“I’m only teasing. I’d never do that to my nutcrackers, but I have other things I can do.” She gets an evil smirk again. I’m sure she has a million crazy ideas forming in her head.
“Tins, I like him. Like, really like him.”
Her shoulders drop. “Why didn’t I notice this? I mean, I knew he was into you. I just didn’t know you were into him. You would never even make eye contact with him. That so not you. I mean, you talk to everyone. I…” She suddenly trails off, putting things together in her mind, and I know she’s pissed at herself. Tins might be a goofball, but she’s actually really good with knowing everyone in town. And I don’t mean by name. She truly knows them. “You’ve been crushing. Of course.” She face-palms herself.
“I’ve been infatuated,” I admit. There was something about Clause that always had my attention even if I wasn’t staring his way. I swear I could feel him enter my bakery without having to see him. I just felt him there. “Wait.” I pause as she follows me up the stairs to my place. “He stares at me?”
“Yeah he stares. The only other person he ever acknowledges is my brother, who forces it on him. Not once does Clause come to town and not stop at the bakery to sit and watch you for a few hours. He could easily take his drink and food and leave, but he doesn’t. Which is telling since he doesn’t want to ever be in town.”
“Really?” I perk up knowing that.
“Yes, really. You think I don’t notice a man staring down my best friend?”
“You didn’t know Jack was in love with you,” I point out.
“I’m really getting sick of the logic stuff. What has the lumberjack done to you?” Tins huffs as I open the door to my place.
“I’ve got some mail here for you.” I point to the coffee table where I dropped it earlier.
I head to my room to pack a bag. I wish I had sexier underwear, but for tonight I’ll take what I’ve got. For all I know, we might only hang out. That kiss, though. If we have one of those while we’re alone, I think things will escalate quickly.
“Hey, what’s this?” Tins waltzes into my bedroom holding up a piece of paper. “You’re keeping so many secrets from me.” She waves it around.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I take the paper from her hand. “Oh.” I can’t believe he did this. I’m not mad. I actually think it’s sweet. “Clause mentioned us going to Westchester this weekend for the crafts fair. I guess there is a cake baking contest, and he thought I should enter. He must have entered me himself.”
“Clause goes to craft fairs? I thought he chopped wood and did murder.” I roll my eyes at her.
“He’s mentioned he often goes to Westchester.”
“That two-timing motherfucker. He’s hanging out in Westchester all the time and not Troping. Get me a nutcracker.”
I grab her elbow to stop her from leaving. “Stop being a nut.”
“I’m not being a nut, I'm going to crack some.” I snort a laugh. “Is that an overnight bag?”
“It is.” I change my clothes. I’m sure I still smell like sugar, but I always do.
“So you’re staying the night with him again? On purpose this time?” She lifts a brow.
“Maybe, I don’t know. I’m taking the bag, and we’ll see what happens.” I hope I spend the night. The bakery was actually fine when I got here this morning. It made me realize that my staff is capable. I just have some control issues when it comes to the bakery. I did love how we woke up this morning until it went to hell. I want to do it again but without Tins banging on the door.
“So you two are, like, together, together?”
“I don’t know.” I want to know. It’s too bad that I’m not brave enough to ask him what we are. I’m sure as hell not going to tell Tins about the blackmail.