Chapter 27
I only get out of bed for coffee. And muffins.
Sophia
I snuggle into the arm wrapped around my waist the next morning. Flynn kisses my neck. “You’re still here.”
I elbow him. “Of course, I am.”
“I expected you to be halfway to Atlanta by now.”
“Atlanta? Do you think sex with you is so horrible I have to flee the island and the state?”
He tickles my ribs. “Quite the opposite. You’re amazed by how good sex is with me. It fulfills all of your fantasies.”
I push him away. “Someone’s awful full of himself.”
“I’d rather you were full of me.”
“Corny.” I clear my throat. Time to set Flynn straight. I don’t run away after every time we have sex. “And we’ve slept together since the time I went into town for coffee the morning after the first time.”
“Went into town for coffee?” He chuckles. “You were signing a lease for the apartment above Pirates Pastries when I found you.”
“Found me? Don’t exaggerate. My car was parked on Main Street. I wasn’t exactly hiding.”
Flynn rolls me until I’m on my back and he’s looming over me. “Soph, you were hiding but I’m glad you’re not hiding now.”
I guess it’s confession time. “I used to worry you’d call me a mistake, but I’m not worried about it anymore.” After all the sexy times we’ve shared, he can’t possibly think I’m a mistake any longer.
He cups my cheeks and his eyes fill with warmth. “You were never a mistake. I’m an idiot. I apologize for ever making you feel less than perfect.”
Butterflies explode in my stomach. No wonder I love this man. He thinks I’m perfect despite having all the proof to the contrary.
Hold on. Love this man? I don’t love Flynn. I’m falling for him, but I’m not there yet.
Sure, I want to spend every second of every day with him. And spend my nights in this bed exploring his body. And, yeah, I trust him not to walk away. He’ll tell Weston about me when the time is right. And he makes me happy.
Crap. I do love him.
I don’t know why I’m surprised. I’ve been obsessed with Flynn ever since he lent me a quarter at the arcade when I was ten. He didn’t even know who I was back then. His mom was sick and he was caring for her while working at the arcade as often as he could since his dad was a worthless piece of shit.
I open my mouth to tell Flynn I love him but I stop myself in time. If Flynn’s not ready to tell my big brother we’re involved, he’s definitely not ready to hear me wax love poetry at him.
“If you quote a movie again, I’m going to kick you in the balls,” I tease instead.
“Kick me in the balls and morning sex is off the table.”
“Morning sex is off the table anyway.”
“Do you not enjoy morning sex? And here I thought you were perfect.”
“I am perfect. And I do enjoy morning sex.”
He smirks. “Perfect.” His head descends but I place a hand over my mouth before he can kiss me.
“If you’re worried about your morning breath, I don’t give a shit.”
I gasp. “Are you saying I have bad breath?”
He rolls off of me. “I give up.”
I giggle. “Get dressed, pirate man. We have an appointment.”
His brow wrinkles. “We do?”
“I’m helping out at Pirates Pastries this morning and you’re driving me.”
“You’re helping out at a bakery shop? Does Parker know you can’t cook?”
I throw a pillow at him. “Baking and cooking aren’t the same thing.”
“I correct myself. Does Parker know you can’t bake? And don’t know what an oven is for?”
“I know what an oven is for. It’s for drying shoes, isn’t it?” I roll out of bed. “Be ready in thirty minutes.”
He sits up. “You’re serious. You’re working at Pirates Pastries this morning?”
“I don’t think it’s work if you don’t get paid.”
“Sophia,” he growls and my stomach tingles. I love it when he growls. I love him. Plain and simple. I’m done denying it.
“Holly has a track meet this morning. I promised to run the front of the store while Parker bakes delicious treats.”
“And you’re doing this for free?”
I shrug. “I’m assuming I can nab a muffin or two. And coffee. I better get some coffee.”
“Sophia, tell me why you volunteered to work at Pirates Pastries today or I’ll tickle you until you pee.”
No way. I already need to pee. “Fine. Cindy from Mermaid Mini Golf might have blackmailed me.”
He barks out a laugh. “What happened?”
“I didn’t know they have security cameras at the mini golf. Cindy said she’d show the footage of us taking a mermaid apart to check for her female parts to Weston. Having a big brother who’s a cop sucks.”
This is not the first time my brother being a cop has been a problem. You try finding a date in high school when your brother claims he’ll arrest anyone who breathes in your direction. No boy in my high school was willing to fight Weston to date me. Fun times.
“You didn’t tell me you mauled a mermaid.”
“I wouldn’t use the term mauled.”
He chuckles as he climbs out of bed. “Get dressed. You only have thirty minutes before the bakery opens.”
“Eek!” I squeal and rush to my bedroom.
Fifteen minutes later I’m running out the front door. Flynn is already waiting for me in his truck. I jump in the passenger seat and buckle up.
“You said thirty minutes. It’s only been fifteen,” I complain as he backs out of the driveaway.
“We need to be at the bakery before it opens.”
“But I didn’t have time to get a coffee,” I whine.
He nods to the cup holder. “I got you.”
I squeal as I grab the to-go mug. I take a sip and sigh. “Thank you.”
“I did it more for the bakery clients than for you. You’re cranky without your morning coffee.”
I shrug. “I’d deny it but then you wouldn’t make me coffee anymore.”
“Good thing you have your priorities straight.”
I raise my mug. “I’m all about priorities.”
“Why am I driving you anyway? Don’t get me wrong. I don’t mind. If you need a ride, all you have to do is call. But it’s not yet eight a.m. I doubt the bakery serves whiskey in their coffee.”
I moan. “Parker’s baked peach and cream whiskey muffins are to die for.”
“You’re avoiding the question. What are you hiding?”
“You couldn’t pretend to be clueless?”
“Sorry, little lamb. I’m not clueless.”
I glare at him. “I hate it when you use my childhood nickname.”
“Tell me why I’m parking in front of the bakery and I’ll never use it again.”
“Never?”
He crosses his heart. “I swear.”
“No good. I want a pinky swear.” I hold out my pinky. “Do you pinky swear you’ll never use my childhood nickname again if I tell you why I asked you to drive me this morning?”
He hooks his pinky to mine. “I pinky swear.”
I lean close and whisper, “I’m worried about Parker and Pirates Pastries.”
“And this has what to do with me?”
“You’re in construction.”
“What gave it away? The name of the construction company on the side of the truck?”
I roll my eyes. “Let me finish. You said the apartment above the bakery isn’t up to code.”
“It’s not.”
“Yeah. Yeah. I get it. Can you make a list of all the repairs necessary? And do an estimate?”
“If Parker’s hurting for money, she won’t be able to afford the repairs.”
I grin. “But what if the repairs are half the usual price?”
He frowns. “I can’t afford to cut my prices by fifty percent. I have costs and personnel.”
“I know, silly. I’m going to pay half.”
“You’re what?” He explodes.
“Simmer down, pirate man. I have money saved up. Plus, I’m not paying rent now because my landlord isn’t meeting his obligations.”
“You should use your money for you.”
I scowl at him. “I’m using the money how I want to. To help a fellow smuggler. This is how we do it on the island or have you forgotten?”
“Fine,” he grunts. “I’ll give you the materials at cost and I’ll do as much of the labor myself as I can.”
I squeal and throw my arms around him. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”
He gives me a brief hard kiss. “Don’t thank me until you have the estimate. It may be more than you’re willing to spend.”
I wave his concern away. “It’ll be fine.” I grab the door handle. “Now, come on. We have work to do.”
“Wait for me.”
I pause with my hand on the handle. I could yell at him that I’m an independent woman. But there’s nothing wrong with a man opening a door for me.
He opens my door and offers me his hand. “I’m surprised you didn’t bitch at me.”
I keep hold of his hand as we walk into the rear entrance of the bakery. “My momma didn’t raise no fool.”
Parker rushes out of the kitchen. “Oh, thank goodness you’re here. Wait. Why are you both here? My business will boom if Flynn works behind the counter.”
She’s not wrong. “Is it okay if Flynn checks out the apartment upstairs? You need an estimate for the repairs to prepare the apartment to rent.”
She smiles but it’s forced. “Go ahead. Appreciate it, Flynn.” She hands him a key.
“Behave,” Flynn tells me before leaving.
Parker sighs once he’s gone. “You got bitten by the love bug.”
I grin. It’s true. I love that man something fierce. But he doesn’t know yet. I wipe the grin off of my face.
“You can’t tell anyone.”
She scowls. “Why? Are you his dirty little secret?”
I lock my muscles before I flinch. Keeping a secret and being a dirty little secret are not the same thing, I remind myself.
“No. But I haven’t told him I love him yet. I want him to hear it from me and not the advertisement in the Smuggler’s Gazette my girlfriends will place once they find out.”
Her brow wrinkles. “Your girlfriends don’t know?”
“Nope.”
“They’ve seen you two together?”
“They have.”
She laughs. “Girl, your friends know. The heart cartoons in your eyes are nearly blinding.”
“Whatever,” I mutter since I’m afraid she’s right. “Put me to work.”
“Come on. I’ll show you how the cash register works since you can’t bake.”
“Why does everyone think I can’t bake?”
“Maybe because I took home economics with you and the teacher said – and I quote here – ‘I’ve never seen a student with such little aptitude for the kitchen.’”
“I have other skills.”
“I hope those skills include operating a cash register since it’s time to open.” She motions to the line of patrons waiting outside.
“Don’t worry. I got this.”
If I can get Flynn, the man who thinks being with me is a betrayal to my brother, to cave for me, I can do anything.