"What's ahh?"
"That you'd be decorating the cookies. With your talent, I bet you'll be able to do it quickly and with perfection." I swear if I were a bird, I’d be preening my feathers right now at his compliment.
"I mean—" I give a small shrug. Why do I get all shy with him about things? It should annoy me, but a part of me enjoys it. Everything is so different when it comes to him. I tie my apron on.
Rosemary pops her head out of her office. "I have a station all set up for you. I'm on the phone with my accountant, and shit's messed up. So not the day for this." I can tell she's frazzled. "I bake. The only numbers I do are in measurements."
"What's the issue? Maybe I could help," Pierce interjects. I lift my brows.
"He knows numbers, or so I've been told," I tell Rosemary. "He's loaded, so he must be pretty good with them.”
"Okay, I'm desperate." She waves Pierce into her office. I go over to my station where all the cookies are laid out and the icing is ready. I'm only a couple cookies in when Rosemary comes out of her office, her eyes wide.
"What?"
"I guess the accountant fucked up. I was sure it was on me." She nods toward her office. "That man is snapping everyone into place," Rosemary says with a giant smile on her face. "I'm going to set up a display out front."
When she exits the kitchen, I step over to the office and hear Pierce laying into whomever is on the phone. His voice is sharp and commanding. He has a whole other demeanor and tone. It's hot as hell. I can’t help but wonder what it would be like if he used that tone on me. I need to knock it off and get back to work.
The more I learn about Pierce Harte, the more I realize I'm going to fall madly in love with him. I pray his name isn't a prophecy I need to worry about.
Chapter Twenty
PIERCE
Iwasn’t dreading tagging along with Tinsley today, but I also didn’t think I would enjoy it as much as I have. Even after I’d wrapped up things in Rosemary’s office, I tried to help decorate the cookies, and that was a freaking mess. Nonetheless, it was fun, and any time I get to spend with Tinsley doing everyday things is a plus.
Tinsley teased me the whole time and moved me over to dish duty pretty quickly, which wasn't bad either. She was still in range for me to talk to, and it was only baking pans and trays. Then we dropped off a few of the orders for Rosemary before swinging by the diner to grab food for a few people, dropping that off too.
We ended up at an older woman’s home where Tinsley caught up with her, keeping her company before we straightened up around her place. I was sent on a pharmacy and grocery run.
I have to admit that I never thought I’d enjoy doing these little tasks, but that’s exactly what I’ve done today. I’m sure most of it has to do with Tinsley, but I can’t deny that the small-town charm of New Hope has its grip on me.
We’re currently at the salon, where my girl has a few clients that booked appointments to get their nails done. Word spreadabout me helping at the bakery, and now I've been wrangled into the salon office. There isn't anything wrong with the books, but I was asked to check things over, which I'm glad I did.
This town is bursting at the seams. They need more room, not a freaking giant ski resort, but I see potential for the possibility of a small resort, and they need it and a few other things. I wonder if Hollis would send me over some of the cities' numbers.
"Can you get the door?" Tinsley asks from the table she's at while doing a third person's nails. I glance over to the door of the salon but don't see anyone there. That is until my eyes drop lower, and I see a cat.
"Is that the famous Mittens?" I ask as I open the door to let the fluffy cat enter.
"That's her. She can be dramatic."
"More dramatic than you?" I tease my wife.
"She gives me a run for my money." I love how easy the banter between Tinsley and me has become throughout the day. She seems to be warming up to the idea of me being her husband. Or maybe that’s just wishful thinking on my part.
Mittens prances with her tail high, flicking around. You'd think she was the city building inspector with how she checks everything over before getting a few snacks.
I am simply enjoying Tinsley and the town. This place is Hallmark movie shit. It's worlds away from the life I've known. None of the work we've done today thus far felt like work at all. There is an easiness here. I see how Hollis has settled into the town.
"I need to post a few pictures, and then hop over to City Hall. Then I'm done for the day."
When she opens her social media, she is logged into her honey-trap account. There are a million alerts and messages.She ignores them and signs out and into her real one, posting the pictures of the nails she did.
Advertising has shifted drastically over the last decade with social media pushing to the forefront. That whole world is fascinating, but I still find myself leery. It wouldn't be hard for someone to take you down going off a few pictures alone.
It has me wondering how many men did Tinsley give a rightful kick in the nuts? Should I find out and see if there are any threats that linger past Biff?
