How should Gracie answer that? How would she respond to that if shedidn’thave a date with the man in less than five minutes? Diplomatically, that’s how.
“Well, I’ve certainly lost a few calorie-conscious customers, but that’s fine.”
“Is it?” the other woman challenged. “I mean, I can’t believe people would eat his raw honey oatmeal horrors when there’s…this.”
“Don’t knock the honey and oatmeal,” she said, forcing a smile. “Marshall’s incredibly talented in the kitchen.”
Bianca widened her eyes, looking down. “And elsewhere,” she murmured.
Gracie’s cheeks were pretty much a five-alarm fire with that comment, but Bianca didn’t see as she whipped out a credit card, looked at it and stuck it back in her wallet. With a huffed sigh, she grabbed a twenty-dollar bill.
“Keep the change, Grace.”
Gracie just kept on smiling and thanked her, resisting the urge to mention that tipping wasn’t necessary. “I’ll bring you coffee. Sugar and cream?”
“Yes, please. Lots of both.”
She whisked away to the table with a tray of treats, that white coat fluttering in her wake. Gracie turned to get the coffee, but Amanda was back.
“I got it, boss.” She jabbed a light elbow into Gracie’s side. “You go…wherever you’re going looking so pretty.”
Glancing at the front window, she spotted Marshall crossing the street, wearing a leather bomber jacket over dark trousers. He’d changed, too, which really made her feel good.
But…what about Bianca? The woman was halfway through the cupcake, eyes on her phone. Maybe they could get out unseen?
Marshall pulled open the door and strolled in, dark eyes leveled on Gracie as she slipped out from behind the counter. She’d barely come around when he lifted both hands to give her a hug.
“Hey, gorgeous,” he said in a low voice. “You ready?”
She took a hesitant step closer, inhaling sharply, entirely unsure how to handle the situation. He didn’t give her a choice, closing the space with a hug that could have been between friends or colleagues…or a couple.
As she lightly hugged him back, Gracie glanced to her right to find Bianca staring right at them.
She stiffened and inched back. “You’ll never guess who’s?—”
“Marshall?” Bianca rose and came toward them, her long legs eating up the black-and-white checkered floor in less than four strides.
He whipped around, his whole relaxed posture instantly on alert.
“Oh…Bianca. I thought you were…” He looked beyond her, then around. “Do you have Olivia?”
“No, no. She’s still at that…that Snowbird place.” She glanced at Gracie, her gaze lingering with a whole different level of interest. “Your mother’s little lodge.”
Was everythinglittleto this woman? Certainly not her ego.
“And you’re just…” Marshall looked confused. “Here?”
“Well, I hit up a few cute stores and then I saw this precious bakery. You didn’t mention that Olivia’s friend’s mom owns this place.”
“We didn’t talk about it.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t say something while I was taking a tour of your bakery,” Bianca said, pressing her hands together. “Gracie, have you seen it? The way he makes healthy food look so good and all the busy things in the kitchen. He’s come so far from the football field and I’m so proud of him.”
Gracie managed not to roll her eyes, but it wasn’t easy. Every word that came out of her mouth sounded disingenuous.
Marshall replied with a quick, tight smile. “We should go,” he said to Gracie, reaching out his hand for hers and making zero effort to hide…well, anything.
Bianca’s gaze dropped to their joined hands, then rose back to Gracie’s face.
