Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 85950 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 430(@200wpm)___ 344(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85950 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 430(@200wpm)___ 344(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
I know she’s been looking forward to having the baking class for weeks. She charged a small fee for supplies, but it was too little if you ask me. The expense of what she’s providing outweighed what the people paid, but I’d never tell her that. She’s an astute businesswoman, and her reasoning was that the people would have so much fun that they’d tell others and her next class would be bigger.
The line of cars out in front of the bakery when I pull up tells me that her first class was a success and she probably won’t be able to increase the class size next time. She has a hard time telling people no, and as much as I love that generous, giving part of her, sometimes it gets her in over her head.
A round of hellos catch me right at the door the second I pull it open and step inside. More than a dozen women, some with children, grin in my direction. I hold a hand up in a wave, encompassing all of them.
I recognize nearly everyone here. Although I’m not exactly one to feel awkward, the knowing way Madison Kelly watches me as I walk toward the display case makes me wonder if I shouldn’t just turn around and leave.
From the glint in her eyes, I know that Adalynn has told her about what we’re doing or Chase said something to her after he caught me coming out from the back the other day, zipping up my pants.
I can admit the speck of jealousy I felt when Madison came back to town a couple months ago. Adalynn and she were extremely close in school, and they fell right back together as if ten years hadn’t separated them. It’s how true friendships are supposed to be, but at the same time, I had the majority of Adalynn’s time for years. I never had to check with her to see if she had plans. If our off days lined up, we spent them together. It was always a given. Now, she makes plans with Madison, and I’ve felt the sting of loss from that more times than I’m comfortable with.
I don’t exactly begrudge Adalynn her friendship with Madison, but I had just gotten so used to being the one she came to when she needed to talk. She still meets me at the bar on nights I have to work late. We still sit at her parents’ table every time they have a dinner. I still end up on her couch, trying to watch a movie rather than staring at her all night. This week, however, all of that changed because we crossed a line we can never step back over, but the guilt I’ve tried so hard to ignore fades completely when Adalynn steps out from the back, noticing me. Her smile is wide, her eyes taking the briefest of seconds to run down my chest. I swear if they dip any lower, I’m going to be in a very awkward situation, considering the mixed company right now.
“These?” Adalynn asks, handing a bottle of sprinkles over to Madison.
I watch as the woman frowns. “I was hoping for rainbow sprinkles. Is chocolate all you have?”
“There might be some in the back,” Adalynn says, her eyes still sparkling, although they’ve lost a little of their shine.
“Maybe Cash knows where they are back there?” Madison offers. “I bet he can help you find them.”
“Why would I know where—”
Madison glares at me, and suddenly I feel like an idiot for not catching on.
“I want rainbow sprinkles, too!”
I look to my left and grin at Justin, Kristina Alexander’s son. There’s hope in his eyes as he watches me.
“Will you help her find them?”
“Yeah, Cash. Will you help her?” Madison prods, her tone filled with humor.
“Anything for you, little buddy,” I tell the boy with a quick grin.
I look back at Madison, finding her grinning from ear to ear.
“Subtle,” I mutter to her before making my way around the cash register.
Adalynn is several feet ahead of me and fuck my life, if watching her walk away isn’t one of the finer things life has to offer me.
“You’ve been gossiping about me,” I say to Adalynn, catching her by the hips the second the doors swing closed behind us.
I love the way she leans her head back on my shoulder, making it so easy to run my lips up her neck.
She’s sweet with a pinch of salt, and I know it’s because she’s spent a lot of time in the back of the bakery, making tonight possible for the people enjoying themselves with their baking class. The air conditioner isn’t that great back here. Add in the ovens being on most of the day, and there’s no chance to stay cool.
“I haven’t,” she says, but the twitch in her cheek tells me that she’s fibbing.