Fake It Till You Bake It(41)

Donovan swallowed past the lump in his throat. What the hell had he gotten himself into?



* * *



“Hey, Kendra, what can I get you today?” Jada asked with a friendly smile.

The woman dressed in khakis and a button-down shirt pointed at the display case. “Those are calling my name. I’ll take two.”

“Excellent choice.” Without another word, Jada retrieved two pumpkin spice cupcakes from the display and boxed them up. This was Kendra’s third time in the shop this week. “How’s your mom doing?”

“Better. She got the cast off her arm and is now back to climbing ladders like nothing happened. It’s driving us crazy, but she insists it was only an accident and she won’t change her lifestyle. We have no choice but to go along with it. My dad holds his breath every time she moves, but whatcha gonna do?”

Jada shook her head in commiseration. Grams was known for her stubbornness.

Kendra handed over her credit card. “You gonna make it to book club on Thursday?”

Jada swiped the card, then handed it back. “I’ll try. I haven’t finished the book yet, but I’m trying.”

“Girl, don’t let that stop you. Half the people show up for the free booze and snacks.”

Jada laughed. “I’ll remember that.”

Kendra made a face. “I’m not sure how much longer we’ll be able to meet.”

Jada settled her hip against the counter. “Why not?”

“The restaurant where we meet says they want their room back on Thursday nights. They can make more money from food sales than from our puny room rental. We haven’t been able to find a place that’s big enough and cheap enough that’s as centrally located.” She shrugged. “It sucks though, but it is what it is. I’ll probably see you tomorrow when I need to not think about the situation. Bye.”

Jada stilled. What if…?

Her fingers tingled with excitement.

Nope. None of her business. Literally not her business. Keep your mouth shut. Jada bit her lip because surely that would stop her.

Kendra’s hand pushed against the door.

“Wait!”



* * *



“How do you know what her usual is?” Donovan asked several hours later. He’d been observing Jada for the past few minutes. Ostensibly, he was waiting for Nicholas and August so they could have a meeting. That didn’t explain why he needed to do that at the front counter instead of the table he’d commandeered in the corner of the shop. He’d told himself he was merely making sure his newest employee was settling in. Soon thereafter, he’d told himself he was a mf-ing liar. And yet he hadn’t stepped away.

She shrugged. “I’m good at memorization. It’s kinda second nature at this point. She comes in here every morning. I mean the baristas at my favorite Starbucks know what I like. I thought I’d continue the practice here.” She tilted her head to the side. “Do you know what any of your regulars like?”

“No. That’s more Nicholas’s territory.” He frowned. That was something he’d never thought about. He was more of a numbers guy. If they offered world-class products, people would return and they’d make money. Easy peasy.

She tsked. “Okay, dude. Since he’s spending more time in the kitchen perfecting his recipes, I guess it’s up to me to pick up the slack on that front. I think it’s good for business. Terry likes vanilla with sprinkles. Bobby from the drugstore around the corner likes red velvet.” She studied him. “Did you need something?”

Why did the question make him feel like an interloper in his own business? “Uh, no. Just checking in.”

She smiled. “Oh, okay. I’m good. Nothing new to report.”

Which should have been his cue to retreat to his table and reports and prepare for his meeting. But he didn’t want to leave. He liked talking to her. Which was fine. There was no harm in admitting that.

Before he could come up with a non-embarrassing excuse for why he was still standing there, a customer approached asking for a photo. He should be used to it. In a way, he was. As a high-profile pro athlete, selfie requests were pretty standard. But standing next to Jada, often with his arm around her like they were a true-blue couple, was unsettling.

She settled against him, her back to his front, like this was a natural position for them. Like they’d done this a million times. Like they fit, two connecting pieces in a puzzle. His hands hung at his side, but they tingled with the urge to lift her shirt and touch her soft skin. The light scent of her perfume wrapped around him, the same scent that haunted him in his dreams. She looked up at him and smiled. All he had to do was lean down to taste those perfect lips. Her tongue peeked out like she too was remembering their one entirely too brief kiss.

“Hey, Donovan, you ready?”

Jada sprang away from him. He instantly missed the press of her body against him. Her heat. Her. Which was completely illogical.

Donovan ignored the smirk on Nicholas’s face and joined his business partner on the other side of the counter. “Yeah. Where’s August?”

“Right here,” August said, entering the shop from the back.

Donovan clapped his hands together, determined to ignore the way the blood in his veins continued to pump at ten times its normal rate. He marched to the table in the corner and took a seat.