Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Nash
I climbed out of the truck. The early morning sun was still working its way through the fog that rolled in the night before to blanket the town. The cold mist had brought a reprieve from the heat, but I was certain once the fog burned off, the sun would beat down on the worksite with all its might. My work boots felt hot on my feet, and I hadn’t even started the day yet. It was early, but there was already a line outside the bakery. I considered getting in the truck and forgetting about the pastry, but the line seemed to be moving quickly. I’d been telling myself I badly wanted to try a pastry, but I knew my real reason for stopping in at the bakery. I just needed to see her, get a glimpse of her, and hopefully take her smile with me to the workday.
The two women in front of me paused their conversation to glance back at me. One whispered something to the other and then giggled. I glanced at my reflection in the window to make sure I didn’t have something on my face. My gaze looked past the reflection. She was standing under the sparkling chandeliers inside the shop, smiling at a customer as she handed him a box of baked goods. I hadn’t been imagining it. She was incredible.
“Hey, aren’t you that singer?” a guy asked from behind.
I glanced over my shoulder and nodded. Something about the guy looked familiar, but I couldn’t place the face. “Yeah, how’s it going?” I said with a chin lift and turned back around.
“So, you work construction? That’s your day job? I’d have thought you were raking in enough money with your music to not have to work.”
I smiled. “Well, I wish that were the case, but it’s not.” I faced forward again. It was my turn to step into the bakery. In those few seconds, Layla spotted me, smiled sweetly and then that smile turned to a frown. Total disappointment. The guy behind me had slipped in, too, and my memory was jogged. It was him; the man Layla was hiding from outside the bar.
I reached the counter and was disappointed when one of the other women behind the counter stepped up to help me. Layla was helping a woman who was buying several loaves of bread that needed slicing and packing. Her smile hadn’t returned, and her thin shoulders looked tense as she pushed the bread through the slicer. It wasn’t exactly the bakery visit I’d been hoping for.
“Uh, I’ll have two cheese Danish,” I said.
The woman turned away to get the pastries. Layla wasn’t making eye contact with anyone. She was tense as she rang the woman up. Then it was his turn at the counter.
Layla’s mouth was pulled tight. “What can I get you?” she said coldly to him.
“Layla, I’m not here to buy anything.”
“Then please step aside, so I can help the next customer.” Layla waved her hand, and the weasel reached over the counter and grabbed hold of it.
“Let go, Dustin,” she said quietly not wanting to cause a scene in her sister’s bakery. Unfortunately, the scene had already started.
“Please, Layla, I saw you the other night at Comstock. I was so broken up about you running from me that I couldn’t even go back inside. Let’s talk. Please.”
“I’m working, Dustin.”
When he didn’t let go, I stepped over to their section of the counter. I leaned down and spoke quietly into his ear. “Let her go … now.”
He peered sideways at me. “This isn’t any of your business.”
I looked at him. “You’re right, but if you don’t let her go, you’re going to be walking out of here with far fewer teeth than when you walked in.”
Dustin released his grip. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Layla rubbing that same wrist. I really did want to knock some teeth out.
“Are you threatening me?” he asked. His face crinkled like a whiny little kid.
“Me? Hmm.” I tapped my chin. “Yeah, I guess I am, but that’s only because I asked you nicely the first time and you didn’t listen.”
Dustin stuck out his chin, glared at Layla, then sneered at me before leaving. I looked up again, and Layla had disappeared into the back. I paid for my pastries and walked out. Dustin was nowhere in sight, but after seeing him in action, it seemed Layla had good reason to hide from him. He had a problem.
I’d reached the truck when I heard Layla call me. “Nash, wait.”
Layla hurried to me in her pink polka dot apron. Her hair was pulled back off her beautiful face. She stopped just short of me and lifted her hand to brush away a fallen strand of hair. I took gentle hold of her hand to look at the red marks on her wrist.
“Now I really wish I had knocked out his teeth.” I let go of her hand.
“It looks worse than it is.” She peered up at me. “I just wanted to thank you for stepping in … again.” Her lips turned down at the ends. “I had no idea he was going to be like this. It’s really disquieting. I’m deleting all my dating apps. I’m done trying to meet the right man. I always end up with the wrong man. Dustin has been a good lesson. So, thank you again.”
“The dating apps aren’t worth the trouble.”
She reached up and tucked that same strand of hair behind her ear. “You’re not going to tell me that Nash Ledger is on dating apps. You must get inundated with requests for a match.”
“You’re right, I’m not on there, but for the same reason as you. The matches never worked. And I never added singer of a rock band to my profile because yes, then I’d get inundated. But when I’m just Nash who works construction and enjoys mountain biking and hanging out with friends, then I get a normal number of requests.”
“Right. A normal number. This guy in front of me.” She shook her head. “Not buying it.” I was relieved to see she wasn’t still upset about Dustin’s visit to the bakery. “Well, neighbor, I guess I’ll see you around. By the way, how is my favorite guy in the whole world?”
I pointed to myself, knowing full well who she was referring to.
Her smile had fully returned. I was relieved to see it. “Well, since you’ve stepped in to save me twice, I suppose you should be my favorite guy right now, but my grandmother taught me never to lie. I’m talking about Rocky.”
“Yeah, I sort of figured that. That guy steals my thunder all the time, and he never even has to threaten to knock anyone’s teeth out. If I know my dog, and, I do, he’ll be spending the next eight hours curled up on the couch, sliding off like a boneless fur bag several times to nibble on his kibble and lap up some water.”
“Eight hours. That’s a long time to spend alone. You know, I get off at half past two. I could take him down to the beach or out on a walk. Oh my gosh, please let me take him on walks.”
Everything about her was irresistible, and on top of it, she was nuts about my big, messy, mannerless dog. “Rocky would love that.” I reached into my pocket and pulled out my keys. “Here, take this key. I’ve got a spare one at the house. His leash is on the hook by the door, and there’s a canister with poop bags attached. I have to warn you, he’s not always the best on a leash, especially if there’s a cat or squirrel involved.”
Layla nodded. “I’ll keep watch for enemy intruders on our walk. Well, what do you know? The day started crummy, but it’s gotten way better. Can’t wait to take Rocky out for a walk. Thanks. Oh wait.” She crinkled her small nose. “This is awkward. I don’t think I’ve ever asked a man for his number, but since I’ll have the highly sought-after and highly respectable job of Rocky’s dog walker, maybe it’d be a good idea to exchange numbers. It’s all right if you don’t want to give it out. I’m sure being famous and all that?—”
I laughed. “Right. Famous. My good friend, Mick Jagger, did advise me not to give my number out to anyone except hot women, so I guess that rule still holds. Really, I don’t mind at all. In fact, you’re right, it’s a good idea what with your important position and all. Although you might rethink ‘highly sought-after’ once you’ve been out in the world with my goofy dog at the end of a leash.” I took out my phone, and she pulled out hers. We traded them and put in our numbers. The hard part would be not picking up the phone to talk to her just because I wanted to chat.
There was a slightly awkward exchange of smiles as we handed our phones back.
She pointed her thumb over her shoulder. “Better get back before my boss gets mad. I’ll keep you posted about the walk.”
“Looking forward to it.” I watched her stroll back to the bakery. “Lucky damn dog,” I muttered as I climbed into the truck. At least Rocky was going to get to be part of Layla’s life, and, since I was his owner, I supposed that meant I’d see more of her, too. It was a win-win, and those didn’t happen often.
I pulled out a pastry and took a bite. “Jeez, that’s good.”