Chapter 12 #2
Tom started arguing, but Lila waved him off.
But as she worked, Lila watched Tom out of the corner of her eye, trying desperately to make herself stop gawking at him like he was some movie star and she was a love-struck fan.
She had her days of romance and love. She was too old to go through all that again.
She shook away her fanciful thoughts and concentrated on the task at hand.
Lila brought the tray of mugs and plates over and set them down. In the middle of the tray was a plate with an array of cupcakes.
They all thanked her, and Lila returned to the counter, letting the family eat in peace.
Tom, who was sitting beside Linda, his big hands wrapped around his mug of tea, was listening intently as his grandkids and Toby discussed various topics.
But this time her focus was on Linda, who listened and nodded at all the right places, but Lila noticed the small distracted softness around her eyes, as if part of Linda’s mind was still on the woman who had just left.
Lila wondered about that, but her attention was drawn away from Linda when the bell over the door chimed.
Mrs. Devereaux came in for a loaf of freshly baked brown bread.
She greeted Linda warmly, asked after George, fussed over the children, and bought her bread with the unhurried pleasure of a woman who had been a regular for thirty years.
Two more customers came in shortly after.
The Petersens’ eldest, picking up the family’s standing rye on his way home from work.
A young mother with a small boy on her hip wanting two slices of carrot cake for an afternoon picnic.
Lila served them all. Tom rose at one point, came around the counter beside her without a word, and rang up the next two customers while she worked the back. They had done this same dance a hundred times over the past six months. But today it felt different.
Eventually, the small rush eased.
Linda finished her drink and stood. The kids had eaten every crumb and were ready to go home.
“We should go and let you two work,” Linda said. “Lila, thank you. The hot chocolate was perfect.”
“Anytime,” Lila told her.
“Tom, are you still coming over for supper tonight?” Linda asked him.
“Of course, I’ll be there by seven,” Tom confirmed.
“Good. Kids, say thank you.” Linda turned to the three kids now standing beside her.
“Thank you, Lila!” three small voices chorused. They walked over and hugged Tom goodbye.
Linda hugged Lila briefly across the counter. Tom walked them to the door and held it open. Sophia gave Lila a small wave on her way out. The bell above the door jingled, and the bakery fell quiet again.
Tom turned around. The bakery had emptied, leaving just the two of them. The afternoon light was pale gold as it glinted through the front windows, the small hum of the fridge under the counter the only sound.
For a half second neither of them spoke. Lila felt the warmth rise in her cheeks again and turned quickly to the cupcake tray to busy her hands.
“Lila.” Tom walked toward the counter, making her heart skip a beat, much to her dismay.
“Yes?” Lila stood up and looked at him.
“I enjoyed last night.” Tom stood in front of her, watching her, and she had to stop herself from squirming and hoped he couldn’t hear how hard her heart was pounding against her rib cage.
“I enjoyed it too, Tom,” Lila said quietly.
“It has been a long time since I have enjoyed someone’s company quite like that,” Tom admitted.
Now the butterflies in her stomach got disturbed, probably from all the noise her heart was making. Lila gave herself a mental shake. She was sixty-eight years old, and Tom was her boss. Their evening last night had been a kindness from one tired widow to another, and that was all it had been.
“It was a lovely evening,” Lila answered carefully.
They stood in an awkward silence for a few moments, and Lila noted that Tom seemed to be battling with something.
“Lila. I’d like to hear your ideas for the bakery and look at the new pastry recipes you’ve been wanting to try.” Tom’s words stunned her
At first, Lila thought she was hearing things and stood staring at him. “You do?”
“I do.” Tom nodded.
“Would you go to dinner with me tomorrow?” Tom asked. “And we can discuss it all.”
Lila’s mouth opened and closed once before she could form an answer.
“Uh…” Lila swallowed and cleared her throat. “Yes, that would be… would be nice.”
“Good,” Tom said. “Tomorrow night, then. I’ll book somewhere nice, and we can leave from here as soon as we’ve closed up.”
“All right.” Lila nodded.
Tom stepped around the counter as she turned to go toward the kitchen, and they ended up facing each other.
Although she didn’t think it possible, her heart seemed to hammer a bit louder, and her pulse raced in a way that no one of her age should have it race.
Lila was battling to regain control of her traitorous heart and settle the butterflies in her stomach when something small, dark, and ferociously quick launched itself onto her back from somewhere behind her.
“Oh!” Lila cried.
She pitched forward, stumbling when two strong arms caught her around the waist before she hit the counter.
That was when she saw a black-and-white tabby go flying across the bakery in a graceful arc, landing with a soft thump on the marble counter, then springing down to the wooden floor and trotting, tail high, to the empty chair by the window.
Harold leapt up onto the seat, settled himself with infinite dignity, wrapped his tail around his paws, and turned to look directly at her and Tom with an expression of pure, unmistakable satisfaction.
Lila stayed exactly where she was, unable to move or breathe. She was wrapped in Tom’s arms.
Tom’s chest was warm against her. His hands were spread firmly across her waist where he had caught her. She could feel every breath he took. For one suspended moment, neither of them moved.
Then Tom let go, slowly, gently, his hands lingering for the briefest second longer than they needed to before they fell away. Lila straightened up and pressed her hands to her cheeks, which she could feel were burning red.
“Harold,” Tom said, rather hoarsely. “What in the world?”
Harold yawned at him from the chair. His head turned, and his eye met Lila’s.
For the briefest of moments, Lila thought the furry rascal had done what he did on purpose.
Her eyes narrowed at the furry menace. Harold blinked at her again, infinitely pleased with himself, and began to wash one paw with great care, as if his work for the afternoon was now done.
Lila shook her head as her mind started to spin, and the reality of what Tom had just asked her set in.
Lila was going on a dinner date with her boss!