We’ve been a bit like two ships passing in the night of late. You’d think with working together at the bakery, we’d see plenty of each other. Yet, I tend to start the daily early, back in the kitchen. While Trevor does most of his accounting work remotely or at the front end of the shop.
We make a better team than I expected. There was no doubt the physical connection was there. And once we put aside our fears and went for it our relationship thrived. But the fact we’ve managed to work well together at the shop is the cherry on top. And business has been doing amazingly well.
Sure, I’d like to branch out and try some new things. Stretch myself now that business has been going well. But I don’t want to get so carried away that I rush things or destroy our relationship in the process. This is a marathon, not a sprint.
It’s helped having a steady income stream from regular customers. I’ve been able to broaden my horizons by collaborating with Tuesday to bring added revenue to both of our businesses. We’ve only had a few clients interested in a combined effort, my floral cupcakes to match the fresh flowers from her Cygnature Blooms shop. But slow and steady wins the race. Especially when my one full-time employee is busy putting out fires a few days a week.
Tuesday has honestly been a breath of fresh air. She is so innovative and hard working. She enjoys brainstorming new ideas as much as I do. And while her floral shop has done quite well for itself in the short time she’s lived here, she’s completely open to advertising our services together.
What’s more, she’s just a sweet girl. It’s nice to have another friend as genuine as Cece and Alden. No pretenses. Usually in a group of friends, there is always that one outlier. Either one of your boyfriend’s friends or their dates that rubs you the wrong way. But the boys of station 12 have long been like brothers to me. Even before Trevor came along. Add in that Alex, Matt, and Jason’s girls are all as down to earth as they get, and it feels like I’ve hit the boyfriendandgirlfriend jackpot.
“What are you thinking about over there, sassy?”
I look up to see Trevor leaning against the door frame, arms crossed, wearing his full turnout gear, complete with helmet. I’ll never get enough of looking at my man dressed in uniform. Fuck he’s hot. And all mine.
Dropping his arms by his sides, he saunters in my direction. One corner of his mouth lifts in a sexy smirk. “You keep looking at me like that and the fire alarms are going to go off.”
“Well, don’t tell my boyfriend. But I’m a sucker for a guy in uniform.”
The metallic ding of the bell over the front door sounds and old Mr. Franklin walks in with his postal sack draped over one arm.
“Mornin’,” he drawls as he deposits a few envelopes on the counter and turns toward the front door, scratching his ass as he exits.
“Okay, so maybe notthatguy in uniform.”
Trevor chuckles.
“What are you doing here?” I barely complete the question before the door swings wide again and the boys of station 12 burst through.
“Hey, Addy. What’s cooking?” Matt belts out. Wow. He seems awfully chipper this morning.
“Have some banana bread muffins in the oven.”
“Oh, the ones you put the cream cheese icing on?” Jason asks, hopefully.
“Yep. Those are the ones.”
Dave rubs his palms together, licking his lower lip. “Hey, I’ve been thinking about getting a side hustle going. How much do you pay taste testers?”
“Nothing. They pay us,” Trevor says before leaning down to kiss me.
This whole conversation is ludicrous, because it’s a well kept secret among these boys that Dave is independently wealthy. Hell, he doesn’t need to work at all. From what Trevor says, he’s not interested in the money. But admits he’s glad it’s there if a need arises.
“Why are you guys all dressed up? Was there a fire call this early?”
The guys give each other a nervous glance that has me curious.
“C’mon, what gives?”
“You promise not to say anything?” Jason asks. “Some photographer from Richmond was here and wanted to take an early morning shot of us. She’s thinking about putting together a firefighter calendar for charity.” Jason’s practically beaming with self-satisfaction. His girlfriend, Quinn, has shared on numerous occasions how difficult it was convincing him to join the efforts of the Magnolia Point calendar promotion before she moved here. But once he was onboard, he was posing like a pro. I can’t help but wonder if she might have pulled some strings to get something similar started here.
“So, were you guys all wearing your turnout gear or did she take any money shots?” I ask with a waggle of my brows.
“Ha. Funny you should ask. The only abs she photographed were hot shots,” Matt says, nodding in Trevor’s direction. I’m torn between and enormous sense of pride and feeling all stabby that some woman wanted to see my man topless and conveniently used her job to exploit the opportunity.
“Was there makeup or oiling involved in this photoshoot?” I ask Trevor, trying to sound as if this is all lighthearted banter. When in reality, I’m desperately trying to hide my possessiveness.
“No, but I’m willing to try that later.” My hackles start to rise until he pulls me against him and chuckles. He nuzzles my neck and I’m instantly reassured when he says, “With you, sassy. Only you.”
