Tied With Me (With Me In Seattle)(33)

“Asher, we caught a break…”

***

“You can head home, Anastasia. Things are quiet today.” The pretty mother of three grimaces and pulls her apron off as she glances at the time.

There is still an hour before closing time, but it’s dead in here. I could have closed at noon today.

“Yeah, it is. Unusual for a Thursday,” she agrees.

I nod, already mentally tallying how many cupcakes are going to have to go to the homeless shelter down the street tonight. I never serve day-old cakes, so at the end of the day, the leftovers are sent to the needy.

Even the needy deserve a sweet treat.

“Have a good night.” Anastasia waves and heads through the kitchen to her car parked out back.

Just then, the door opens, the bell above tinkling, and in walks Leo Nash. All six-foot-plus of his tattooed hotness. He grins at me in that cocky rock-star way and saunters over to the counter.

“Please tell me you have lemon and chocolate left.”

“You’re in luck,” I reply as I pull down a two-cupcake box and gently lay one of each inside. “How did it go over there today?” I ask, gesturing across the street to the recording studio.

“It went well, actually. The new album is coming along great.”

“A new album already? Sunshine just came out.”

“Well, we record when we can.” He grins and shrugs. “We have a few weeks off from touring, so we’re getting a few songs down before we head out again.”

I nod, pretending to understand the life of a rock star.

“You did a great job on the cake for Bryn and Caleb,” he mentions casually.

“I’m glad you liked it.”

“I did. In fact, I mentioned you in an interview.”

“Me? Why?”

“It was one of those lame ‘so tell us about yourself’ interviews, and they wanted to know about Sam and I.” He cringes and looks half-pissed for a second. “The only thing I was willing to share was that we love your cupcakes. So, I hope it drums up business for you.”

I don’t know what to say. Leo Nash told an interviewer that he loves my cupcakes.

“Wow.”

He laughs and takes the box from me. “I hope that was okay.”

“Uh, I think cupcakes are on the house from now on.”

His eyes light up, but he still drops a twenty in the tip jar. “Sounds like a fair trade.”

“So much for free cupcakes,” I reply drily, eyeing the money in the tip jar.

“They’re worth it.” He shrugs and turns to leave, winking at me on the way out.

My heart might beat right out of my chest.

God, the man is just so…hot. Samantha Williams is one lucky woman.

I shake off my close encounter with the sexy Leo Nash and lock the door before putting cupcakes in boxes and cleaning up for the day.

My phone buzzes in my pocket with a text. I grin and dig it out, excited to see it’s from Matt.



How was your day?



I miss him. I haven’t seen him since he left my apartment Sunday night. Four whole days, which really isn’t that long, for crying out loud. He’s been busy working and sleeping and little else this week. But he’s managed to find time to send me messages, just checking in, and called me last night just after I’d climbed in bed to say good night.

I’ve already gotten used to having him in my world, and it’s only been a couple of weeks.



Slow. Closing up early. How was yours?



God, I’m such a… girl.



It’s been a long four days without you. Can you please come unlock the front door?



What? He’s at the front door! I race through the kitchen to see Matt leaning against the door, grinning at me. I run over and let him in.

“I wasn’t expecting to see you today.” I lock the door and then launch myself into his arms.

He catches me easily, wraps my legs around his waist and kisses me long and hard as he carries me back into the kitchen. His body is tight. Energy is coming off him in waves. He’s edgy. Rough.

“Are you almost done here?” he asks.

“Yeah, I just have to get stuff ready for tomorrow. Shouldn’t take long.”

He sets me on my feet and kisses me once more, his hands fisted in my hair, before reluctantly letting me go and leaning his hips on the countertop.