She’d have thought that him catching her looking at rings would’ve been embarrassment enough. Nope, that was just the icing on the tip of the dick. When Logan left, she’d promised herself she didn’t need to find a guy to find any sort of fulfillment in life—even though that was what all her friends were doing. Of course, calling off the search didn’t mean she didn’t like bling. So, she’d promised herself she’d buy her own damn ring. Pick it out. One that was a gift to herself.
A promise ring of sorts.
“And he’s not hard to look at,” Velma said, not looking up from the tray of cookies.
Heather’s stomach fluttered ridiculously at the memory of Jase’s early-morning dance party.
“Not that I’m looking,” Velma continued.
Velma wasn’t looking. She’d found her guy. He was the exact opposite of anyone Heather would’ve ever paired with Velma. And they were brilliantly happy together. For a while, Heather had thought she and Logan were headed that way, too. To the blissful relationship stage of things. Then he’d started shutting her out. Just like all of her boyfriends before him. Heather was a lot of fun, she’d been told that often, but she wasn’t the kind of girl men wanted to spend forever with. Love like that wasn’t meant for everyone. She’d come to accept that.
Heather’s little sister and head-cookie-baker, Candace—mostly known as Candy to everyone she knew—brought Heather another tray of sugar-cookie hearts ready for icing.
“That man has abs that go on for miles,” Candy said as she popped the tray onto the table.
Miles and miles. Heather refused to think about his body or the way he smelled of cinnamon.
What she needed was a night in with a marathon ofFamily Feud.
“I bet he’s amazing in bed. With a body like that?” Candy smacked her lips together.
“Candy?” Heather asked, not raising her eyes from where the tip of her piping bag touched the pastry.
“Yeah?”
“No.”
Velma snort-laughed. Candy winked at her.
Heather swallowed any thoughts of Jase in bed.
“You know Mom and Dad would adore him,” Candy continued.
“Mom and Dad like everyone.” Their soft-spoken mother and father rarely raised their voices. That was the kind of people they were. So, no, Jase wouldn’t have to do much to win their adoration.
Laying down the piping bag, Heather grabbed Velma’s finished tray of cookies and pushed through the swinging doors to arrange them in the case.
The string of jingle bells on the door tinkled as two women jostled their way in—Jase’s Russian Mafia granny and a woman about Heather’s age.
Heather’s internal monologue dropped some serious cuss words.
“Hi,” she said with as much cheer as she could muster. They headed toward her. “What can I get you?’
“Um, I’m not sure.” The younger woman had a funny expression on her face, like she was trying to place Heather.
“Take your time.” Heather refused to shrink away from the blatant inspection.
“Let’s get this over vith,” Nadzieja said. “I came to apologize for your van. This is Anna. She came to be sure I did.”
Anna…Jase’s sister.
Heather splayed her hands on the counter. Well, that was nice of them to stop by. Nice-ish. “Thank you. I’m so glad you’re okay.”
“Also, ve vant you to let Jason take you to dinner,” Nadzieja continued.
Shit.
“We’re supposed to be smooth,” Anna said out of the corner of her mouth.
