Brad
Oh, baby girl, I’m handy in a lot of places
I literally facepalm myself as heat floods my cheeks.
“I’m just going to lock up,” I hear Rose holler from the hallway, making me look up for a second.
“No problem,” I call back, looking down at the screen again.
Me
Does that mean I get to boss you around?
Brad
It’s your bakery so why the hell not? Also, I have some news on the building
My heart literally thuds. On both accounts — his sexy talk, and this beloved building I can’t buy. And is it just me, or is Brad suddenly being all cute and flirty with me?
Me
Well you know where I’ll be if you fancy a croissant
Another facepalm of the century, but I’ve already hit send. Is something wrong with me?I’ll be here if you fancy a croissant?
Brad
That sounds mouthwatering. See you in an hour or so
I stare at the stream of messages between us and lean back on the wall again, totally forgetting about the pecans and whatever else I’m meant to be in here for. But I know I need to screw my head back on and help Rose clean up so she can head home for the night and I can have a clear head to think about Brad coming over tohelpin the kitchen. That may just mean I need to run upstairs and check my appearance, something I haven’t really worried about with him in the past. And I guess I’m not worried about it now, but I don’t really want cake batter stuck in my hair or have flour on my face that I’m not aware of. He might think that’s cute — he said he liked me smelling likethe bakery after all — but after being in the kitchen since six a.m. this morning, my bakery scent could be a little overkill.
Making a little extra effort, even if I’m going to be up to my elbows in buttercream for the remainder of the night, never hurt anyone.
After Rose leaves, I decide to quickly jump in the shower and change into some fresh clothes and a clean apron. I even dab my cheeks with some blush and swipe on some tinted lip balm, and spray my favorite vanilla scented perfume for good measure.
All ridiculous of course, because we were just messing around at soccer and none of it meant anything. I don’t need to be getting all giddy over him coming to help, something he hasn’t really done before. But there’s a little flickering flame inside me that’s already lit, and it isn’t going to listen to any of my rationale, no matter how hard I try.
No siree. Rationale seems to have left the building, along with everything else.
Chapter Sixteen
BRADLEY
When I get to the bakery, it looks like a flour bomb went off and coated everything in its path. Lined on the counter are trays of freshly baked muffins, croissants, and what appears to be the makings of caramel slices. This woman isn’t just superwoman, she’s a fucking saint.
“Holy shit,” I say, taking in my surroundings. “It looks like you’ve been at it for hours in here.”
She doesn’t even look up from icing some cupcakes.Mycupcakes? “Bradley, thank god!”
I move toward her. “You really are inundated, what the hell happened?”
“Well, my weekend baker is down with the flu, Mom and Dad aren’t back until the end of next week, and Rose only works the afternoons, so I’ve no choice but to start now, even though I’m getting up at four o’clock to start again.”
I tilt her chin, and she stops what she’s doing momentarily. “Breathe,Baby Girl,no point getting that pretty head in a tizzy. I might have lied a little about my baking skills, but I can wield a piping bag like nobody’s business. Allow me?”
I feel bad she’s baking some of these goods for me. Here I was thinking that I was doing a good deed by sending her business,not realizing that it would put her under pressure and have her getting up at four a.m.
“I can do it,” she insists.
