He leaves.
The bell jingles.
The door shuts.
There is a beat of silence.
Then…
“Oh my God,” Gwen screams. She grabs my shoulders. “Tess, you just interviewed a hot, rich man and sent him away like a stray cat.”
“I did not.”
“You told him to go think about it. Who are you?”
“He needs to be serious.”
“He is serious,” Gwen says. “He looked like a golden retriever who just got told to sit.”
“Do not anthropomorphize him,” I say, laughing.
“I absolutely will. Also, if he comes back, I get to train him.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Yes,” she says smugly. “Because if I don’t, you are going to fall in love with him while explaining gluten development by accident.”
I try to hide my laughter as I grab a tray and shove it at her. “Go prove something before I fire you.”
“Boss?” Gwen says, grinning like a menace.
“What?”
“You’re blushing.”
“I am not.”
She laughs all the way back to the ovens, and despite myself, so do I.
Chapter 5
Leo
I step out of the bakery, and the door closes behind me with a soft jingle that feels final.
Not slammed.
Not dramatic.
Just closed.
The morning air hits my face, cool and a little damp, carrying the smell of car exhaust and hot concrete rather than butter and yeast. I stand there for a second, hand still hovering where the handle was, like if I wait long enough, it might open again, and Tess will lean out and say,
Actually, come back. I changed my mind.
