Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 26704 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26704 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
Two hours later more than half of the display cases were filled, I wore a fine sheen of sweat along my hairline and I’d moved on from girl rock to musicals. “Well I guess it went somewhat well, yesterday.” Torey’s voice sounded the moment the music stop and I jumped back and let out a scream loud enough to make my dough fall.
“Girl, you scared the crap out of me. Don’t do that!”
“Sorry,” she replied in a tone that wasn’t at all apologetic.
“What are you doing here so early?” She didn’t usually come to work until the shop opened.
“Two reasons, one of which is actual business.” She took a seat on the stool along the wall for just that purpose. “How are the orders coming along for Christmas Eve?”
“Fine,” I answered without looking up. “I’ve been baking up a storm all morning. We have enough to last us through the lunch rush and I have dough proofing in the fridge, cookie dough chilling and several big batches of muffin batter—lemon, blueberry, banana nut, cranberry orange and one more—also in the fridge. What?”
“Nothing. You’ve gotten a lot done which only begs the question, are you fueled by good sex or are you anger baking?”
I wasn’t ready to answer yet so I sidestepped the question. “How was it hanging out with Mac?”
Torey’s was wide and bright. “Awesome. He’s beautiful and funny and charming. And he’s leaving right after the New Year to go back on tour. He’s only here now because he didn’t want Lee to be alone.” She took a deep breath after that run-on sentence and smiled. “And now back to you, tell me everything!”
I wasn’t ready to voice my feelings out loud but Torey was persistent and I did need someone to talk to about it. “I think I’m in love with him. No, wait, that’s not right. I’m in love with him and I know that’s ridiculous and that it is entirely too soon and it can’t last. Most of all know that it’s going to hurt like hell when it’s over, but I can’t back away. I don’t want to.” I really wanted to feel this and enjoy it, however long it lasted.
Torey was silent for a long time, tapping her chin and watching me until it became too much and I turned back to what I did best. Baking. “You know what? I think this might be a good thing.”
“Because you’re in love with love?”
“Well yeah, but that’s not what I mean.” She rolled her eyes. “I’ve known you since the fourth grade and even in high school when the rest of us swooned over guys, you never got too worked up about them. Even in college you never sounded excited about the guys you dated. But now, you seem happy and excited, almost giddy over Lee.”
“I am giddy but I’m also worried that I’m fooling myself.”
“I don’t think you are. Honestly with the way he was looking at you yesterday you might be able to bang him to forgetting about the resort.” Torey threw her head back and laughed, completely oblivious to the turmoil her words caused in my belly.
I tried hard to forget about the big, luxurious elephant in the room but her words made it impossible. A chill stole over me just as Torey stopped laughing, eyes wide and filled with regret.
“The front door was open.” Lee’s tone was ice cold. “Good thing too since now I know what this was all about.”
I didn’t need to turn to see his angry glare aimed at me but I did anyway.
“It was just a joke,” Torey tried to explain but the way his jaw clenched told me he wasn’t in a listening mood.
“I should have known you were too good to be true. Just another woman willing to sell herself to get ahead.”
“How dare you!” I fisted my flour covered hands at my hips and worked up my own glare. “You think I slept with you for the town? That I’m some kind of prostitute?”
“Not that there’s anything wrong with sex work,” Torey added. I glared at her and she mouthed the word, “Sorry,” to me.
“Rest assured, you’re good but not that good, sweetheart.”
I felt tears sting my eyes and tilted my head back, determined not to let them fall but the traitorous bastards fell anyway. “God I’m so stupid, once again!” I shook my head and just let the tears fall, let them fuel the anger I needed to cover the sadness. “I was a fool to think you were anything but the cold-hearted billionaire you present to the world. So silly to think I was actually falling in love with you, to think you were any different.” I covered my face with both hands just before a sob escaped. “I’m glad that I know what you really think of me and happier that you’ve made the end hurt even more than I thought. Get out of my bakery. Now.” I turned my back on him but I felt the weight of stare at my back. “Go.”