Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 138881 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 694(@200wpm)___ 556(@250wpm)___ 463(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138881 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 694(@200wpm)___ 556(@250wpm)___ 463(@300wpm)
“When did this start?” he asks.
And that’s also something I won’t answer entirely. But I can be honest when I say, “I’ve been interested in her since I met her. You might even say she’s the one who got away.”
He runs a hand through his hair, blows out a breath. “I’ll need an addendum to your contract. A waiver signed by Mabel saying she won’t sue when this ends badly.”
“It won’t end badly.”
He stares hard at me. His voice is steely now. “If you break her heart, you’re dead to me.”
And that’s fair. I nod. “I hear you.”
He pins me with a hard-edged stare. “I mean it. I don’t want to see her hurt. I don’t want to see her cry. I don’t want to see you talking shit about her ever.”
I hold up a hand. “You have my word.”
“It’s not that you aren’t a good man, but if by chance you do any of those things, we’re done.” Then he smirks. “And I will find a way to trade you, or bench you, or make sure you never get any ice time. I will call up a young guy and tell them to give him ice time right away.”
I love this guy. He has to find a way to get the last word.
But I’m not worried. I know what I want. And it’s not simply to date her. It’s to win her heart. So all those threats—they don’t mean a thing because I won’t hurt her.
“Heard,” I say, then extend a hand.
He huffs, but he shakes back.
I head to the door when I remember he had something to discuss. I turn back. “You wanted to talk about something?”
He still looks shell-shocked, but he clears that away, his expression all businesslike. “Right. I do. Remember Romance Beach?”
How could I forget? “Of course.”
“I was in touch with them,” he explains, and I have no clue where this is going. “And then Ronnie started posting about you two and mentioned you to them. They emailed me today asking for your contact info. They want the two of you to come on a reunion episode and serve some cake.”
If I had a cup of coffee it’d spill right now.
40
WHEN YOU’RE VENGEFUL
MABEL
I’m not saying the universe still has it out for me. But I am definitely saying that having to bake a cake for a reality TV show one day and a few cakes for my mother’s faculty luncheon the next is both an embarrassment of riches and immensely stressful.
But obviously, I’m not turning down either opportunity.
After we close Afternoon Delight in the early evening, I round up the crew for a review of the plans. Aisha’s here, along with Corbin and Charlotte.
We settle in at a table and I go over the marching orders for tomorrow, mostly for Aisha, reviewing the schedule for the morning deliveries, then the items we need for a huge birthday cake order for next weekend. “Just double check that we have everything. I put the ingredients down in the task-management list.”
“Buttercream frosting, fondant, raspberry filling. It’s all there. I’m looking at it now,” says the world’s most self-sufficient middle schooler as she reviews everything on her phone.
Aisha smiles from the counter, tapping the top of her laptop. “I see it all too. If you want to come by and help though, Charlotte, you’re always welcome.”
“I’m happy to work.”
“She’s offered a few times already,” I say to Aisha. “Not surprised, knowing who her dad is.”
Corbin points at his daughter, going all stern daddy. “You need to focus on school. And you’ll be with your mom.”
“I know, but I’m like you, Dad. I’m pretty good at doing it all.”
I smile at how very much like him she is, then return to my tablet and the plans for tomorrow. That’s when Corbin and I will head to the Webflix studios in the city. There we’ll bake a gorgeous Valentine’s Day heart-shaped cake for several Romance Beach alums, including Dax, who won his season. But the thought of seeing my ex doesn’t bother me like it might have months ago. He’s so far in the past, he’s out of the rearview mirror visibility. I’m excited to prove him wrong, though, and show the world I have my act together.
That includes running this shop smoothly. We need to hire more help, and I’ve placed some ads, but won’t be able to do any interviews until I get through the mountain of tasks over the next week.
I close my tablet and busy myself with organizing the merch better on the shelves. A few mugs are out of place. “We’re about to get busier with the Valentine’s season coming up, plus we have a dog adoption event next weekend.”
“Orders are coming in left and right, and we’ve been asked to supply a couple other restaurants and cafés,” Corbin puts in. “What can we do to speed up hiring help?”