offer up, ‘that’s my sister’s store’?”
Zoey bit her lip, grabbed the coffeepot, filled her cup, and added a shot of espresso. “When you put it that way, I see what you mean. But we’ve made out, what was he gonna do, wait ’til you know what to tell me?”
“I think you ruined the open line of communication when you bashed his sister.” Marie laughed and snuck a cupcake out of the display case. “What? You ruined my chance of getting some this morning.”
“It’s just, I mean, we’ve had one humongous misunderstanding, some hot petting and makeout sessions, then dick-in-the-face, and now this. What else is he hiding?”
“Besides being filthy rich, nothing. He’s all over the web, well, his family is, and Lysandros really is. I’m hoping to change his bad boy reputation and be the goddess who tames the untamable.”
“The man exudes good breeding, sophistication and power. Of course he’s filthy rich, which brings me to another point. We’re barely above the red with this shop. Why would he want to latch himself to someone who doesn’t come from money? Upbringing as different as night and day?”
“You are CEO of your own place, a college grad, you’re super smart, sexy as all get-out, and self sufficient. In baser terms, either you intimidate the hell out of a man, or a man is drawn to your qualities as his equal, not in monetary terms, but in drive and ambition. If only you could see what others do about you, and how you built your own brand from the love of your grandmother.”
“I guess I don’t see all that. I see a business that I love running, but which exhausts me.” Zoey sighed and took a sip of her cup of wake-me-up.
“Hire someone else to help, so you can get out of here earlier. There’s enough wiggle room, and you deserve to delegate.”
“I like prepping everything, and don’t really want anyone knowing my recipes. They’ve been in the family for generations, and now and then I like to play and add new ideas and spices to the chocolate base.”
“So, hire someone to make the basics that we use in cupcakes and cakes. You and I can prepare the super secret stuff together, you know. I should kick you out. I can handle the shop for the day. Remember when you had the flu and it was me all by myself for a week?”
“Yeah, I could go home and get ready to go to Khristos’ place.” The offer to take over came at the perfect time, if she’d let go and take a break from her baby.
“Go. I got this.”
“No closet sex with Lysandros, wait ’til you get off and get home.”
“Fine, busybody. But really, you should let big brother bang you here, I’m telling you, you’ll love it.”
Zoey shook her head, moved her phone from her apron to her pocket, lifted the frilly, bright decoration over her head, placed it on the counter, and folded it. “Fine. Not to the latter, but to leaving. Call me if you can’t hang.”
“Aye-aye, El Cap-i-tan.”
Zoey stopped by Mr. Simms’ regular table on her way out. “Have a good day, gentlemen, I will return tomorrow. Marie will make sure you get your refills.”
“Oh, the sassy one. I like her. Roger, I was telling you we should let them both do our refills, it’s not fair Miss Zoey gets all our attention.”
“She’s a mighty perky thang, we can discuss it over breakfast and coffee tomorrow. Have a wonderful time away, darlin’, you deserve it now and then. Be safe though, can’t tell ya young women enough times these days.”
She smiled and walked out the door, powered on her phone, and dialed Khristos. His baritone voice rasped a sexy “Hello, Sunshine,” making her melt. Clutching the phone to her ear, she spoke before backing out of the door. “I’m free for the day and night. Marie kicked me out of the shop.”
“You’re killing me, beautiful. Give me a second, okay? Don’t hang up.” He put her on hold before she could utter a reply. Time ticked so slowly, seconds felt like forever. She ambled
Zoey bit her lip, grabbed the coffeepot, filled her cup, and added a shot of espresso. “When you put it that way, I see what you mean. But we’ve made out, what was he gonna do, wait ’til you know what to tell me?”
“I think you ruined the open line of communication when you bashed his sister.” Marie laughed and snuck a cupcake out of the display case. “What? You ruined my chance of getting some this morning.”
“It’s just, I mean, we’ve had one humongous misunderstanding, some hot petting and makeout sessions, then dick-in-the-face, and now this. What else is he hiding?”
“Besides being filthy rich, nothing. He’s all over the web, well, his family is, and Lysandros really is. I’m hoping to change his bad boy reputation and be the goddess who tames the untamable.”
“The man exudes good breeding, sophistication and power. Of course he’s filthy rich, which brings me to another point. We’re barely above the red with this shop. Why would he want to latch himself to someone who doesn’t come from money? Upbringing as different as night and day?”
“You are CEO of your own place, a college grad, you’re super smart, sexy as all get-out, and self sufficient. In baser terms, either you intimidate the hell out of a man, or a man is drawn to your qualities as his equal, not in monetary terms, but in drive and ambition. If only you could see what others do about you, and how you built your own brand from the love of your grandmother.”
“I guess I don’t see all that. I see a business that I love running, but which exhausts me.” Zoey sighed and took a sip of her cup of wake-me-up.
“Hire someone else to help, so you can get out of here earlier. There’s enough wiggle room, and you deserve to delegate.”
“I like prepping everything, and don’t really want anyone knowing my recipes. They’ve been in the family for generations, and now and then I like to play and add new ideas and spices to the chocolate base.”
“So, hire someone to make the basics that we use in cupcakes and cakes. You and I can prepare the super secret stuff together, you know. I should kick you out. I can handle the shop for the day. Remember when you had the flu and it was me all by myself for a week?”
“Yeah, I could go home and get ready to go to Khristos’ place.” The offer to take over came at the perfect time, if she’d let go and take a break from her baby.
“Go. I got this.”
“No closet sex with Lysandros, wait ’til you get off and get home.”
“Fine, busybody. But really, you should let big brother bang you here, I’m telling you, you’ll love it.”
Zoey shook her head, moved her phone from her apron to her pocket, lifted the frilly, bright decoration over her head, placed it on the counter, and folded it. “Fine. Not to the latter, but to leaving. Call me if you can’t hang.”
“Aye-aye, El Cap-i-tan.”
Zoey stopped by Mr. Simms’ regular table on her way out. “Have a good day, gentlemen, I will return tomorrow. Marie will make sure you get your refills.”
“Oh, the sassy one. I like her. Roger, I was telling you we should let them both do our refills, it’s not fair Miss Zoey gets all our attention.”
“She’s a mighty perky thang, we can discuss it over breakfast and coffee tomorrow. Have a wonderful time away, darlin’, you deserve it now and then. Be safe though, can’t tell ya young women enough times these days.”
She smiled and walked out the door, powered on her phone, and dialed Khristos. His baritone voice rasped a sexy “Hello, Sunshine,” making her melt. Clutching the phone to her ear, she spoke before backing out of the door. “I’m free for the day and night. Marie kicked me out of the shop.”
“You’re killing me, beautiful. Give me a second, okay? Don’t hang up.” He put her on hold before she could utter a reply. Time ticked so slowly, seconds felt like forever. She ambled
Similar Books
