Blowing His Circuit (DP Construction #3)

Chapter 1

Chapter one

Aubrey

“Now one with you walking," Candy, my assistant, directs her husband.

Slate’s well-earned muscles are on full display as he tugs at the tight t-shirt she made him wear.

“I’ve never felt more like a piece of meat in my life,” Slate grumbles, shifting the plate of hot pink sprinkle cupcakes carefully as he gets into place.

"Sexier!" Candy insists.

Slate narrows his eyes at her.

“Thank you, Slate. We appreciate you for doing this,” I call out before nodding to the next customer in line to start their order.

“Sex sells, baby. Don’t hate the player, hate the game. No. Turn the plate so we can read Sugarplum. Perfect." Candy grins and lifts her phone to start the video.

Slate walks toward her, carrying the plate of cupcakes.

"Cut! All right, we're going to do one more. Should we have him take off his shirt this time?" Candy looks up when Slate growls at her. "Why should I be the only one who gets to appreciate your gorgeous body?"

Slate snorts. “Being sold to the masses by my own wife.”

Candy shrugs. “They can look.”

"I'm leaving my shirt on." Slate sets the plate down and crosses his arms as if he's afraid Candy might actually rip his shirt off his body. The way she squares up to him, I think he might be right.

"Health code requires we keep all clothes on, thank you," I call out as I hand Mrs. Barkus her bag of goodies. "Thank you. See you next week!"

"The beefcake is supposed to sell the cupcakes. Not the other way around," Betty pipes up from two spots back in line. Betty is the unofficial mayor of Duhring Park and the go-to source for all the happenings around town, which means everyone will know about this video before it even gets posted.

Slate's jaw clenches when he realizes they have an audience, but he knows better than to argue when Betty's helping him.

Candy purses her lips as she considers Betty's comment.

Betty gives me a wink, and I smile at her as I start pulling Mrs. Greyson's order. She’s taken me under her wing since I opened the bakery six months ago. Besides being my best customer, she’s also become a good friend.

"Yeah, you're right. The focus needs to be on the dessert. Your shirt stays on," Candy finally proclaims, then claps her hands.

Slate rolls his eyes but picks up the plate again and gets into place.

When he turns around, Candy blows him a kiss, and the corner of his mouth lifts.

That man would do anything for Candy. His eyes trail over her curvy body, and it suddenly occurs to me that all the grumbling is a form of foreplay.

Slate quickly schools his face as Candy counts down from three. He stalks toward the camera, and this time, when Candy yells cut, Slate keeps going, pinning her against the counter. She laughs, swatting at him half-heartedly as he kisses her hard.

“Get a room, you two,” I joke, fanning myself. “You’re going to melt all my chocolate.”

“Speak for yourself, dear.” Betty steps up to the cash register. “Some of us like to watch.”

I chortle, and Candy’s cheeks turn pink. Slate pulls away, grinning down at his wife with nothing but love. Well, maybe love and a shit ton of lust.

"All right, back to work," Candy says.

Slate leans down to whisper something in her ear. Candy's face turns bright red, then she bites her lip and nods. Slate grins, leaning forward to brush a chaste peck on her lips before he saunters out of the bakery and heads toward his garage one block over.

After watching him walk away, Candy turns to find both Betty and me grinning at her.

"What? He asked if I'm making dinner tonight." Candy avoids our eyes as she hustles around the counter to put on her apron.

"Yeah, right. More like he's letting her know what he's having for dessert," Betty quips with a wiggle of her eyebrows.

I burst out laughing.

"What can I get you, Mr. Rochelle?" Candy pointedly ignores us as she waits on the next customer.

Over the next several minutes, Candy works like a machine, winnowing the line down as Betty takes her time, which is fine by me. The bell over the door dings multiple times as Betty picks out her pastries in the case, and I tuck them carefully into the box.

"All right, anything else today, Betty?"

I glance at the line while she decides, and suck in a sharp breath as hazel eyes lock me in place.

Max Orrington is next in line. Tall, dark, and handsome, with the broad shoulders and muscles of a defensive linebacker.

He's the town flirt. He always has a smile for everyone, especially the ladies.

Well, everyone except me. Case in point: when he realizes I'm staring at him, he scowls and focuses on the menu listed on the wall behind me.

Betty's voice drags my attention away from the broody grump.

"I'd like one more thing, but it's not on the regular menu." Betty glances to her left, then leans in as if to whisper but suddenly shouts, "When are we going to get you your own beefcake?"

I shake my head, letting out a sharp, surprised laugh. Inexplicably, my eyes dart quickly to Grumpy Gus, who glares and taps his foot impatiently.

"Too busy for that," I say, trying to run Betty's card as quickly as I can to avoid this conversation.

"Don't worry, Betty. I signed her up for a dating website," Candy announces.

"Excuse me?" I gape at my friend and co-worker in astonishment. "You better be joking."

"I never joke about matters of the heart," Candy says, her eyes wide. "That would be some seriously bad mojo."

Betty nods sagely as Candy hands Mrs. Watson her box of baked goods. Max is right behind her.

Candy gives him a big smile as he steps up to her register. "What can I get you today, Maximillian?"

He returns Candy's smile, his whole face lighting up.

I bite my lip. Why can't he smile at me like that?

Max nods hello to Betty, but his face clouds over when his eyes land on me. I glance away quickly.

"A bear claw. Please."

Max's deep voice coats me like warm honey, and my heart skips a beat like the blood-pumping traitor it is.

My brain understands that Max is a grouchy jerk who is not worth my time or attention, but we can't seem to get my body on board with the freakin' message. Every time he speaks, my nipples harden, my heart races, and the throbbing between my legs becomes almost unbearable.

I fiddle with my necklace, dancing from foot to foot as I wait for Betty's receipt, but the line has dwindled, and she’s still not in any hurry to be done.

"Has she gotten any matches yet?" Betty asks.

Candy nods, pulling her phone from her apron.

"What? I don't want to be on a dating site," I insist.

I can feel Max's eyes on me like the first day we met, one year ago.

It was at The Reading Grounds. My friend, Piper, had just met her future husband, Emmett, and he introduced us to his best friend, Max.

When we locked eyes that day, it was like little heart emojis bubbled out around him, and he didn't take his eyes off me for almost twenty minutes straight.

But then he stood up so fast that he knocked his chair over and stalked out of the coffee shop without another word.

All I get from him now are glares, grunts, and growls.

I don't dare look at him. Why should I care what he thinks? I'm certainly not holding out for him.

I'm not.

"Ooh, he's cute." Betty nods appreciatively. "And he loves to cook. That would be nice to come home to at night."

"Can I pay, please?" The sharpness of Max's voice snaps all three of our heads in his direction. He looks chagrined, at least in front of Betty. "I said please," he insists defensively.

I glance at Candy, but she leans forward on the counter to let Betty swipe through the suitors that have apparently liked my profile, leaving me to finish his order.

My face heats as I wipe my sweaty palms on my apron and reach for the money he's placed on the counter.

Max scowls, and I glare right back at him.

Try as I might, I can't fix my face, even for a paying customer—one who visits my bakery every single morning.

If he only knew what the rest of my body wanted, he'd never stop in again.

Trying not to sigh, I pop open the vintage cash register and count out the coins. When I hand Max his change, my fingers brush his skin, and I gasp as a current of electricity explodes up my arm.

We lock eyes, and the rest of the world falls away. A swirl of sunshine lights him up from behind. The birds sing a song only we can hear. A choir of heavenly angels bursts into song. My chest heaves, and his fingertips lightly caress mine as we stare at each other.

"Oh, this one works from home. You could finally get a pet, Aubrey!"

Candy's comment barely penetrates the lusty haze of glitter and rainbows.

The entire illusion crashes and burns as Max turns on his heel and stalks toward the exit.

"You forgot your change!" I yell after him in flustered frustration.

"Keep it," he barks as the door closes behind him.

I clench my jaw. My first instinct is to throw it after him, but I sigh and dump it in the tip jar.

"Do you want me to reach out to any of the guys who are interested?" Candy asks.

I try to focus on her through my irritated, horny state. "No. Stop trying to set me up. I'll meet someone when I meet them." I look pointedly at Betty as well, to make sure she gets the message.

Betty nods thoughtfully. "Of course, dear. Who knows? Maybe it's someone you've already met." She gives me a knowing smile and hooks her bag of goodies over her arm. "Have a lovely day, ladies."

I give her a pathetic wave. Today is not going to be lovely at all if this morning is any indication.

Stupid Max and his dumb, sexy fingers.

Yet I'm the one whose nightly fantasies feature familiar hazel eyes.

I suppress a groan and throw myself back into work.

"Next!"