Chapter 9
The Tuesday before the Valentine’s Ball, Alexis rushed around the bakery.
Because the ball also fell on Valentine’s Day, she was extra busy with orders outside of the event.
Melissa had been especially helpful, working long hours right alongside her.
Alexis promised to give her a bonus check on top of her overtime.
This event would help promote the business heavily, despite it already being popular.
She couldn’t be thankful enough for Melissa’s help.
The bell above the door jingled, and Alexis glanced at the clock. A smile tugged at her lips. Lonnie always showed up at the same time each morning to pick up cupcakes before heading to work. She had come to expect it. Her eyes met Melissa’s, who tilted her head toward the front encouragingly.
Alexis wiped her hands on her apron and walked to the front of the store, smiling brightly at Lonnie. “Ready to try a new flavor?”
His eyes brightened. “That sounds amazing.”
Alexis pulled a cupcake out of the case. It was a small batch she had whipped up while testing different flavors. She already had all the ingredients for the other cupcakes she was working on, so it didn’t take much effort to make the new ones.
She handed the cupcake to him and watched as he bit into it. His eyes rolled back into his head, and he groaned.
“Oh my God. That’s incredible.”
She smiled. “Thank you. I crushed mints up and mixed them into the batter and used peppermint marshmallow frosting on top.”
“I think this is my new favorite.”
“Good.” She pulled a box out from behind the counter. “Because I included a few more in your box today.”
He finished the cupcake. “They’re going to have to fight me for them.”
She giggled.
He paid for the cupcakes and leaned against the counter. “How about you let me take you out for dinner? It’s about time I feed you.”
She laughed nervously. “Um, I don’t know. I’m pretty busy with the shop with it being so close to Valentine’s Day.”
“She can go. I got you covered!” Melissa shouted.
Alexis’s head whipped toward Melissa, who winked despite the glare Alexis aimed at her.
Lonnie’s low chuckle brought Alexis’s attention back to him. “So is that a yes?”
She forced a smile. She wanted to go on a date with him, but the unease of being with another man and not being able to be truthful about her past and her real identity made her want to stay away from relationships.
In her past life, she was honest to a fault.
It was why she couldn’t keep quiet about Vic’s activities and took it to the police, even if it put her own life at risk.
Keeping her past hidden had been incredibly challenging since moving to Cupid City, and lying by default didn’t make her feel good.
“Yes.”
Lonnie’s face lit up, and Melissa squealed. Alexis couldn’t help smiling, genuinely this time.
“Perfect. Can I pick you up?”
“Um, sure. How about from here? About six?”
“It’s a date.” Lonnie gave her one last smile before leaving the store.
“You’re welcome,” Melissa said.
Alexis turned toward her and raised an eyebrow. “For?”
“Getting you a date with the hottie, of course.”
“I’d rather not go on a date.”
Melissa put her hands on her hips. “Okay. You need to explain this to me because I just don’t understand.”
“I just don’t want to date.”
“Uh-uh. Nope. Be honest.”
Melissa didn’t look like she’d drop it, so Alexis sighed and sat on a barstool next to the kitchen island. “I was in a very bad, abusive relationship in the past and have no desire to ever go down that road again.”
Melissa’s face softened. “I see. But have you ever considered that not every guy is like that? You might find the love of your life in Lonnie, but you’ll never know if you don’t try.”
Alexis smiled softly. “I know.”
But what Melissa didn’t know was that Alexis was keeping several secrets. Secrets she couldn’t ever tell. Not for her safety or anyone’s around her.
Lonnie pulled up to the cupcake shop. The open sign had been flipped to closed, and he could see Alexis standing in the lit-up kitchen near the back doing a spin to show her outfit to Melissa. They spoke animatedly to each other, and he smiled softly.
When he had asked her out on a date, he had expected her to turn him down.
Melissa automatically saying Alexis could go almost made him feel bad for her.
She clearly didn’t want to, but Lonnie wanted to get her out of her shell.
He considered letting her off the hook, but he was too grateful for the help.
If anything, he hoped they could be friends.
The truth was, if Alexis got into the car and said she didn’t want to go, he would respect her decision. But based on the smile she had whenever she saw him, he suspected she wanted to.
He got out of his car and looked around the quiet street.
Most of the businesses had closed, so there was very little foot traffic.
A van down the street caught his eye. He made a mental note of the style and color, but after watching it for a moment, he saw no movement and decided there wasn’t a threat at that time.
Lonnie walked across the street and to the front door of the store, knocking on the glass.
Alexis and Melissa turned to look in his direction and smiled.
Melissa looked absolutely gleeful with a bright smile on her face.
Alexis’s was shyer, but genuine. His excitement grew the closer she got to the door.
When she pulled it open, he smiled. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
She wore black leggings with black boots that came halfway up her calves. Her white sweater dress was fitted to her body and accentuated her curves. Her dark hair was in waves around her face. A black coat was draped over her arm, and she pulled it on quickly before saying “bye” to Melissa.
“Have a good time, you two,” Melissa said with a wink.
Lonnie chuckled. “Have a good night, Melissa.”
He rested his hand at the small of Alexis’s back and walked with her to his car.
He opened the passenger door just as the van he spotted down the street earlier passed them.
It sped off, and he brushed it off as a coincidence and waited for Alexis to get in before shutting the door and making his way around to the driver’s side.
Once he was behind the wheel, he turned toward Alexis.
“I know you were hesitant to go out with me, so if you don’t want to, I completely understand.
I don’t want you to feel forced into it.
But before you decide, I’d like you to consider just going out with me tonight as a friend if you don’t want to date. ”
Alexis smiled softly. “I appreciate the thought, but I’d love to go out with you tonight. It’s been a while since I’ve been on a date though, so forgive me if I’m awkward.”
Lonnie breathed a sigh of relief and turned on the car. “You and me both.”
He drove to a Chinese restaurant Clint had recommended just outside the city. Then he got out and opened Alexis’s door. “Have you ever been here?”
She shook her head. “I haven’t.”
He rested his hand on the small of her back, and she smiled shyly up at him before they walked inside. Once they were seated and had looked over the menu, he smiled at her.
“So, how’s the cupcake business going?”
She giggled. “It’s pretty busy right now with the ball coming up. And Valentine’s Day already gives me a ton of orders, so we’re pretty swamped. Melissa has been a lifesaver, though.”
“You seem like really great friends.”
“We are. She’s the first person I met when I moved here because I had hired her. I tend to keep to myself.” She took a sip of her water and averted her eyes.
Lonnie wondered if he should ask about her past, and it was on the tip of his tongue, but he suspected she wouldn’t answer him truthfully anyway. The thought was interrupted when a server came by and took their orders.
“Do you have any siblings?” Lonnie asked once he had walked away.
Alexis shook her head. “Nope. Only child. How about you?”
“Only child.”
“What’s your favorite dessert?”
Lonnie smiled. “I’m actually not much of a dessert person, but you’ve turned me. So I’d say cupcakes, your cupcakes specifically, are my favorite.”
She blushed. “You aren’t a dessert person? Then why did you come into my shop for a cupcake that first time?”
He shrugged. “I was intrigued after our run-in on the street.”
Her cheeks turned red. “Sorry about that. You startled me.”
“It’s alright. I know I’m intimidating. It’s part of the job description.”
She giggled. “Yes, the ladies have taken quite a liking to you in that video.”
He chuckled. “I’m pretty sure they’ve taken a bigger liking to Amy. Who doesn’t love it when a woman can kick a man’s ass?”
“She is a force to be reckoned with.”
“She certainly is.”
Alexis leaned forward. “So what’s it like working for the most famous band in the world right now?”
He smiled slowly. “You figured that one out, huh?”
“I didn’t have to. Enough people recognized you and blew that video up.”
Their food arrived at that moment, and Lonnie thanked the server before he walked away.
“It’s interesting, to say the least. The guys keep me on my toes.
Honestly, though, they’re my best friends.
I’ve been with them since the beginning, and it’s a dream job.
I get to travel all over the world and hang out with my friends all day. What more could I ask for?”
Sadness crossed her face before she blinked it away and smiled back. “Sounds fun.”
A protectiveness washed over Lonnie. He never wanted to see Alexis sad if he had anything to say about it. “Maybe you could come to a show sometime. Meet the guys.”
“Oh, you’ve got connections, huh?”
He smiled flirtatiously. “I know a guy or two.”
She giggled. “That sounds fun. Maybe I can if the opportunity ever presents itself.”
The opportunity would definitely present itself even if it meant him trying to pull strings to get a show near Cupid City. If that didn’t work, he’d fly her to the nearest city. Hell, he’d get her a job making cupcakes on the tour.
Slow it down. It’s just a first date.
But part of him knew he didn’t feel like this about just anyone.
Hell, he’d never felt this way about anyone before, and he suspected he never would again.
There was a magnetic energy between them that he craved.
Alexis was someone special, and he was determined to spend every moment he could with her while he was in Cupid City.