Like Never Before by Melissa Tagg

the snow-salted outdoors. Moonlight slanted in to highlight the scowl on Owen’s face as he stopped and turned under a flickering lamppost. She hurried toward him. “I know you’re from the big city, Berry, but you can’t dine and dash in a small town.”
    â€œI just needed some air.” He huffed the words, crossing his arms and refusing to look her in the eye.
    Her steps slowed as she reached him. “What’s wrong with you? Do you hate my idea?”
    â€œIt’s not that.”
    â€œIs it that I invited everyone else tonight?”
    He peered down at her. “Yes. All right? Yes. Finally, after a year and a half of working with you, I go for it. I ask you out. And you invite the entire staff on our date.”
    â€œDate?” The word slipped out before she could stop it, enough disbelief embedded in it she couldn’t have masked her surprise if she’d wanted to. “You thought tonight was . . . a date?”
    And now it wasn’t only irritation in his expression, but embarrassment.
    â€œI didn’t realize . . . we hang out lots.”
    â€œRarely just the two of us. I went out of my way today to ask you and only you. You said, and I quote, ‘It’s a date.’”
    â€œThat’s an expression.” The reply did nothing to loosen his grimace. She lowered her voice. “You’re twenty-four, Owen. I’m six years older than you.”
    â€œWhich isn’t exactly May-December.”
    A chilly breeze slinked through the fabric of her lightweight coat and scuffed over her cheeks. “I’m flattered, really. But—”
    He cut her off with a raised hand. “Don’t.”
    She barreled on anyway. “But even if I had known what this was, you know the two of us wouldn’t work. You can’t wait toleave Maple Valley. You’re constantly saying you didn’t go into debt getting a degree in journalism to write about Division III sports and Little League forever. Me? I adore it here. I never want to move away.”
    Snowflakes dusted Owen’s shoulders and hair, disappointment lurking in his eyes. “Is it because of your divorce?”
    The flinch cut through her. Ridiculous, really. This many years after, she should be able to hear the word without feeling like the stitches in her heart were coming loose.
    â€œIs that why you’ve been oblivious to me? And the UPS man, who everyone knows is crazy about you? Oh, and that math teacher at the high school? You haven’t been on a date in the whole time I’ve known you.”
    â€œYou don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    â€œOf course I don’t. Because I barely know you. Because as much time as we’ve spent together, you never talk about your past. It’s all the paper and Maple Valley and how much you love snow and life in this weird town. I don’t know why I thought you’d let someone close enough to actually take you on a real date.” He turned.
    â€œOwen—”
    He brushed her off with a wave of his hand. Wind tugged strands of hair free from her ponytail as she watched him walk away, his steps scuffing through snow until he turned the corner.
    Oh, Owen.
    The sigh feathered through her. She’d hurt him. She’d hurt him, and she hated herself for it. He’d always been so sweet. Winsome. She’d just never looked at him like that.
    But he was wrong about her. So she didn’t talk about her life before Maple Valley. So what? She’d been a different person then.
    â€œAmelia?”
    She turned at the sound of Seth Walker’s voice. He stoodjust outside the restaurant’s bright red door, the words First National Bank still etched in cement overhead. “Everything okay? I saw you standing outside by yourself . . .”
    â€œUh, Owen had to leave. I was just saying ’bye.”
    â€œYour burger’s going to get cold. I can send