Despite my being two years younger than them, we’ve been friends for years. Lyric and I played football together back in the day. I thought he’d lose it when I joined the team my freshman year and won the varsity quarterback position he’d had for the two previous years. The guy was nearly as good a quarterback as I was. He could have gone pro if he wanted, but all he wanted was to become a cop in our hometown, and it almost cost him the love of his life.
“Whatever,” Ellery grumbles. “I want your sweetest most decadent cupcake.”
“How’s Ashlyn doing?” Juniper asks.
I narrow my eyes at her. She had to mention Ashlyn in front of the town’s Gossip Gals aka Feather, Sage, and Cayenne. At least Petal and Clove aren’t around
My glare has no effect on Juniper. She smirks up at me. “Do you have any of those red velvet pancakes? I hear they’re divine.”
The little shit. She knows I don’t serve the pancakes at the bakery, but I’ve made them for her sister.
“I need to get back to the ovens.”
Bryan bars my entrance to the kitchen. “I’ve got it.” He winks before twirling around.
I’m regretting hiring him to assist me in the bakery right now. But I have options. He’s not from around here. No one will miss him if he disappears. The hills around the town are empty. No one would find his body.
“Don’t think I don’t know you’re picking out a shovel to bury me with,” he sings from inside the kitchen loud enough for the entire bakery to hear him.
“Poor Bryan. He works his little behind off here and what does he get? Rowan being mean to him.” Feather tuts at me to show her disappointment in me.
“I’m not mean to him.” At least, not when anyone’s around.
Sage elbows her way to the front of the line. “What’s this about red velvet pancakes?”
Juniper has no trouble telling her everything. “Apparently, he bakes Ashlyn red velvet pancakes every morning.”
“Not every morning.”
She smirks. “Ah, so you admit to making breakfast for my little sister.”
I frown. “Don’t call Ashlyn your little sister.”
Ashlyn hates to be reminded of how she’s younger than all of her sisters. It’s more than being uncomfortable with their teasing. She actually believes no one takes her seriously. I’ll take her seriously.
“He’s sticking up for her and his heart rate is elevated,” Lilac points out.
I cross my arms over my chest and glare down at her.
“What? I’m merely pointing out the obvious.”
Aspen sighs. “We’ve had this conversation, Lilac. You’re not allowed to point out when it’s evident someone is physically aroused.”
Lilac frowns. “I didn’t say he was physically aroused. Men usually have an erection if they’re aroused.” She leans over the counter as if she’s going to check if I have a hard-on.
I don’t, although the thought of Ashlyn makes my blood pump quicker through my body. Especially now since I know how she tastes.
Aspen claps. “This is too much fun.”
I hear the sound of something falling in the kitchen. Thank god. “Sorry ladies. I need to check on Bryan,” I say and rush out of there like my pants are on fire.