Chapter 2 #2
She smiled and dipped her chin. “We would have come looking for you, but after visiting with your parents, which ultimately led to her seeing Wyatt and Tate, Rosie wanted a treat.”
Cooper shifted his attention to me. “Looks like there’s one way you could become Rosie’s favorite. All you’ve got to do is shower her with fresh cookies.”
I laughed. “I don’t think that’s going to happen, no matter how many I entice her with. Liam’s going to do whatever it takes to hold on to that spot. But I’ll be happy coming in second. Now, did you want any cookies?”
He shook his head. “I’m good. Thanks. I just wanted to come over and get my girls.”
Glancing behind him, I noticed a few more people had gotten in line at the bakery. “Well, why don’t you take my seat, then? I’ve got to get back to work before Birdie decides to leave me, because I’m overworking her.”
I stood, kissed my niece on the cheek, and got back to work. Birdie and I got through the small rush with ease, returned to some of our closing duties, and waved at my brother and his family when they left.
And as I watched them go, I felt that wave of longing wash over me once more. I really wanted that happy ending. There wasn’t much I would be against doing to make it happen, either.
“Rosie’s so cute.”
Birdie’s voice cut through my thoughts, and I turned to face her, leaning my hips against the counter right in front of the register. “Isn’t she? I swear, she gets cuter every time I see her.”
“And she’s getting so big.”
Proof that time was passing me by. “I know. I can’t stand it and wish she would stay this little forever. Jack, too.”
Birdie sighed. “Maybe things are going to go well with Fisher, and I’ll have that one day.”
“Well, that puts you one step ahead of me.”
My friend considered me for a moment, looking off into the distance, before she focused her attention on me again and said, “Perhaps. But if you keep doing things like you did when the tattooed hottie was here earlier, it won’t be that way for long.”
“What?”
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t mess with me. I know you know who I’m talking about. It would be impossible to forget a man who looked like that. Plus, I saw the way you flirted with him, so I know you remember him.”
I huffed. “Right. Well, you can see what good that did me.”
Birdie beamed at me. “It did plenty of good. And I know that’s the case, because he’s making his way over here right now, and his eyes are laser-focused on you.”
My body tensed, but I didn’t dare turn around.
With a gleam of pride in her eye, Birdie said, “I’m going to duck out of here just a few minutes early, but I expect to hear what this is all about when I see you tomorrow morning.”
Before I could protest, she was gone.
And I was alone.
Ever-so-slowly, I turned around. My eyes landed on his hands now resting on the counter.
One hand—his left—was covered up to his knuckles in tattoos that snaked all the way up his forearm, landing just below the elbow.
He wore two chunky rings on that hand and another on the opposite.
And while the right forearm was bare, I could see the bottom part of a tattoo peeking out beneath the sleeve of his T-shirt and up past the collar on the side of his neck.
I lifted my chin and met his blue stare. “You’re back.”
“I am.”
His voice. God, there was something so sexy about that deep rumble.
“I hope you’re not coming back to file a complaint about those cookies,” I teased. I didn’t know what was wrong with me—maybe it was the desperation to find someone—but I couldn’t seem to stop smiling and flirting with this man.
And it was crazy, because I knew. One look at him told me there was something about him that was absolute trouble. It didn’t matter. Maybe I needed a little trouble in my life. It’d be far more exciting than what I was dealing with now.
“My only complaint as it pertains to those cookies is that I felt obligated to share them with my buddies,” he revealed.
“I see. This is a problem. So, are you back for more?”
His lips twitched, and I couldn’t miss the way his eyes twinkled with amusement. “I was thinking you made such a great case for the brownies that I need to try one of those.”
I offered a sympathetic look as I bit my lip. “I sold out of them.”
The amusement was gone. “Are you joking?”
I shook my head and waved at the display case. “I am not. But I do have one cinnamon roll left, and it’s just as delicious.”
Beau chuckled. “Alright, you’ve convinced me.”
My brows shot up in question. “I didn’t work very hard. You’re easy.”
He narrowed his eyes playfully at me. “If only you knew…”
Apparently, my flirting had paid off, because he was giving it right back, and now my belly was a trembling mess of nerves.
So, I took the opportunity to calm myself when I got him the cinnamon bun. But after I returned to where he was waiting, I realized there was something nagging at me.
“Okay, I have a deal for you,” I declared.
“What’s that?”
I held up the bag containing his dessert and said, “If you can answer one question for me, this one’s on the house.”
“Mmm. Tempting. What’s the question?”
“When you stopped over here at lunchtime, you mentioned that you didn’t want me to think you were a jerk, something about me having a long line here. I’m not sure I got a real explanation. So my question is, why would I have thought you were a jerk for coming over to buy a treat?”
Beau reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. Then he tossed a twenty-dollar bill on the counter. Disappointment washed over me as I presumed he was making it clear he had no intention of giving me an answer.
But then he surprised me when he revealed, “I have a weakness for desserts, which is part of the reason I strolled over here earlier. But the truth is, I was wondering if everyone else in line had the same thoughts as me.”
“The same thoughts?”
He swallowed roughly, his eyes roaming over my face. “I wanted the chance to talk to you, because even from the distance, I thought you were beautiful. Up close, you’re stunning. And I worried that perhaps all the other guys in line were thinking the same thing.”
He thought I was beautiful and stunning.
“I see,” I murmured, stomach fluttering.
“So, tell me, Jules. Am I a jerk?”
Much like my niece had done with me earlier when she wanted me to get her what she wanted, I tucked my chin toward my chest and pinned my eyes on Beau. “I guess that depends.”
“On what?”
“Were you only looking to talk to me with a counter separating us?”
Surprise littered his features. One half of his mouth quirked with a smile. “I’d love to take you out sometime. Are you free tomorrow evening?”
I wasn’t, but I’d make it so. Birdie and Serena would both step up and help. “As it turns out, I am.”
He pulled out his phone, tapped on the screen, and held it out to me. “Give me your number, and I’ll reach out later tonight to work out the details.”
Appearing cool and casual is what I wished I would’ve been able to do, but I was so excited that I practically snatched the phone out of Beau’s hand. I was sure he could sense just how eager I was.
When I handed the phone back to him, he tapped on the screen a few more times to save my number and tucked it back into his pocket.
Lifting the bag with the cinnamon bun, he said, “Thanks for this. I’ll talk to you later, Jules.”
“But…” I reached for the twenty he’d left on the counter and held it up. “That was supposed to be on the house.”
He waved his hand in the air dismissively. “Keep it. I’m sure this will be worth every penny.”
Without another word, not giving me the chance to respond, Beau turned and walked away. I waited until he was gone to celebrate with a cupcake.