“Uh. Yes. Right. Thanks.”
A bead of sweat drops off my face. I need to get out of this kitchen. It’s too hot. I’m losing my ability to rationally think. He bends over, plugging the cord into the wall, and I stare at his ass. It’s not every day there’s a hot former SEAL crawling around on my floor. Bennett’s been stopping by the bakery every day for the last few weeks along with Ridge and a few other guys. The two of us have never shared more than a few simple sentences back and forth over my counter. This is too much. I’m minutes from overheating.
“Did you hear the door? I think I heard the door?” I mumble doing my best not to run out of the kitchen. I make it to freedom with a quick pace.
For some reason — probably God’s continued punishment — Bennett follows right behind me. “Isn’t there a bell on the door?”
Oh for freak’s sake. “Sometimes…it sticks.”
“Really? I’ll have Mack bring a new one later today.”
Why God? Why? Mack is the owner of the hardware store in town. The hot owner of the hardware store. The ladies love to wander in and talk about him every day. The bakery is their next stop after they peruse his shelves. And the ladies in this town have an unnatural requirement for home improvement items.
Plus, Bennett makes it sound like he’s here to stay for a year. Ridge told him to “look the place over” and trust me when I say Bennett has been very thorough.
“Is that a blueberry muffin?” he asks, his finger touching the clear glass at the back of my display counter.
The blueberry sold out during the morning rush. “No, it’s bran.”
He pulls his fingers away like the muffin burned him. “No wonder you have so many left.”
I crinkle my nose at his comment, even though he has a point. For a town full of old people, they do not care about getting their daily fiber intake.
“I’m out of blueberry. They sell fast every morning.” In fact, so well tomorrow’s plan is to scrap the bran muffins and make extra blueberry.
“That’s okay. You can save me one tomorrow morning.”
Tomorrow morning?
“You think you’ll take that long? Isn’t Ridge walking the money to the police station and filling out a report?”
Bennett laughs so hard my cheeks turn pink. I feel stupid, like I’m missing some joke. He takes a seat at one of mismatched chairs on the other side the bakery. Tabitha, Katy, and I painted all the chairs in the bakery a few months ago, but the teal color on this particular one has started to rub in certain areas. They will need another coat soon. Maybe a sealer.
When he sees I’m not laughing along with him, Bennett does a few fake coughs and settles down. “Yeah, Ridge doesn’t work that way.”
“What way?”
“Once he takes on a case he sees it through to the end.”
My heart continues to beat at a high enough rate it can’t be good for my health. When did this become a case? That can’t be a good sign. The whole situation is out of control.
My mouth hangs open ready to ask Bennett for the definition of “case,” but the phone on the wall to my right rings. It’s an old phone, one of those with a rotary dial on the front. The lime green color faded in some spots, but it functions and came with the place, so I’m not complaining.
“Pelican Bay Bakery,” I answer with the generic greeting Tabitha and I came up with. I need to name this place or else the lackluster calling will stick.
There’s static on the other end of the line, like someone brushed across the receiver with a piece of clothing. “What happened to Kevin?”
Well this can’t be good. “He doesn’t rent the place anymore.”
“What do you mean he doesn’t rent the place anymore?”
I stare in Bennett’s direction with huge wide eyes, but it doesn’t get his attention. He watches a slow trickle of people meandering down Main Street. “I mean, he moved.”
Even with my raised voice Bennett doesn’t glance in my direction.
“What where did he move to?” The voice raises in irritation.
I slowly and quietly slide open the display case door and grab a bran muffin. Using an overhand toss I perfected in high school softball, I lob the muffin at Bennett’s head. It makes contact, bounces off the top of his ear and lands on the floor. Bennett jumps up and the teal chair falls to the floor behind him with a clatter that echoes through the empty store front.
