“Big plans for the day?” Dad askedwhile I decided what to do about Killian’s message.
“Not really. I need to pay somebills and head to the commissary to do inventory. Oh, and manage my Facebookads. And decide on next week’s menu. I should make a trip back to the truck anddo some deep cleaning before it gets out of control. At some point, I need anew pair of work pants. I still haven’t found a bakery to work with either. Ishould swing by a few more today and drop off my card.”
He stared at me with his cup halfwayto his mouth. “I thought today was your day off?”
“It is. That’s why I finally havetime to do all the things I’ve needed to do for weeks.”
He snickered, turning his attentionback to the paper. “When you were a little girl you just couldn’t wait to growup. Remember that?”
I rinsed my empty cup and put it inthe dishwasher. “Why didn’t you warn me?”
“I could have, of course. But thatwould have spoiled all the fun.”
“Who’s having fun?”
He smiled at me, his grin stretchingwide across hisstubbledface. “Me.”
I just rolled my eyes and put thecreamer away. Since I really did have a ton to do today, I kissed him on thetop of his shiny head and hurried to get ready.
My hair was a mess after sleeping onit wet, so I sprayed a half bottle of product on it and hoped for the best. Ithrew on a navy blue romper, with spaghetti straps and a bright orange belt togive it a pop of color. Rompers were a nightmare when it came to peeing, but Ionly had a couple more weeks of real summer and Sundays were one of the fewdays I didn’t have to dress for work- even if I would be working the entireday.
After I’d brushed my teeth, appliedminimal makeup and pulled my hair into a loose braid over my shoulder, Igrabbed my phone and headed for my car.
Killian had called an Uber lastnight just like he’d promised and then he’d kissed me thoroughly until itarrived. My belly flipped just thinking about the way he pressed me against myfront door and used his very talented tongue to drive me crazy.
I sat in my driver’s seat tappingthe back of my phone, deciding what to do. Had I changed my mind about dating?After last night, everything felt different.
I felt different.
Opening up to Killian had beenfreedom I didn’t realize I needed, but did that change my decision to besingle? I still had goals.
Foodie took up almost all of mytime. AndLilouwas even worse for Killian. We didn’treally have time to pursue anything real.
Besides, as amazing as he’d beenlast night, I’d promised myself I would never date another chef again. Itwasn’t that I expected all of them to be violent psychopaths. But it wasn’t asecret that Killian was arrogant, dominating and driven. The last thing Iwanted to do was jump feet first into another unhealthy relationship.
I didn’t want to put myself inanother position to be trampled or forgotten about. I didn’t want to evercompromise my dreams for someone else’s again.
So, why did I pick up my phone andcall Killian like he asked?Er, demanded.
Because obviously, my heart was atraitor that refused to listen to reason.
He picked up on the third ring anddidn’t bother with hello. “Did you just get up?”
“I’m actually on my way to thecommissary. I need to check inventory for the next week before I go back toMorning Market.”
“You’re working today?” I could hearclanking in the background, voices calling to each other in an open space. Hewas already atLilou.
“I’m catching up on everything,” Itold him. “Are you working today?”
I heard the smile in his voice whenhe answered, “I work every day. How long is that going to take you?”
I calculated everything I had to do,deciding to swing by Target first since it was on my way. “Two hours. Maybethree.”
“Do you want to swing byLilouafterward for some lunch?”
I bit my bottom lip, trying torestrain my smile. “Are you asking me instead of telling me?”
His voice dropped to a low rumblethat did wicked things to my resolve. “Don’t tempt me, woman. I have no problemtelling you to get your ass over here. I’m not good at being nice, Vera.”
