Chapter Ten
Mel
I was literally the worst friend ever. It had only been a single day, actually not even a full day, only hours since I'd promised Mattie I'd look out for Cammie and since I promised myself I'd stop noticing her like I was, but in that uniform, she was trying to kill me.
I'd just stepped into Busy Bee Bakery and Tea to check in with her and get an iced tea, but seeing her in the tight yellow dress with a little frilly apron cinching in her waist, I didn't know where to look.
I was grateful I had my sunglasses covering my eyes, because it took me way longer than it should have to direct my eyes away from her chest to her face.
"Hey Mel, what can I get you?" she asked as I approached the counter.
"Dorrie's usual."
"And for you?"
"Something sweet and iced?" I asked.
"I know just the thing," she said with an adorable smile. "Coming right up."
With that, she turned around, and my god, I thought I was struggling to stop looking at her chest, but the way her dress hugged her ass was a work of art.
When she was done with my drink, instead of handing it to me, she came out from around the counter.
I instinctually took a step back from her when I saw her coming closer.
That damned dress with her long legs, her beautiful red hair in a high ponytail, and that damned smile of hers were going to get me in trouble.
"It's on the house," she said, handing me the drink. I took a breath and grabbed the drink from her, my breath hitching a little as our fingers brushed.
"Ohh, sorry!" she said, wincing. "It's a bit cold." She turned back to the counter, grabbed a drink sleeve and offered it to me with an apologetic smile.
Latching onto the excuse, I took the paper sleeve and slipped it onto the cup. "Thank you," I told her, returning her smile with my own. "But please, let me pay for it."
"No, definitely not," she said, waving me off. "Friends and family discount."
No wonder the cafe was struggling.
"Aren't you friends with like everyone in town?" I asked.
She laughed at that before saying, "Not as many people as Dorrie is, but fine, it's a family discount, then. I do do some business here, and you're right, I'm friends with a lot of people in town."
I didn't doubt it. Mattie was always saying that Cammie had never met a stranger, since most people warmed up to her enough to be happily acquainted within a minute or two.
"But you're family," she said in a way that both made me happy and made me feel incredibly creepy for the thoughts I'd been having about her.
"Besides," she continued, clearly having no idea what was on my mind, "Dorrie volunteered you for free labor and since I'll be honest that I can't afford to pay you-"
"I don't want your money," I quickly interrupted.
"I know, I know. I was just about to say I know you wouldn't take it even if I could, so I'm definitely paying you in drinks and desserts."
"You really don't have to," I said, reaching for my wallet again. I was more than happy to pay, but she waved me off again.
"Seriously, don't worry about it. I feel guilty enough that Dorrie roped you into helping me. This is the least I can do."
"So, what do you have me doing anyway?"
She shrugged, saying, "Well, as you can see, it's crazy packed right now."
I didn't know whether to laugh or not, since she was clearly making a joke, but it was a sad one. I was the only one here.
"No, but seriously, I'm fine for today, but if you have time one or two nights this week, I could use help with some of the baking and prep work."
"Definitely," I said quickly.
She smiled before saying, "Wait, don't you have to check in with Dorrie?"
"I will, but it was her idea. I'm sure it's fine."
In fact, I was suspiciously sure it would be fine since she'd basically pushed me out the door this morning to get our drinks and hadn't so much as mentioned her precious bees yet this morning.
Armed with our drinks, a couple of pastries Cammie had insisted Aunt Dorrie and I share, and more inappropriate thoughts about my best friend's sister than I had any right to be having at nine in the morning, I headed back to my aunt's house.