1. LEO
In the community center, I sat behind the computer, tapping away and filling information into the spreadsheet boxes. Town mayor, Oliver Johnson was sitting on the sofa in the office, brushing his arms across the plush leather, a big smile on his face.
“Tell me more,” he said.
“There’s nothing more to tell you,” I said, pulling my hands away from the keyboard. “But he let me taste his buttercream.”
Oliver squealed, slamming his hand on the arm of the sofa. “That better be a euphemism, Leo, otherwise I’ll be very disappointed.”
I dipped my head to the desk, pretending to bash it. “I only went to see him because he’d put his details down as being interested in helping provide food for the end of summer festival.” I glanced up at the screen. There were a lot of people interested, and I was organizing the entire thing.
“When he came by the town hall, he seemed pretty excited about wanting to really integrate himself into the community,” Oliver said. “Who knows, maybe he’s the right fit for you. You know how magical Pineberry can be at the end of summer.”
Now I really wanted to bash my head against the desk. This town was my savior, and every single day I woke up thankful I was able to be part of it. But in all the years—I’ve of them so far—everyone else had managed to get coupled up and find their future long-term Daddies, and I was still pining after men who were inevitably straight or had zero interest in treating the side of me I wasn’t going to neglect any longer. My littleside. In truth, I’d not been neglecting it, but it was where past relationships were concerned.
“Maybe you should invite him over,” Oliver said, heaving himself out of the leather sofa that really liked to eat you alive with some lethal sinkage. “Do a cupcake tasting, and who knows, maybe this time you can get a taste of hisotherbuttercream.”
“He already asked if I wanted to do a tasting,” I said, bringing my head up from the desk. And he was right there.
Henry Whitaker was handsome. No, not just handsome, those piercing green eyes like sparkling emeralds almost sent me into shock when he made direct eye contact with me. He had a slight beard and wore the tightest white shirt I think he could find.
“He’s right there,” I whispered as Oliver got closer to me.
A clink on the glass of the door made me freeze, and even though he could see me, I didn’t know what to do. Oliver didn’t seem to be affected in the same way and invited Henry into the office.
“Nice office,” he said, walking inside with two large stacked boxes balancing in one hand. “I’m still trying to get a feel for the town and I... I think having you—youbothin fact—for a tasting would help me nail it. So, what do you say?”
“I say, I have to go do some official town hall stuff, but Leo knows this town so well I think he’ll be able to tell you what works,” Oliver said.
I knew he was being a wingman, but I didn’t want to break my own heart. Henry was a nice guy, and not married, I’d already asked that when I saw him without a ring. He also hadn’t mentioned a girlfriend, or boyfriend. Or anyone in fact.
“Let’s go into the kitchen,” I said. “Thisisn’tmy office, it’s the manager’s. I was just using the computer.”
“Right, right,” he said, still carrying those two boxes with ease on one hand. “Lead the way, Leo, and I don’t want you tohold any punches. Just give it to me. Whatever you’ve got to say, I want to know.”
There wasn’t a mean bone in my body. I could be a little catty sometimes, and competitive, especially when it came to opening blind boxes of my favorite Sublime teddies, but I could never tell someone to their face I hated something they’d put hard work into.
The community center was open to the public. It had a small computer lab, a large events hall, and a kitchen attached, and we often held big dinners for the public, especially around the holidays when some people didn’t have family to visit. Pineberry Falls was one big family, and we really meant that.
Summer was also prime time for hosting event days that kept the local kids occupied and out of their parents’ hair. Today was one of the days they were out on a walk with Missy and Ulrick, some college students who worked here during summer.
In the kitchen, Henry sat the boxes on the counter, pulling back the cardboard to reveal eighteen cupcakes in total. Nine in each. Each one was different.
“You’ve got chocolate, regular vanilla, and some red velvet,” he said. “Buttercream is mostly different as well. You can probably taste and let me know.”
I nodded. “Okay, they all look incredible. I don’t want to eat any of them.”
He laughed. “Well, I don’t expect you to eat them all. And you don’t have any allergies, do you?”
“Not that I know of, but we can find out.” I giggle-snorted.
Henry’s face turned to stone. “Oh, well, that sounds a bit dangerous.”
“It’s fine. I don’t have any allergies, and we have first aid kit with an EpiPen in it,” I said.
“I was reading up about nut-free and vegan cupcakes in case people wanted those. I mean, I don’t know how I’d do veganbecause I’m not like professionally trained or anything, but I’m sure I could,” he said. “You’re not vegan, are you?”
“No, but it’s nice to know you ask those questions.”
