would go crazy over your profile. You’ll have more dates than you know what to do with in no time.”
My lips were parted, ready to respond when something outside the bakery window caught my eye. Noticing that my attention had drifted, Harlow spun around on her stool to get a look at what I was staring at. Through the pristinely cleaned glass, Derrick walked down the sidewalk with his arm draped over a tall, leggy brunette. As if sensing our eyes on him, his head shifted to the side, the hand on the woman’s shoulder came up in a wave, and he grinned as they continued to pass.
It was a direct hit. Son of a bitch ! When the hell was I going to get over that guy already?
“So…” Harlow drew out as she spun back around, her eyes full of sympathy. “About that online dating thing…”
“Bring it up one more time, and I’ll never make you cookies again.”
She let out an affronted gasp and picked up another cookie, staring at it in adoration before looking back at me. “Consider the subject dropped.”
A FEW DAYS later, the door to Sinful Sweets opened, causing the bell to chime out its typical greeting. When I looked up, my eyes landed on a weary-looking Derrick. His shoulders were slumped in exhaustion as he made his way to the counter, only offering small friendly smiles to the customers he knew as he passed instead of being his usual laidback, charming self. But even visibly rundown and ragged, he was still the most gorgeous guy I’d ever laid eyes on, in his faded jeans and olive-green t-shirt that hugged his muscled frame to perfection.
Pushing the lustful thoughts to the side, I studied the dark circles under his hazel eyes. “You look like hell,” I said as soon as he reached me. Shit, I really hadn’t meant to say that out loud.
He glowered as he dropped onto one of my cushioned barstools. “Thanks,” he uttered dryly before scrubbing at his bristly cheeks. It looked like he’d gone about two days without a shave. It was a really good look on him. Damn him. “These night shifts are gonna be the death of me,” he groaned, propping his elbows on the counter.
“If you’re on nights, what the hell are you doing awake at…” My head shot to the side so I could look at the large clock hanging on the wall, “…seven in the morning?”
The heavy sigh coupled with the unhappy expression on his face told me whatever he was about to say wasn’t good. “Layla called and woke me up.” I was right. “She says her car won’t start and needs me to come pick up Eliza for her first day of school.”
My forehead wrinkled as I asked, “She doesn’t have anyone closer that could help? Jackson Hole isn’t exactly on the way for you.”
The look he shot me clearly reflected exactly how he felt about his ex-wife. “And bother someone else when she can make my life a living hell? Now why would she do something like that?”
“I’m sorry,” I offered softly, not knowing what else to say in this situation. “If there was something I could do to help I would.”
“You can help me plenty by getting me the largest cup of coffee you got, sunshine,” he answered with a smile. Even at only half its potency, it was still a sexy enough smile to throw my slightly off kilter.
“Uh… sure. Coming right up.” I filled a paper cup to the brim before snapping a lid on the top and sliding it his way. “That’s on the house,” I informed him when he shifted, reaching for the wallet in his back pocket.
“You don’t have to—”
Cutting him off with a wave of my hand, I smiled at him. “I know I don’t, but that’s what friends do, right?” The smile that statement earned me filled my chest, it was like getting an unexpected gift, and I felt niggling desire to do whatever I could to earn myself another one.
Calm your tits, Chloe , the rational voice warned the squealy teenage girl in my head, earning herself the middle finger.
“I appreciate that.” He took a sip of the strong brew
My lips were parted, ready to respond when something outside the bakery window caught my eye. Noticing that my attention had drifted, Harlow spun around on her stool to get a look at what I was staring at. Through the pristinely cleaned glass, Derrick walked down the sidewalk with his arm draped over a tall, leggy brunette. As if sensing our eyes on him, his head shifted to the side, the hand on the woman’s shoulder came up in a wave, and he grinned as they continued to pass.
It was a direct hit. Son of a bitch ! When the hell was I going to get over that guy already?
“So…” Harlow drew out as she spun back around, her eyes full of sympathy. “About that online dating thing…”
“Bring it up one more time, and I’ll never make you cookies again.”
She let out an affronted gasp and picked up another cookie, staring at it in adoration before looking back at me. “Consider the subject dropped.”
A FEW DAYS later, the door to Sinful Sweets opened, causing the bell to chime out its typical greeting. When I looked up, my eyes landed on a weary-looking Derrick. His shoulders were slumped in exhaustion as he made his way to the counter, only offering small friendly smiles to the customers he knew as he passed instead of being his usual laidback, charming self. But even visibly rundown and ragged, he was still the most gorgeous guy I’d ever laid eyes on, in his faded jeans and olive-green t-shirt that hugged his muscled frame to perfection.
Pushing the lustful thoughts to the side, I studied the dark circles under his hazel eyes. “You look like hell,” I said as soon as he reached me. Shit, I really hadn’t meant to say that out loud.
He glowered as he dropped onto one of my cushioned barstools. “Thanks,” he uttered dryly before scrubbing at his bristly cheeks. It looked like he’d gone about two days without a shave. It was a really good look on him. Damn him. “These night shifts are gonna be the death of me,” he groaned, propping his elbows on the counter.
“If you’re on nights, what the hell are you doing awake at…” My head shot to the side so I could look at the large clock hanging on the wall, “…seven in the morning?”
The heavy sigh coupled with the unhappy expression on his face told me whatever he was about to say wasn’t good. “Layla called and woke me up.” I was right. “She says her car won’t start and needs me to come pick up Eliza for her first day of school.”
My forehead wrinkled as I asked, “She doesn’t have anyone closer that could help? Jackson Hole isn’t exactly on the way for you.”
The look he shot me clearly reflected exactly how he felt about his ex-wife. “And bother someone else when she can make my life a living hell? Now why would she do something like that?”
“I’m sorry,” I offered softly, not knowing what else to say in this situation. “If there was something I could do to help I would.”
“You can help me plenty by getting me the largest cup of coffee you got, sunshine,” he answered with a smile. Even at only half its potency, it was still a sexy enough smile to throw my slightly off kilter.
“Uh… sure. Coming right up.” I filled a paper cup to the brim before snapping a lid on the top and sliding it his way. “That’s on the house,” I informed him when he shifted, reaching for the wallet in his back pocket.
“You don’t have to—”
Cutting him off with a wave of my hand, I smiled at him. “I know I don’t, but that’s what friends do, right?” The smile that statement earned me filled my chest, it was like getting an unexpected gift, and I felt niggling desire to do whatever I could to earn myself another one.
Calm your tits, Chloe , the rational voice warned the squealy teenage girl in my head, earning herself the middle finger.
“I appreciate that.” He took a sip of the strong brew
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