Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91357 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91357 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
He’d never slept at a woman’s place nor had one stay over at his for obvious reasons, yet doing it with Nicole felt right. Despite the fact that he was feeling uncomfortably domesticated, he couldn’t get her out of his head. He called her that day and again during the week, and damn if hearing her voice didn’t add something to his long day. Even when working, he found his mind drifting, her blue eyes and the sounds she made when he was deep inside her staying with him wherever he went.
She and Aunt Lulu had taken a booth at the art festival, and Sam headed home to change so he could attend the big event downtown. Normally, he wouldn’t go near an art festival, but like everything else when it came to Nicole, he was drawn there and planned to be one of her first customers.
* * *
Nicole was amazed at how fast things moved in a small town because people were willing to work on faith and trust. The bakery itself was in pristine condition, the equipment fairly new. Having a partner to share the workload helped. Aunt Lulu had all the information about inspectors and licenses and had agreed to handle the business end of things. Meanwhile, Nicole called Kelly Barron, a paralegal in town, to discuss having partnership papers drawn up. The bank manager assured them their loan would be approved sometime next week, and the landlord had allowed them into the shop in advance of any papers being signed.
With a few phone calls, they had the electricity and water turned on, and Nicole spent the day Friday baking for Saturday’s art festival. She hoped to give the good people of Serendipity a taste of what was to come when their bakery opened. Aunt Lulu would bring pies and cakes to their booth and posted signs around town.
As she readied for what she considered her debut, Nicole was finally starting to feel like she belonged somewhere. Other than Tyler still hanging around, calling and stopping by, all of which she blatantly ignored, praying he’d get the message, life was looking up.
* * *
Tyler met Macy at her family’s restaurant, and they planned to go to the art festival together. He had to admit she was a good sport about being his sidekick, considering she believed his main goal was to win back Nicole. What Macy didn’t know was that Tyler knew a losing battle when he fought one. He understood Nicole was serious about living her own life. He even got that she was involved with another man. Hell, she didn’t return his calls, and he’d be a fool to think otherwise.
“Earth to Tyler.” Macy waved a hand in front of his face. “You alive?”
“Just thinking,” he told her.
She hopped onto the stool next to him. “About what?”
He glanced over and met her gaze. Honestly interested blue eyes stared back at him. She was so different looking from Nicole, less exotic, her pale face making her large eyes stand out. But her genuine concern for him made him feel something different from ever before.
“Have you ever been torn between doing what’s right and family loyalty or expectations?” he asked.
She propped her chin on her hand. “Not the way you probably mean. Family comes first, but we’re all so strong-willed that we always clash when it comes to what we want. Like Aunt Lulu got all upset last year and quit here to go work for a supermarket. Then she got hurt and my family circled the wagons and took her back immediately.” She shrugged. “But I’m thinking whatever’s bothering you is bigger than that.”
“What makes you think something’s bothering me?”
She raised her eyebrows. “Do you really think I’m buying this whole Nicole-and-I-are-meant-for-each-other thing? One look at you and I get the sense that it’s killing you to chase after a woman who isn’t interested.”
With her insight, the anxiety that had been riding him since he’d arrived in town eased somewhat. “You got that, huh?” He leaned in closer.
She didn’t pull away.
“Yeah, I did. So why are you doing it? What kind of family would have you sacrificing yourself and your dignity?”
She was so close, he wanted to lean in and kiss her. More than that, he wanted to explain his motives, but doing so would put her in danger and he already had one woman to look out for. He couldn’t drag another into his problems.
“Let’s just say that the rich are different, and I don’t mean that in any insulting way.” With regret, he forced himself to straighten up and pull away.
Disappointment flickered in her eyes. “Sucks for you,” she said in her blunt way, looking at him with pity.
And making him feel uncomfortable in his own skin.
She sighed. “I’d rather just make ends meet than suffer with that kind of obligation.”