“Was it not good?” He squints his eyes as he studies me. I count to five. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. His eyes light up and he bounces on his toes. “It was better than you imagined.”
I grunt.
“I take your grunt as a yes. What’s the problem?”
I glare at him. “You know what the problem is.”
Actually, he doesn’t. He thinks he knows all about what happened between my ex-wife and me, but there’s one little tidbit of information I kept to myself. No one needs to know about my secret shame.
He rolls his eyes. “You need to get over yourself. Being unable to keep Mrs. Gold Digger happy, doesn’t mean you can’t make another woman happy.”
If I couldn’t keep Sandra happy with all my millions while I was a pro-football player, how can I possibly make Ash happy while I’m a simple hometown baker?
Bryan sighs. “I think I need to revise my bet. You’re more stubborn than I initially calculated.”
“You’re betting on my relationship with Ash?”
“Of course, I am. There aren’t any inside information laws in Winter Falls.”
The bell over the door of the bakery rings and Bryan snaps to. “Get your bread done. The morning rush is about to begin.”
He sashays out of the kitchen into the café, and I return to my bread. Hopefully, the interrogation is now over.
I finish the bread and put the mini loaves onto a tray. When I step into the front, it’s organized chaos. Every table is full, and the line stretches out the door. Saturday mornings are usually busy, but this is ridiculous. I place the tray in the display before joining Bryan to help the customers.
“Finally!”
I glance over my shoulder to find out who yelled and nearly groan when I realize it’s Sage. She’s the police dispatcher and prides herself on knowing all of the gossip in town before anyone else.
I force a smile on my face. “Hi, Sage. Did you need me?”
Her constant companion, Feather, gives me the once-over before licking her lips. “If she doesn’t need you, I certainly do.”
She’s joking. I hope. Feather’s nearly old enough to be my grandmother.
“And to think, I changed the diaper on this strapping young man.” Sage sighs.
I feel my cheeks warm. It’s always a little awkward when someone who babysat you leers at you.
“Ladies, ladies.” Bryan throws his arm around me. “The big, burly footballer is all mine for the next,” he checks the clock, “seven hours.”
“Where do I sign up for the following seven hours?” Cayenne asks.
“Don’t you have a yoga class to teach?” Is it too much to ask for the female business owners of this town to actually work at their businesses instead of gossiping at my bakery?
“Yoga class is finished,” Aspen announces from behind me.
I study her disheveled appearance. “Hot yoga?”
“I wish,” she grumbles. “Apparently, hot yoga is limited to the summer months and not the fall months when I wouldn’t mind a hot room as much.”
I waggle my eyebrows at her. “Chief Alston not keeping you warm enough at night?”
Next to her, Ellery groans. “No. Just no. I don’t need anymore play by plays of their sexy times.” She does appear a bit green about the gills at the idea.
“I don’t know why not.” Lilac appears confused. It’s her standard face whenever human interaction is involved. “I thought you were happy Aspen and Lyric are back together and engaged.”
The whole town is happy Aspen and Lyric are back together. The two have only had eyes for each other since high school. Their break-up after college rocked the core of this town. I’m glad they found their way back to each other. They deserve their happiness.