Chapter Six
Lainey
Paulina’s shift had ended, and I wasn’t about to turn down free labor, so I got Adam started on fixing the chime above the door.
It’d worked the three weeks leading up to the grand opening when I was getting the place ready.
And the two months prior when I’d been too tired to do anything.
But halfway through opening day, it went kaput.
And today it bit me in the ass for not getting it fixed right away. But until twenty minutes ago, that had felt like the least of my worries.
I’d known I was going to want no less than a month with Conor before getting the bakery ready to open. I would have preferred longer, but, single mom, sole income, and all.
I’d bought the bakery from Mrs. Riley at the end of February, but the sale didn’t include the building. Since I wanted the business to stay in its location, I’d had to negotiate with the building’s owner, Earl Schilling.
Business wasn’t exactly booming in Haven Springs, so Earl agreed to give me free rent until the first of August if I signed a five-year lease—allowing me a little breathing room before reopening.
Full of hope, optimism, and a little bit of fear, I took the deal.
Moving while eight and a half months pregnant had been a group effort.
Fortunately, everyone in town loved my BFF, Kristy.
No one could say no to her. So, recruiting help had been easy.
Plus, Brian and his friends showed up, too.
The apartment was move-in ready in a day, including assembling the furniture for the nursery.
The same group came to my rescue when I gave the bakery a thorough cleaning last month and a budget-friendly makeover, consisting of fresh paint, new lighting, brightly colored art on the walls, a new sign with the new name—plus the grand opening banner, and an updated payment system and cash register.
Although, I did keep the old black one, with its big buttons and large display numbers, in the corner for decoration.
It literally took Adam eight minutes to diagnose and fix the problem with the chime, including the time it took for him to get a ladder and tools from a closet in the kitchen then put them away.
I may have stared at him while his attention was on fixing the bell. He was really handsome, in an athletic, boy-next-door way.
I must have a type because that’s how I would’ve described Shawn, too. Then again, that would describe half the men in Haven Springs. We didn’t have a lot of bad boys in town. The rebellious ones all seemed to leave Haven Springs the minute they got the chance.
Adam came out of the kitchen drying his hands on a paper towel and gave me a lopsided grin that made my stomach erupt in butterflies.
“What next?”
Take me back to the kitchen and bend me over the counter.
Oh.
My.
God.
Where the hell did that come from, hussy?
In my defense, I hadn’t had sex since August. And now that my ankles were no longer swollen and I could see them, I’d been feeling horny.
Except the prospects for scratching that itch were few and far between in Haven Springs, and I didn’t exactly have a lot of opportunities to get out of town.
Adam was, well, fresh meat that wasn’t going to be around long. In other words, he was perfect.
A girl had needs.
But it wasn’t like I could be like, “Hey, I know you’re here visiting my boyfriend’s gravesite, but before you go, would you mind letting me ride your cock?”
Oh god. I was a horrible person for even thinking such a thing. Adam was Shawn’s friend!
I was definitely going to hell.
Although according to Granny O’Brien, I had already been destined for there. Long before Adam Callahan came into my bakery with his tight, cerulean-blue polo that perfectly matched his eyes while showcasing his muscular arms and chest and filled my head with scandalous ideas.
Shawn had been killed almost six months ago, but he’d really been gone since August. He’d asked me to wait for him, and I’d agreed. I would have had no problem being faithful; I cared for him. It was a no-brainer once I found out we were going to be a family.
And then the day after Christmas, I got word Shawn had been killed and my whole world was turned upside down.
It’d taken me a long time to accept he was never coming back, and I had to raise our son alone.
So, I wasn’t going to hate myself for wanting to have sex with a hot stranger when the opportunity presented itself.
Not that I really stood a chance with Adam. But I could fantasize about it, and if I were being honest with myself, probably would.
I know, I know. Straight to hell.
As if Conor could sense his lascivious mother’s impure thoughts, he woke with a whimper.
****
Adam
Her baby started crying, and she immediately went to him, cooing, “Hey, sweet boy. You can’t be hungry already, can you?” as she took him out of the carrier.
She lifted his bottom to her nose, then made a face as she pulled her neck back.
“Pee-yew! You definitely need a new diaper.” Lainey turned to me with a smile, and for a second, I feared she was going to ask me to change the kid’s poopy pants. Instead, she sweetly asked, “Would you mind watching the bakery while I change him?”
“Um, sure. What do I do if someone comes in?”
She was already walking toward the kitchen, where I’d noticed a set of stairs earlier when I got the ladder, and said, “Give them what they want.”
“But how do I know what to charge? Or how to take their payment, for that matter?”
“I won’t be long. I doubt anyone will even come in this time of day. But if they do, be charming and stall them until I get back.”
I swear, I didn’t mean to stare at her ass as she walked away. It just happened.
Then it was me all alone in the quiet bakery.
The place was inviting with its brightly pink- and yellow-colored walls and cheery artwork. There were even white vases of vibrant-colored flowers on all the tables. I had to touch the petals to see if they were fake.
They were.
Probably a good thing. I imagined fresh flowers could get expensive after a while. Besides, they looked real, so who cared?
The selection of available baked goods in the display case was slim. Considering it was nearly three p.m.—the closing time written on the door—it meant she didn’t have a lot of wasted product.
I couldn’t believe Lainey was running a business all by herself after having had a baby eight weeks ago. She was a fucking rockstar.
“We’re back!” she announced when she returned through the swinging door leading to the kitchen. “With a fresh smelling baby boy!”
She made her eyes big and smiled dramatically at her son as she told him. “Yes, you are! You’re all clean!”
Conor stared at her face and cooed in response. Shawn’s son seemed like a happy baby. I felt content knowing the little boy was so well cared for.
By his hot mom.
No! Bad Adam! Bad Friend!
But as she beamed at her son like he was her pride and joy, I couldn’t help but be drawn to her.
“Do you want to hold him?”
Her question took me aback.
“Um, I don’t really have a lot of experience. I don’t want to drop him.”
“You won’t. Just make sure to cradle his head.”
Lainey put the little guy in my arms, and I gave him a big smile, like I’d seen her do.
Then the little dude smiled back.
And I was fucking done for.