Chapter Sixteen
Jessica
I put my stuff on the floor just inside Lainey’s office, then grabbed an apron that was hanging on one of the hooks in the kitchen and tucked my hair up in the new baseball cap Lainey had given me yesterday when I’d joked about how attractive the hairnet made me.
After washing my hands and dusting the center table with flour, I pulled the bowl of cinnamon roll dough out of the refrigerator.
Alan popped his head around the doorjamb of Lainey’s office. “Hey, should I put Ruthie in the crib?”
“No, she’ll be okay in her car seat until she eats in a few hours.”
“I brought an extra shirt today,” he said, beaming.
Me too. Two of them actually—I’d left the bakery t-shirts Lainey had given me in the diaper bag, knowing I’d need one sooner or later.
“You don’t have to burp her…”
He came out of the office and stood on the other side of the table as I rolled out the dough.
“I want to. Getting to hold her yesterday was one of the highlights of my day.”
I looked up at him and asked, “One of the highlights?” I didn’t ask what the others were, but the question hung in the air.
The corner of his mouth hitched, and he replied, “Yesterday was a good day. I saw my brother, got settled into my place, met you and Ruthie…”
I felt my heart rate pick up. Was he implying he considered meeting me a bright spot of his day?
No way.
“Had your shirt ruined—twice,” I reminded him.
“It’s not ruined, and even if it was”—he gave me a wink—“totally worth it.”
Oh my.
Our eyes locked, and I kept his gaze—which surprised me, because I was always the one who looked away first.
I was pretty sure he was flirting with me, but I didn’t have a lot of experience to know for certain.
My mouth was suddenly dry, and I swallowed hard, unsure what to say next.
Fortunately, I didn’t have to.
“Who needs caffeine?” Lainey loudly asked as she came through the swinging doors with two mugs in her hand.
****
Alan
Damn Lainey. I’m going to have to talk to her about her timing.
I broke eye contact with Jess to look over at Lainey with a polite smile.
“I do!”
“Me, too,” Jess called as she returned to moving the rolling pin.
“I thought so.” She set Jessica’s mug on the table and announced, “Creamer, two sugars for you. And for you,” she handed me my mug. “One sugar and a splash of creamer.”
“How did you know that?” Jess asked with wide eyes.
“That’s my job. I pay attention to how people take their coffee.” She cast a glance my way when she continued, “Among other things.”
Funny, if you would have been paying attention, you wouldn’t have come back here.
Of course, I didn’t say that. It was her bakery, she could do whatever she wanted.
“It’s that attention to detail that keeps your customers coming back,” I replied with a grin. “Heck, I volunteered to drive Brian’s truck a thousand miles just for one of your homemade croissants.”
She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, sure you did.”
“It was what kept me motivated on the drive, anyway.” I looked over at where Jess was carefully placing the slices of dough onto a baking pan. “But I think cinnamon rolls are now my favorite.”
“That’s good. Why don’t you help Jess with the next batch.” She raised her eyebrows, which I interpreted as a warning when she added, “So you know how to make them, should the need arise.”
Jessica lifted her head and widened her eyes.
“Are you going to fire me?”
“Oh my god, no!” Lainey exclaimed. “Nothing like that! I’m afraid you’re going to quit, and I’ll have to put Alan to work.”
“No, I love it here. I just need to get my transportation figured out.”
I understood her predicament since my Ford F150 was a thousand miles away. Fortunately, Brian said I could use his while I was here. It appeared she wasn’t so lucky.
I was happy to be Jessica’s taxi service while I was in town. In fact, I was looking forward to it. My goal was to convince her to let me pick her up in the mornings, too.
But Lainey had been quick to ask last night at dinner, what was going to happen when I went back to Lancastle.
I didn’t have an answer yet. But I was a smart guy who made a lot of money, I’d figure something out.
But in the meantime, I wasn’t going to pass up a chance to work in the kitchen with Jess.
“Put me to work, boss.”