Not that it’s a topic of conversation to be broached in bed.
Because, I’m pretty sure… she wasn’t doing anything solo then.
I glance at the clock in Margo’s bakery, which reminds me I’m still on shift for a few more minutes. If I keep daydreaming about Sora’s fine, fine body, then I’m going to burnallthe croissants. Plus, I’ve only got a million other things that need my attention right now. There’s the Golden Chef Awards coming up, and I really need to win that $100,000 cash award, since it will help me launch the bakery. There’s also the fact that I just got the keys to the new store space, which I have to work on getting into shape in the next month. We gotta open by May 1st and at least start making money or I’m going to go broke.
I’ve got to clean it. Paint it. Get it stocked. Hire a front counter person—all in the next month. And here I am daydreaming about Sora.
Well, because… she’s Sora.
My phone dings and I pull it out like I’m in a gunfight in the Old West. Did she respond?
No. I feel instant disappointment.
It’s Mal.
I was expecting you to call. About the Golden Chef Awards. You’re supposed to be my valentine. Come on, Jack-a-boo. I got a new dress.
A photo pops up on the feed. Yep. That’s Mal all right. She’s wearing a sheer red negligee, nothing underneath. She’s got a good body, I’ll give her that. It’s too bad there’s an empty chest cavity filled with cobwebs where her heart should be.
I ignore the text.
“Jack?” I glance up and see Sora standing on the other side of the glass bakery counter. I straighten, surprised, and dump my phone in my pocket, feeling guilty, even though, technically, I didn’t do anything wrong. I definitely didn’t ask for that text! My heart hammers in my chest.
I focus on Sora, who’s wearing her formfitting red wool coat and a white cashmere cap. Her lips perfectly match her rich red lapel.
“Sora.” I grin, unable to help myself. “Glad you came by. I thought I scared you off with that ‘be mine,’ Valentine’s stuff.”
She laughs—uncomfortably. “You know how I feel about Valentine’s Day.”
“Yeah. I was hoping to change that.”
She meets my gaze, startled. “That’s a long road,” she says after a bit. Okay, back off, Jack. Tread carefully.
“Well, why don’t we start with chocolate chip cookie samples?” I nod at the open display case in front of the glass bakery counter.
Sora grabs the tongs and digs into the cookies, picking the biggest one. She plucks it from the tongs and takes a healthy bite. Damn, the woman doesnotmind eating. Love that. Also love her lips on… pretty much any part of my body. Lady’s choice.
“Thank you,” she murmurs, mouth full.
“I’m glad you came by. I was thinking about you.” Like every minute.
“You were?”
“Yeah.” I grin, goofy. And she grins back.
There it is, that connection between us. There’s no mistaking it. It’s like a panting dog, desperate for attention.
Damn, I have it bad for this woman.
Sora lets out an exaggerated sigh. “I shouldn’t even be here.” She glances up at me, looking pained. “My boss, Arial, for a start. Solo February.”
Oh. Right. That.
“I thought we kind of totally demolished Solo February… last night.” I’m confused.
“We did. That’s the problem.” She stares at me, worried.
“But… you don’t want to lose your job. So…” I’m connecting the dots.
