Bon Bon Beauty (Plus Size Romance 3) by Lynn Cooper Page B

Parker.  The shocked, sheepish look on his face pulled at her heart strings. She felt compelled to try and smooth things over for him.  Her voice was soft and cajoling when she addressed Wavalee.  “I’m sure Mr. Sloan didn’t mean to be rude.  He was only trying to do his job, to protect me from any further harm.  I have some string cheese and a chicken leg in the mini fridge in the break room.  Will you grab them for me?”
    The old woman huffed.  “Sure thing, baby, but he needs to be gone when I get back.” She made sure to give Parker the evil eye before turning away.
    Looking up into his handsome, chiseled face, Saffron smiled.  “Don’t mind Wavalee. She’s known me since I was a little girl and takes her role as mama bear very seriously.  She comes off tough but, inside, she’s a real softie.”
    Parker hung his head.  “I didn’t mean to hurt her feelings.  I made a wrong assumption.  But you were right.  I was protecting you.  People often have the wrong idea when it comes to hypoglycemia.  They naturally assume that having low blood sugar means you need to eat more of it.  When, in actuality, the opposite is true.”
    “You’re preaching to the choir.  Over the years, I have become quite an expert on the subject.  I have lots of small meals throughout the day.  And I’m careful to eat the combination of foods you mentioned earlier.”
    Gesturing toward the display case filled with bon bons, he asked, “You made those? Are you a hairdresser or a chocolatier?”
    She giggled.  “Both.”
    Before she could elaborate, Wavalee came barreling out of the break room with Saffron’s snacks.  Furrowing her brow, she gave Parker another hard look.  “I know you a paramedic, but are you the candy police, too?”
    She didn’t give him a chance to answer before turning her attention to Saffron, handing her the food she had requested.  “Here, baby, you eat up now.”
    With her hands emptied, she planted them back on her hips and whirled on Parker.  “Let me tell you something, young man.  Saffron only got two good things from her no-account mama: a God-given talent to fix hair, and another to make the best chocolate bon bons this side of Paris.”
    Parker nodded. “I’m sure she does both really well.  I’m sorry for interrupting you earlier.  I—”  
    Wavalee cut him off, continuing her rant.  “Not that it’s any of your concern, but she don’t use no sugar in her candy.  She uses unsweetened cocoa and a natural sweetener that don’t raise nobody’s sugar.  Her bon bons are healthy and safe even for diabetics.  She makes them for all of us at no charge even though she could sell them to any high-dollar confection shop in the world.  Do you know all the fancy salons on the Upper Eastside have tried to hire her? But she turned them all down.  Do you know why? So she can take care of us.  Make us look pretty even though we on a fixed income.  Shoot! She could be hob-knobbing all up in there with those highfalutin money bags.  Instead, she keep it real with us.”
    Saffron chewed a bite of cheese and patted Wavalee on the arm.  After swallowing the soft mozzarella, she said, “I’m sure this man isn’t interested in my life story.  Besides, he should probably be getting back to work.  Right, Mr. Sloan?”
    “Right—if you’re sure you feel okay now.  I can hang around for a while if you need me.”
    Saffron wanted to tell this heartthrob she was better than okay with him standing there beside her.  She longed to say she had spent her entire life afraid of letting any man get too close.  If she were honest, he was the first one she had ever felt utterly and helplessly drawn to. In fact, she wouldn’t mind him hanging around forever.  Instead, she smiled and said, “I’m fine now.  Thanks for all your help.”
    “Anytime,” he said, grabbing his medical bag and walking out the door.
     
    WHEN PARKER REACHED THE ambulance, he tossed his bag inside