7. Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Esmerelda – Twenty Years Old
“Cody, I swear if you take one more cookie from the counter, I am going to skin you alive!” I threaten as Cody quickly runs away from the counter, not moving fast enough for me not to notice him as I walk out from the back with several more cookies and mini cupcakes. The flash of his white shirt catching my attention instantly.
I hear my dad laugh and look at him, giving him the stink eye when I notice him taking a bite out of a cookie that I never gave him. He just shrugs, not at all sorry and I narrow my eyes.
I swear those two are pains in the butt.
“Sissy…” Aiden mumbles, and I look at him and see him squeezing his fists my way. I roll my eyes, knowing full well it isn’t because he wants me, no he wants the cupcakes I’m carrying, and as soon as we lock eyes, his beautiful brown ones shining, I know I’m about to give in like I always do.
The boy has me wrapped around his little finger and thankfully this batch is sugar free.
Groaning, I place the trays on the counter, but before I close it up, I grab a light blue iced cupcake and a plate, all while my dad and Cody try their hardest to hide their laughter from me.
Shaking my head at them, I walk to the table closest to the counter and put the plate on my brother's table, which is attached to his highchair. He instantly claps his hands as he grins wide.
“Tank you, Sissy,” he mutters before taking a big bite, I smile as I gently run my fingers through his mousy brown curly hair.
It’s a tangled mess giving him that extra bit of sweetness.
He has Daddy’s personality – the poor boy – but looks wise, he is the spitting image of mom from his hair to his cheekbones, right down to his eyes. He is every part of her, and sadness hits me like most days.
Aiden is three and a little character being brought up without his momma, our mother, and it’s unfair.
It’s been three years since my dad walked into the waiting room like his whole world had crashed, and some days you can see the sadness that wants to consume him, but he never lets it affect Aiden or me. He keeps going for his kids, and I will forever protect my father for that alone.
He’s an amazing man, and I’m grateful to have him as my father daily. I'm thankful that he always puts Aiden before everyone else, even on his son’s birthday, despite it being the day he lost his wife, his soulmate, he ensures it’s all about Aiden.
He doesn’t know I know, but once he thinks I’m asleep, he’ll fall apart before rebooting the next morning and act like a happy man until Mom’s birthday or Mother’s Day. Again, he’ll wait until he thinks I’m asleep.
I point at Cody and threaten, “Next time you try taking another cookie, I’m snitching on you with Haley…”
He grins, not concerned about my threat. He and Haley have been together for a year, and she is ready for the next step, or so she told me last week, but she doesn’t think Cody would take that leap.
I had to remind her they’ve only been together for a year and to give him time.
Cody shrugs and asks, “When are we double-dating again?”
He knows full well that I’m not seeing anyone right now, haven’t even dated since Mark, and I narrow my eyes at him because the ass has just opened a can of worms by how my father has just paused mid-bite.
My whole focus has been on the bakery and helping Daddy with Aiden. Night feeds, doctor appointments, vaccines, housework, business classes, and culinary school, nothing else is on my radar right now, much to my father's and Cody’s dismay. They want me to live a little, and I do just for my family instead, and that ass has opened his mouth on purpose.
Dad looks at me with a raised brow, and I glare at Cody, knowing I now won’t hear the end of my lack of dating life from Dad. He grins wide before taking a large bite of his cookie, and I snap, “And when are you popping the question to Haley?” as he’s mid swallow and he chokes and coughs, scattering crumbs everywhere. I grin widely as Dad laughs. Meanwhile, Aiden continues devouring his cake, carelessly smearing icing all over his chubby face.
Damn, that boy is a cutie.
“Proposing, are you insane?!” Cody croaks as he bangs on his chest, and I shrug and admit, “She questioned me the other day when I thought you’d ask her.”
His eyes widen as his face pales and he stutters, “B-but it-it, it’s only been a year, I-I, I’m doing an apprenticeship… I still live with my mother!”
I smirk as he sits back in his seat, blinking several times and I can’t help my little evil chuckle as I turn and go to the counter to grab some wipes before heading back to my brother, all while my dad’s face reddens as he tries to hold in his laugh.
Chuckling, I take Aiden’s right hand, clean his fingers, and then do the same with his left. He giggles, and I smile softly as I wipe his face before I hand him his juice, making him grin.
“You’re really good with him, sweetheart,” my dad says while Cody stays in shock.
“He makes it easy, Daddy, for both of us,” I reply and pick up his plate. Dad hums and then asks, “Are you finally ready?”
I flinch and look around the lightly lilac-painted walls. The name Jacobs Bakery on the back wall catching my attention as it flashes.
I know what he wants, and I know he believes I’ve got this, but the shoes that need filling are extremely big.
I don’t know if I can do mom proud.
“I haven’t finished my business degree,” I try, and he chuckles, making me look his way.
Dad sits forward, seriousness surrounding him as he reminds me, “You can run this place in your sleep. My law practice is bringing in a lot of money, so I don’t need this place now, and we both know your mother wanted you to have it. Let me sign it over to you, Mer.”
I soften at his little nickname for me, something only he and Mom and now Aiden call me, and Cody snaps out of his shocked state hearing what my dad is saying, and he softens a little and chimes in, “He’s right, Ess. Besides you’ve been basically running this place for years anyhow even before losing Trish.”
I twitch my nose and look at Aiden who’s busy coloring his pirate picture, and pain hits me hard.
Mom was supposed to be here, handing the reins over to me with Daddy, but she’s not.
“Can we wait another year?” I whisper, not able to let go of the past just yet.
Dad sighs and reluctantly amends, “I’ll give you six months instead, and then I’m signing the deed over to you.”
I snort as the bell above the door chimes. “Okay,” I say, and he smiles however, his smile turns into a frown when a loud, angry voice demands, “Is there any service around here?”
The voice goes through me, sending goosebumps up my arms, shocking me. I blink a few times as I turn, only to be half-bumped into, making me jump as the man snaps, “Coffee once you’ve finished yapping!”
I narrow my eyes, turn around quickly, and see the guy slumping down on the back table, all while my heart rate picks up and my body tingles.
What the….
“I’ll serve him, sweetheart,” dad sighs but I quickly stop him from standing and growl, “No, I have this,” as I spin and go to the counter, my dad’s chuckle following me as Cody mutters, “Ah fuck, I hope she doesn’t tip the cup over his head.”
Hmm, not a bad idea.
I hate nothing more than customers who believe they can talk down to me and my staff and act like they are superior. I’m all for the customer is always right moto, but not when they act like a dick.
Taking a deep breath, I quickly pour coffee into a mug and place it on the tray with a small jug of milk and some sugar. Then, I grab one of the mini cupcakes and a plate and put them on the tray as well.
What was it that mom used to say? “ Kill them with kindness, and if that doesn’t work, food poisons them.”
I chuckle lightly as I walk around the counter and to the back of the bakery, feeling my family's eyes on me.
When close, I place the tray down, and the guy doesn’t look at me. However, I do frown at the tingling that takes over my body again, making me pause for a second.
Okay, that was weird….
“You can fuck off now!” he snaps when I don’t move, his voice deep sending shivers down my spine, but I ignore the reaction and snap back, “Yes sir, but why don’t you eat a cupcake? It may change your attitude!”
The gall of the jackass….
The guy’s head shoots up with anger before we lock eyes, and I suck in a breath.
Oh, holy wow….
Deep green eyes stare back at me, and I swallow hard at the sudden urge to kiss him, which is completely inappropriate, I mean, I’m pretty sure that’d be sexual harassment if I did that.
Clearing my throat, I turn, breaking eye contact and walk away from the guy and go to my dad’s table when I see him and Cody standing.
“Break time over?” I ask, and Dad grins.
“Yeah, sweetheart. Cody here has more files to go through,” he replies. Cody groans, making me chuckle as I remove the table in front of Aiden, trying my hardest not to turn back to the man sitting at the back of the room despite feeling his eyes burning into the back of my head.
His eyes, wow…
My heart races and my palms sweat but I ignore the reaction, shake my head and put the little table beside me, then unclick Aiden and lift him from his highchair. He wraps his arms around my neck, and I place my face into his hair.
“Be good for Daddy, okay?” I mumble, and he nods before Cody takes him from me and kisses my head.
I give him a smile before Daddy kisses my head next and whispers, “Keep an open mind.”
Confusion hits me and I open my mouth to ask what on earth but before I can ask him what he means, he walks away, with Cody following as Aiden waves at me.
I wave back smiling and as soon as the door shuts, I side-eye the guy in the back of the bakery, noticing his eyes are on me. I clear my throat before grabbing my dad’s and Cody's dishes, trying not to shake, knowing I’m suddenly that guy's main focus as my stomach tightens.
Maybe he’s pissed at me, and yet that doesn’t seem to scare me, if anything, it thrills me.
Weird.
I lock up three hours later, yawning. I’ve been up since four this morning baking before opening the bakery at eight, and last night, Aiden decided Sissy’s bed was the best bed for the night, something my dad found hilarious. Me on the other hand not so much because my lovely little brother is a kicker and I’m pretty sure I have a bruise on my back.
The guy who snapped at me didn’t say a word for the full hour he was here and didn’t say a word when he left, but it was weird because as soon as he walked out, I felt empty.
I shake my head. Such silly thoughts. I guess I’m more tired than I thought, and I know one thing, I’m definitely looking forward to my bed.
Pulling my bag up high on my shoulder, I turn, ready to get my ass home but jump back and gasp, noticing I’m not alone. My heart races with fear, and I move my hand to my bag, ready to grab my pepper spray, but halt when the tingling sensation hits me, the same one I felt when…
I tilt my head at the figure leaning against a black Harley, recognizing him instantly. His arms are crossed over his chest. His dark blonde hair is in one of those man bun things, while his white T-shirt stretches across his chest, and his leather jacket hugs his biceps.
Damn, what I’d give to climb him like…
I swallow hard. I’ve never had this reaction to someone before, not even with Cody. Though I was attracted to Cody at one point, nothing like this has happened to me.
“Well, this isn’t creepy at all,” I say, slowly moving towards him. It could be an absolutely stupid thing to do, but something in my gut is telling me he won’t hurt me, and again, that could be because I’m stupid.
“I wanted to apologize for my behavior. I was having a bad day, and I shouldn’t have taken it out on you,” he says, and instantly, my clit pulses at how much his voice vibrates through me, and I clear my throat.
Crap.
“It’s fine. A little bit of cake always perks someone up,” I reply, and he nods while looking over me.
His eyes move from my messy bun and down my plain black T-shirt to my jeans, and I clear my throat again but for a completely different reason, causing his eyes to come back to me. I raise a brow, and he smirks, not caring that he just got caught checking me out.
“The uh, men who were in when I arrived, you with either one of them?” he asks, and my brows raise to my hairline.
I’m tempted to tell him to fuck off because it is honestly none of his business but something about this man is telling me to speak to him, like someone is pushing me from behind while my dad’s words from earlier come back to me.
I shake my head and deny, “No, the older man was my father and the other I had a brief relationship with in high school.”
He nods, tilts his head, and assumes, “Baby daddy?”
My mouth parts in shock, and I stammer, “Y-you, I mean, seriously?”
He frowns, “Not the baby daddy?”
I roll my eyes and state, “I don’t have a baby daddy.”
He makes an ‘o’ face and says, “Oh, so single mom?”
Dude….
“You just keep digging yourself one hell of a big hole, stranger.” I mutter, then sigh, “Aiden is my baby brother. Cody is my ex-turned-best friend” I furrow my brows, “Now, what has that got to do with you?”
He tilts his head, not looking very happy, which confuses me before he holds his hand out and says, “Damian.”
I look at him, then his hand and then back at him before I say, “Esmerelda,” and slowly take his hand but gasp as electric shocks shoot up my arm, shocking me as I look at our joined hands, but when I try to move my hand, his grip tighten making me look at him, locking eyes, and suddenly, everything around me disappears.
Oh crap, I’m so totally screwed.