Page 42 of The Sweetest Ingredient

He rolled his eyes, the hint of a grin tugging at the corner of his lips. “You’re incorrigible, Kenzi Middleton.”

I leaned closer, narrowing my gaze. “Is that a smile I detect?”

His brow arched. “You might be the only person I’ve met who has the audacity to tease me this way.”

“Admit it, you appreciate when I challenge your structured ways,” I said, swishing hair over my shoulder. “I keep things interesting.”

“No one would argue that.” He lifted his head, his stare wandering across the twinkling skyline. “This has been...nice. Talking, being here with you. It’s different.”

A warm feeling settled in my chest. “Different good or different bad?”

“Unexpected,” he said, his voice velvety smooth. “Unexpectedly good.”

The atmosphere between us shifted, growing warmer, cozier. He looked as if he wanted to say more, but instead, he turned his head toward mine. The world narrowed to only the two of us. Every distant sound, every whisper of the night, silenced. Under the soft moonlight, the lines of his face took on a gentle luminescence, each shadow and highlight more pronounced.

“Kenzi...” he whispered, his voice hushed and barely audible.

Bishop’s hand edged nearer, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes before our fingers touched. My heart fluttered as our fingers entwined, igniting a potent surge of affection within me for this enigmatic man. His fingers squeezed mine, and a warm and pleasant hum coursed through my blood. Bishop’s gaze fell on my mouth, a flash of desire lingering in their depths. His thumb started gently stroking my skin, electrifying every fiber of my being.

There was a raw vulnerability about him that I had never witnessed before. An almost hypnotic appeal towards him was simply too overwhelming like a seductive allure of forbidden feelings that was impossible to resist.

Neither of us moved, spoke as everything faded into oblivion. With that simple gesture of hand holding, it had blurred the lines between us, threatening to tip the balance in our professional relationship. My breath hitched and I licked my lips. Bishop leaned in until our faces were inches apart, his breath mingling with mine, my eyes closing?—

“Hey, Bishop!” Jordan’s voice rang out from the rooftop doorway. “Phone call for you.”

Bishop and I jerked back, our hands parting as if we’d been caught stealing cookies from the jar before dinner.

Bishop grunted and settled back in his seat. He flexed his hand, his fingers stiff. “Thanks, Jordan. Be right there.”

A pang of disappointment hit me hard at how close we’d come to sharing a kiss. The passion that had swaddled me moments before dissipated, replaced with a chill that prickled my skin.

“I should take that call,” he said. “Don’t stay up here too long.”

Bishop disappeared down the stairwell. I huddled in the blanket, the memory of our almost kiss, leaving me yearning for something I shouldn’t be craving.

I reclined in the lawn chair, staring up at the night sky.

“Okay, Universe, spill the tea,” I whispered, my voice carried away by the soft swooshing of the breeze. “Any advice on what to do about this crush on my boss?”

The moon glowered down at me.

Under the darkening sky, I vowed to tell Bishop the truth, to reveal my deception and hope with all my heart that he would still see me the same way...just not now, but soon. Very soon.

Chapter Sixteen

The first light of dawn was filtering through the bakery windows, turning the tops of the golden pastries a rosy hue as I walked into the kitchen.

Bishop, tall and solemn, was standing at the counter, his attention absorbed in adorning a cupcake with intricate frosting swirls.

“You’re here early.” He didn’t look at me or turn away from his cupcake decorating.

“One must seize the day, after all.” I lifted my apron off the rack and slipped it on.

“Can we talk?” he said suddenly, setting down his frosting bag.

“Um, yeah.”

He led me to the rear of the kitchen and paused beside the staircase to the rooftop. “The thing is…I feel we need to discuss us.”

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