a different light.

In the same way, her self-image had improved. After years of believing a nerd could never be accepted, she’d become a part of this town. They liked her.

How could she go back to being lonely?

And…she stared down at the cake batter. Her way of telling Gabe she loved him.

How could she leave him?

I don’t want to.

Could she stay? Would he want her to?

He’d said he loved her, and oh, God help her, she loved him so very much.

She swiped up some cake batter and licked it off her finger. Could a helping of sugar make a girl braver? Somehow, she needed to summon up her courage and actually tell the man.

“I love you.” She cringed at hearing herself say the words. Last time, when she’d blurted it out, her boyfriend had laughed at her. Because he’d been planning to leave and had already found a perfect status-enhancing girlfriend. “I need someone at my side who likes people.” With two sentences, he’d shattered her ego.

Gabe wouldn’t do that. He wouldn’t.

Would he?

No, she knew him better. Mr. Terse and Honest sure wouldn’t say he loved her if he didn’t.

He wants me to stay. Me, the nerd. He could have the gorgeous Brooke, but he’d chosen Audrey.

He’d change his mind; surely he would, and break her heart.

But what if he didn’t? Could she risk it?

She had to. She’d tell him. She would.

And then the front door opened. Gabe walked in, scattering her willpower to the winds.

“Um. Hi.”

He stopped, his eyes narrowing. “Sweetheart, you’re flushed.”

“It’s the heat of the oven. I’m making you a cake.”

Imitating her action, he swiped a fingerful of batter, ate it with a hum of pleasure, and turned his body to trap her against the counter.

“Gabe.”

His kiss was sugar-sweet before he pulled back and murmured, “The oven isn’t on, Audrey. Now answer me honestly, why do you look shaken up?”