"I like it."
"I'll hand this off to Cooper.He'll do the final design with the measurements and then talk to you about which appliances you'll want."
"I'm excited for a new space.I think it's going to be better than what I had before."
We stood close, and the moment was charged with excitement.I wanted to kiss her, but the double doors popped open, startling us.
Jill breezed in."Morning!I can start setting things up."
"We're a little behind."Reina moved around the counter again, placing the croissants on a serving tray."Morgan was looking at the flow of the kitchen to see what could work in mine."
Jill's gaze moved to me."You're going to switch things up?"
Reina nodded."Morgan came up with something.Take a look and let me know what you think."
Jill smiled at me."I'm not a baker, but I'll take a look."
I handed Jill the paper, watching as Reina carefully avoided looking at me.Had she felt the electricity between us?Did she want me to kiss her?
"This looks really nice, Reina.I like the curved edges and the counters on wheels.That could be really cool if you get someone else to work in the kitchen with you."
"I'm excited about the possibilities."
Jill handed me the paper and grabbed the tray."I'll just take these out to the tables and get them set up."
"Thanks, Jill," Reina said as she walked out."I'd better focus on what I'm doing.I want to have everything ready when we open."
I stood and stuffed the notepad into my pocket."I can get to work now too.I think I've seen enough for now."
"You can't leave without eating one of my freshly baked items.Which one would you like?Chocolate croissants or a fruit pastry?"
"Chocolate."I wanted something sweet like her.
"Good choice."Reina placed one on a napkin and handed it to me.
"This is delicious."I licked chocolate off my lips, and her gaze dropped to the movement.I liked that she appeared to be affected by my actions.I was finally getting to her.
As much as I wanted to hang out with her, I needed to get to work on her bakery.
"If you wait a few minutes, I'll pack up pastries for your crew.It's the least I can do since they're working on my bakery."
"We're probably gutting everything today.It's messy work."
She paused."I hadn't thought about the process.How you'll have to throw things out to make way for the new."
"We'll gut everything, and then the cleaning crew will come through to make sure we get the smoke smell out before we start rebuilding."
She nodded slowly as she put several of each item into a large bakery box."I keep thinking about how it will look when it's done.It's sad that everything I built is damaged."
I moved closer, standing next to her."Not everything is destroyed.You're the heart of the business; everything else is just things.The bakery is only anything because of you."
She smiled at me as she closed the lid to the box."That's sweet of you to say."
"I said it because it's true."I'd watched her work this morning.Customers bought her baked goods because they tasted good, but also because she put her heart and soul into everything.On some level, they sensed that.
She shoved the box in my hands."Please give these to your crew and tell them thank you."
"The crew is going to love you."I was half in love with her already.
