Free Deserving Love: A Contemporary Romance Series (Nick & Lexi Book 1) by Kay Brody Page B

from somewhere up north, Ohio or Pennsylvania or something, and it showed when he spoke. I was used to the thick drawl that came with the southern boys, not the northern sound of his thick and deep voice.  
    “It’s probably not,” I admitted. “Especially considering the knives are back here.”
    “Back away from the cutlery, Alexis,” he teased.  
    “So what type of coffee would you like?”  
    “Hot and full of caffeine,” he grinned.  
    “You are in luck,” I went to grab a cup. “We have hazelnut, chocolate mint and standard.”
    “What do you think I’d like?” he was making this difficult.  
    “You seem like a straight black coffee kind of guy to me,” I told him honestly. “But they are all good.”
    “Then surprise me,” his voice took on a lighthearted tone. “Show me how to get away from boring.”
    “The suit has to go.”
    “Here? Now?” He chuckled. “Wouldn’t that be awkward?”
    “I meant in general,” I rolled my eyes at his lame joke. “Definitely not here and now.”
    “So suits are boring down here, huh?” his puzzled expression made me laugh. “Not big on success?”
    “Not big on flaunting money,” I disagreed. “Suits are for weddings, funerals and salesmen.”
    “I see,” He nodded, taking the cup. “I don’t have much else.”
    “What you wore to the community meeting was perfect,” the words slipped out before I could stop them.  
    “Really?” I saw the grin take over his face. “And here I thought you hated me.”
    “I do,” I stumbled for words as I felt my face flush. “I mean I did.”
    “But you don’t now?”
    “I don’t know really,” I confessed. “Let’s just have our coffee.”
    I made my way around the counter and we sat at the same table Kendall and I had occupied not long before that. Almost immediately, Evan began to talk. He shared how he had spent the previous night trying to decide what he’d done wrong. I told him that trying to bring in retail shopping to a small community was the start.  
    Over our coffee and platter of candy Evan opened up about his life. He’d never really had anyone serious. Women tended to blow him off when he worked as much as he did. He’d come here to change his life and it definitely had. He wanted the people to accept him and didn’t think he stood a very good chance anymore.  
    As he talked I found myself seeing him in a slightly different light. He was still the cocky asshole that had tried so hard to ruin my town. He was still the ego filled douche that had thought a smile, wink and dinner invitation would sweep me off of my feet. But there was something softer about him. Something that just wanted to be liked. I couldn’t quite put my finger on what it was. I just knew that I was seeing something different and it was something that I kind of liked.  
    I told him about my life, family and the reasons I chose to open a candy shop. I talked a lot about my love of Asheville and the mountains of North Carolina in general. I even told him of some of my favorite nearby places to spend a day. He seemed really interested in the Blue Ridge Parkway and Pisgah Forest and hinted at the possibility of me showing him both.  
    Our small and quick coffee date ended up stretching out for quite some time. I had to refill the cups several times. The third time, I stood and walked toward the counter. I saw him pick up his phone. Something about the gesture caught my attention. I knew that he didn’t really have many local friends and I wondered if maybe he was seeing someone.  
    Sitting back down, I asked what brought him to North Carolina other than business.  
    “I needed a change of scenery,” he told me, sipping at another cup of the hazelnut blend. “I came here to check out the area for work and I really liked it. Made me want to stay.”
    “Still feel that way?” I laughed. “After all that has happened.”
    “Yes,” he smiled. “I hope to win everyone over.”
    “How do you plan to