Reaching across the stone, I link our hands together, and he lifts his head. His calluses brush across my skin. They’d probably feel good all over my body too.
Focus Mae.
“What happened is not something you could have prepared her for.”
He sighs and runs the other hand through his hair. “I know, but I wish I could fix it.”
I start to tell him some things can only be fixed with time, but then he says, “Can we talk about something else?”
I shrug, even though I don’t want to talk about me or my work. I’m losing hope for the flower shop, and it’s not a topic I want to dwell on.
“Thank you, though,” he says, squeezing my hand.
“For?”
“For caring about her. It means a lot to me.”
I nod sheepishly. I do care, and it’s not out of obligation to Cooper.
“I feel like this cake has extra meaning to it now,” I say, slipping a bite between my lips.
Cooper looks between me and the cake.
“You have no idea,” he says, low.
My face gets hot, and I take a long drink of water. The tension building between us is so thick it’s almost suffocating.
“How’s the shop?” he asks.
I wince.
“That bad? How’s the lookbook?” he asks.
“I sent it today. They’ll either laugh at me through email, or I’ll land a partnership.”
“I’m sure you’ll get it.”
I shrug and take another bite. “I’m not holding my breath.”
“I have a good feeling about it,” he says.
I roll my eyes. “At least one of us does.”
“What can I do to help?” he asks.
I hum. “Tell me I’m pretty and not a failure.”
He laughs and stands up straighter. “Mae Morgan, you aregorgeousand you are certainlynota failure.”
“Thank you,” I say, flipping my hair.
“I mean it, Mae, what can I do to help?” he asks seriously.
My smile drops. “I don’t know because I don’t know what I’m doing. Hopefully, the venue likes what I sent them. Patience is the key,” I say.
With the cake gone, Cooper tosses the container and puts the forks in the dishwasher.
“When do you have to go home?” I ask, admiring his butt in Wranglers.
