Audrey’s heart hurt for the other woman.
“You just haven’t found the right one yet,” she said.“I mean, you’re gorgeous, you’re smart, you’re kind… any guy would be lucky to have you.You just have to choose the one you want.”
“If only.”Yasmine laughed, shaking her head sadly at the same time.“Somehow, I keep picking guys who aren’t right for me.Ones who are attracted to someone else.”There was something about the way she said it, putting a bit of emphasis onsomeone else,that made Audrey feel like Yasmine was trying to tell her something.
“Mason was cheating on you?”
“Oh, no.He would never do that.He’s loyal to the bone.But we didn’t have the right chemistry.I think he does have that chemistry with someone else.”
Again, the little emphasis onsomeone else, and now Yasmine was looking at Audrey so intently, it really did feel like she was trying to tell Audrey something.Like that Mason was attracted to her.Or was she reading way too much into this because that’s what she wanted to hear?And she wanted to think that maybe Yasmine would be okay with it?
“I’ve asked him to give me some time before I have to actually see him with her, although he could always make his move before then.”Yasmine shrugged, like she didn’t care, but the intensity of her eye contact with Audrey made it seem like she cared a lot more than her tone indicated.“The important thing is that I want him to be happy, even if I can’t be.”
Okay, seriously,wasshe giving Audrey tacit permission to accept Mason’s advances if he even made any?
Or was she speaking in general?
Audrey couldn’t ask, though, because what if she was wrong?What if she wasn’t doing that at all and got pissed that Audrey would think that she was?
Thankfully, Claudia was coming up behind Audrey, looking at the cupcakes still resting on the tray.She’d unbuttoned the top of her coat, letting the collar hang open to reveal the top of a red shirt.
“Ooh, what are those?”she asked, nodding at the cupcakes.
“Chocolate and orange cupcakes,” Audrey blurted out, relieved to have an interruption before she did something monumentally ridiculous, like asking Yasmine if she was hinting that Audrey should hook up with Mason.“Do you want one?On the house.”
A free guilt cupcake for Yasmine and a free ‘thank you for interrupting this conversation’ cupcake for Claudia.
“Sure.”
“Great, let me pack one up for you.”Which also meant that she didn’t have to look at Yasmine now.
“Thanks.”Claudia turned to Yasmine.“We should get going if we’re going to do lunch.”
“Yes, we should.”Yasmine smiled, the polite social smile that Audrey was starting to recognize as her default expression, though she wondered if it was a real smile.“It was good to see you, Audrey.Congratulations on the bakery officially opening.”
“Thank you.”Audrey smiled brightly as she handed the cupcake box over to Claudia.“I really appreciate you stopping by.”
They both wished her a great rest of the day before heading out.Audrey sagged slightly before looking over at her grandmother and Cassidy again and frowning.Mick had appeared while she was talking to Yasmine, and he was now sitting at the table next to her grandmother.
That wasn’t the problem.The problem was that her grandmother had her hand on Mick’s bicep and was rubbing it, leaning toward him to say something, while his head was bent toward hers, and Cassidy was staring at them both with a fascinated and horrified expression on her face.
They weren’t really flirting, were they?
ChapterEighteen
Mason
Going to Audrey’s bakery was not a big deal.
It was the grand opening.He’d been there yesterday for the soft opening.She was his closest friend’s little sister and now kind of his friend as well.It only made sense that he would go to support her on opening day.He doubted he would be the only one.
He was no longer engaged to Yasmine.There was no reason for the attraction to linger.
So why, as he made his way down the street, did it feel like his heart was racing?Why did his stomach feel a little queasy even though he’d had a healthy, nourishing lunch?Why did his palms feel sweaty when he wasn’t wearing gloves, and his hands weren’t in his pockets?
I’m being ridiculous.
Seeing the pink and cream awning sticking out over the sidewalk ahead of him, he gave himself a little shake.
