Chapter 15
Reina
I felt different today, lighter somehow. I always felt good when I was baking, but this was better. I was excited about what it meant, even as the logical part of my brain was urging me to slow down and use caution.
Tom wouldn't be happy about what had happened, and I was positive that concern was at the forefront of Morgan's mind. He was probably thinking of ways to tell me that last night was a mistake and we needed to keep it from Tom.
I couldn't blame him for thinking that, and I knew it was the most logical result. But I wanted a different outcome, one where we could continue to be together and see where it went. But that was unlikely.
The mature thing to do was to put a stop to it, chalk it up to one night of weakness, and pretend it never happened. But I couldn't stop hope from seeping into my consciousness. It made the morning fly by.
Morgan said he was going to help clear out my apartment today, and I meant to stay away. I wasn't sure I was ready to deal with it, but I couldn't stop myself from walking by to check on the progress.
The stairs to my apartment were around the back, and my heart rate kicked up as I headed in that direction. There were several Sterling Brothers trucks parked out back.
Morgan was talking to his brother Maverick when I approached. He looked at me with concern. "I didn't know you were planning to stop by."
I shrugged. "I wanted to see how it was going and if you needed a hand."
Maverick moved away, probably to give us privacy.
Morgan placed his hands on my shoulders. "Should you be here? I saw how you reacted to the damage in the kitchen."
I nodded. "I couldn't stay away."
"My family showed up to help. Mom said she'd have your clothes and linens washed, and she'll return them when they're clean."
In other words, when they didn't smell like smoke anymore. "I felt like I should be here, doing something."
He squeezed my shoulders, grounding me. "I promise that we have this."
Aspen approached, exchanging a look with Morgan as he dropped his hands from my shoulders. "Reina, want to grab a coffee? I'm in desperate need of caffeine."
"That sounds nice." I knew what she was doing, trying to distract me.
Morgan was worried about me, and it was clear that he had it handled.
"I promise that we'll take care of everything. Mom's washing your clothes, and everything else will be in boxes until you're ready to go through it."
"Let the guys handle this while we relax." Aspen winked at Morgan, and he walked off with a wave.
I smiled at her despite myself. Aspen had this easygoing, carefree way about her that was impossible to not like. "I wish I could help, but I have a hard time being inside after the fire. And Morgan's worried about me being in the apartment because that's where I was when the fire happened."
Aspen gave me a sympathetic look as we walked toward Coffee Dreams. "He's worried about you."
"I know he is."
She glanced over at me. "Morgan was talking about doing some upgrades to your apartment too."
I frowned. "But Eve didn't approve any upgrades to my apartment. We were focused on the bakery."
"It was just something he said. Maybe I got it wrong."
Morgan took care of me, and it was impossible to ignore the way it made me feel. I could do things myself, but Morgan stepped in so that I didn't have to.
Inside Meg's shop, we ordered our drinks and sat at one of the tables by the window.
"So what's going on with you and my brother?" Aspen asked.
I wrinkled my nose. "I didn't expect you to ask about that."
She raised a brow. "I'm nosy when it comes to my brothers. I don't want them to get hurt."
It wasn't any of her business, but I wanted to talk to someone who knew Morgan. "We're roommates. He promised my brother he'd take care of me, and I guess offering me a room in his house was his way of doing that."
"But then you ran into each other in the bathroom, and one thing led to another—"
I laughed. "We don't share a bathroom."
"But it was all that closeness in a confined space that had you thinking of something more with him?"
"He actually avoided me at first. He worked long hours to finish up some projects before the bakery could be renovated. Then things changed. He shadowed me at work to aid his design for my new kitchen, and he's cooked for me. We spent a lot of time talking, getting to know each other."
Aspen frowned. "I don't remember Morgan ever cooking for a woman before."
That felt better than it should. I shouldn't be thinking about Morgan as future boyfriend material, but I was. "He went from avoiding me to being everywhere. And he never seems to wear a shirt around the house."
I was positive she didn't want to hear how sexy he looked after his workouts when his muscles were primed and his skin hot to the touch.
She waggled her brows. "And you just couldn't resist."
"Something like that. But it was only a one-time thing. I don't think anything will come of it." I was proud of myself for sounding nonchalant about it because I was feeling anything but.
Her brows furrowed. "How can you be so sure? Is that what he told you?"
I shrugged, my hands wrapped around the cup. "We didn't really talk about it. It just happened, and now I don't know what comes next."
She raised a brow. "You could talk about it."
I sipped the iced latte. "We probably should."
"Otherwise, you won't know where you stand."
"Are you dating anyone right now?" I didn't know Aspen that well.
I knew she worked at the inn and part-time at the bookstore.
But she wasn't invited to our girls' nights out because those were for shop owners.
Or maybe it had just worked out that way.
Aspen was always busy with her various jobs and activities.
She rarely stayed still long enough for someone to ask her to do something.
Her nose wrinkled. "I don't have time to date. I work a few different jobs. I think working one would be boring, and I like the variety that being in different places gives me."
"I love baking. I can't imagine doing anything else."
Something like regret flashed over her face.
"My family would like me to settle on one thing, but nothing really appeals to me.
I tried going to college, but it didn't work out.
I'm happy with how things are now, but it drives my family crazy.
I think my mom would like me to be settled so she can relax and know she did her job. "
"There's no timeline for this sort of thing. And isn't you being happy all that matters?" I asked.
She grinned. "That's what I always say. I'm fine with how things are."
She said she was fine, not happy. That was a distinction I'd heard, but she didn't seem to acknowledge it. Maybe she wasn't as happy as she wanted everyone to think. But we'd only just started talking.
"I know I came on a little strong. I'd do anything for my brothers, but I wouldn't mind a new friend too. I know you usually hang out with the other shop owners, and I'm not one, but would you want to grab coffee again sometime?"
I winced. "I'm sorry we didn't include you in our get-togethers, but I'd love to."
Aspen waved her hand as if it didn't matter, but I think it did. "No worries. I get it. I'm not a business owner. Far from it actually. I wouldn't want all the responsibility."
"It is a lot. I never intended to be a business owner. I just love to bake. But when I worked for someone else, I didn't get to make my own things. It's more about what I want to create than just baking someone else's recipe."
Aspen's face softened. "That must be amazing to love something that much."
"It is really cool. But when the bakery was damaged in the fire, I wasn't sure what I was going to do. I couldn't bake large enough quantities in a regular kitchen. Morgan's was too small. Thankfully, Eve came through with the town hall's kitchen."
"I'm glad you found that."
"And now Morgan is building me a new kitchen that will be even better than the last. This one will help with flow and movement and have more storage. It's going to be great, and I can't wait to see it."
"Are you planning on moving back to your apartment?"
I nodded tightly. "It's easier to live close when you have an early morning wake-up call."
Aspen shook her head. "I wouldn't want to be a baker for that reason. I prefer to work later in the day. I do personal assistant work for the Wilde Ski Resort, and that's primarily in the evenings."
"Whereas I can't stay up late."
Aspen smiled. "We're the opposite in a lot of ways."
"But we can still be friends." I wanted to be friends with her. She had insight about Morgan that I didn't, and I liked her. I felt sympathy for her situation. Her parents wanted the best for her, but she didn't know what that was.
Aspen's phone buzzed, and she checked the message.
She met my gaze over her phone. "Can I report back to Morgan that you're good now?"
I smiled. "Sure."
Aspen recited what she was typing. "Reina's fine, and I didn't scare her away."
I groaned. "Why did you say that?"
She flashed me a smile. "Because I have an annoying little-sister reputation to uphold."
"Maybe it's not a good idea for us to be friends," I joked.
She tucked her phone away. "I have a feeling that we're going to be good friends. United against my brothers."
I laughed. "I don't know about that."
"The best part about my brothers being in serious relationships is that there's more women hanging around family dinners, and I have someone to talk to.
But Morgan is the last brother to fall in love, and that means that I'll be the only single one left.
" She shuddered. "Soon the focus will be on me to find someone.
To do something meaningful with my life. "
I covered her hand with mine. "I'm sure it won't be that bad."
She rolled her eyes. "You have no idea. A large family is great until it isn't. They can meddle."
"I'm sorry."
She waved her hand. "Tell me about your plans for the bakery."
She seemed genuinely interested, so I told her about Morgan's design ideas for the kitchen and my plans to expand the business."
"I'm so jealous of your drive and determination. But I just don't seem to have that in my DNA."
I shrugged, not intending to make her feel bad. "Yeah, but you're destined for something else. Besides, I love your carefree attitude. I wish I had just a tenth of that."
Aspen smiled. "Really?"
"I admire you. You're so relaxed. I feel like I'm always stressing about something: the renovation, the business, my relationship with Morgan. It's a lot."
"Just hang around with me, and I'll rub off on you."
I grinned. "Sounds perfect."
Aspen checked the time on her phone. "I better get back to the inn."
We gathered our things and stood.
Aspen slung her purse over her shoulder. "What are you doing the rest of the day?"
"I have to deliver baked goods to the inn and the homeless shelter. And then I'll head home."
"There's a yoga class at the inn. You should check it out sometime. Yoga helps clear my head. It's a mess up there most of the time." Aspen chuckled to herself, and I wondered if her scattered brain was undiagnosed ADHD. But I didn't know her well enough to make that conclusion.
"You know, I think I will."
Aspen grinned. "Give me your number. I'll send you the schedule, and we can go together sometime."
I actually liked the idea of going to a yoga class and having a new friend.
I was usually so involved in working that I didn't have any outside activities and only hung out with the other shop owners occasionally.
I had a feeling Aspen was going to get me doing more things outside my comfort zone. And I was looking forward to it.
We walked past the inn on the way to town hall, and Aspen surprised me with a tight hug. "Thanks for going with me to get coffee. It's boring to go by myself."
"Anytime. Just stop by the bakery and grab me."
Aspen beamed, and I wondered if she was low on friends too.
"See you soon. I'll send you the schedule." Aspen disappeared inside, and I continued to the town hall. The temporary bakery was closed for the day, but I still had deliveries to do for the catering side of my business.
I wanted to expand, but if I also wanted to have time for friends and hobbies, I'd need to think about hiring some help.
I didn't need to deliver the baked goods personally, did I?
I always thought it was good for business.
I was the face of the company after all.
But could I delegate and give myself more free time?
I needed to figure out where my skills served me the best. Was it baking, creating new recipes, marketing, or a combination of them?
I stacked the boxes in the truck and drove them to the inn and the homeless shelter.
Then I took a few samples to restaurants in the area to see if they'd like to sign a contract for desserts.
Most already had a vendor, but one said they'd try them and get back to me. One new restaurant was a good start.
I hadn't focused on this side of the business as much since I had the physical location. I'd read somewhere that wherever you placed your focus in your business, that segment grew. I wanted to see if that was true.
The fire was forcing me to reevaluate my business model and figure out if it was still working for me. Everything was changing, and I couldn't help but wonder if I was making good decisions.
How did Morgan feel about what happened last night? Did he regret it? Would he tell me we had to pretend it never happened?