Fake It Till You Bake It(13)

What was she plotting? Donovan set aside his mug, granting himself a precious second to respond, then gave the only answer that made any sense. “Anything you need.”

She nodded as though his assent had always been assured. “You have your head on straight. You realize football doesn’t last forever. You’re focused. I admire your smarts. I always have. You know that.”

He sensed there was more to her flattery than, well, flattery. “Thanks, Mrs. T.”

Mrs. T set her mug on the end table next to her chair. “My granddaughter has recently moved back to town. She’s struggled to find her place in the world, and I really believe she could benefit from learning from an entrepreneur. A go-getter like you.”

The tension melted out of his shoulders. That was the favor? A job for her grandkid? “She doesn’t want to work for the team?”

Mrs. T’s lips quirked. “That comes with its own set of expectations and pressures that she doesn’t need right now, and no, she doesn’t want to work for the team. Crazy as it sounds, she’s not much of a sports person. Neither is her mother, actually. It kills me, but it happens. I think she’d learn a lot from you.”

He smiled. “We’d be happy to have her at Sugar Blitz.”

What harm could it do? They could always use an extra set of hands at the shop. And hey, giving in on this matter might help in the upcoming contract negotiations. Nothing wrong with a little quid pro quo.

She clasped her hands together. “Wonderful. I’ll pay her wages, of course.”

Donovan’s voice tightened. “I can pay my employees.” Sugar Blitz might not be able to pay a manager out of its current profits, but he could and would pay any part-timers—out of his own pocket, if it came to that.

She nodded. “Pride and stubbornness. Qualities I understand all too well. I didn’t mean to offend, but I’m know I’m foisting a new worker on you.”

He shook his head. “You’re not foisting anyone on me.”

“Thank you, but I’m sorry nevertheless.” Her apology was genuine. She was genuine. That’s why he looked up to her.

He smiled. “Apology accepted. But I’m paying her.”

She chuckled, patting him on the arm. “You’re a good man, Donovan.”

A sharp knock sounded on the door.

Her eyes brightened. “That must be her. Come in,” she called out.

Donovan rose alongside her as Stacey, Mrs. T’s longtime assistant, entered. Someone, presumably the aforementioned granddaughter, stood behind her, but Stacey blocked Donovan’s view. Granddaughter was no taller than grandmother, it seemed.

“Mrs. T, Jada is here,” Stacey said. “On time,” she added in a stage whisper.

“I can hear you, you know,” Jada said dryly.

Donovan froze. That voice …

“Sorry.” Stacey stepped aside, giving Donovan his first clear view of his newest employee. Who just happened to have perfect lips and eyes the color of dark chocolate chips.

His mouth dropped open. So did the granddaughter’s.

“You!” they cried out in unison.





Chapter Four


An all-consuming rush of embarrassment swept through Jada. Had he known who she was after all? Or had he figured it out somehow and come here to blackmail her grandmother or something?

“Do you know each other?” Grams asked, a confused yet interested glint flickering in her eyes.

There was no way she was going to relive yesterday’s fiasco with her grandmother with the cause of said fiasco standing right there, giving off his stern principal vibes. In her extensive experience, vice principals tried to be your friend, while principals were the disciplinarians. It wasn’t like she could ignore him, though. Grams’s office was large and roomy, but he still took up too much space. Her eyes were drawn to him, as was his to hers, apparently.

Grams cleared her throat, obviously not interested in being ignored.

“No,” Jada quickly replied.

“Yes,” Donovan said at the same time.

Jada tried not to squirm as Grams let those contradictory answers linger in the air for a few seconds. “I see,” she finally said. “Or maybe I don’t. Is there something going on here I should know about?”

“Nope.” Jada gave her grandmother the best “I’m innocent, nothing to see here” smile she could muster. All those professional acting lessons had to pay off at some point, right?

“Are you sure?” Grams lifted an eyebrow while crossing her arms and leaning against her desk.

Not good. Grams was a smart woman and could and would start asking really excellent questions any moment.

That crisis needed to be averted more than kitten heels. Think, Jada, think. “What I meant to say is that no, we don’t know each other, but we did meet briefly yesterday when I stepped into that cupcake shop by the stadium. Such a funny coincidence.”

She even ended on a slight chuckle. She ignored the slight snort from the dude. What was his name anyway? Who was he?

“Sugar Blitz.” Grams clasped her hands together, her eyes opening wide. “That’s terrific!”

“It is?” Her grandmother had heard of the bakery, which was okay. What was not okay? Her grandmother’s excitement that Jada had heard of the bakery. And why was Stern Principal Dude in Grams’s office looking way too comfortable? Her gaze flicked his way once again. Massive shoulders were still massive. Thick thighs were still thick. His jeans and Henley did nothing to hide those irrefutable facts.