Page 25 of The Flirt

"Hi." I was feeling extra shy all of a sudden.

"You have some powdered sugar on your lips."

I blushed instantly and brushed it off. "Better?"

He swallowed hard. I noticed his Adam's apple dip. "Yes."

He did that same gentlemanly thing as last time where he pulled my chair out for me to sit down. Before Chad, I didn't even know people did that anymore.

"So," he said in a serious tone, "today was your favorite beignet.”

A smile was playing on my lips. "It was puffier and somehow even creamier, though I know that's not the best way to describe it."

His eyes were still on my mouth. Do I still have powdered sugar there

"Your mom should be getting the delivery today."

"Oh my God, thank you. Chad, that’s—"

"Don't say it’s the nicest thing anyone's ever done for you."

My mouth fell open. "Why not? It's true."

"Because it breaks me every time I hear it."

I jerked my head back. "What do you mean?"

He looked at me intently. “I feel like you're only expecting the bare minimum from people. Usually that happens because you only got the bare minimum."

I'd never felt so understood in my life. "Um, I'm not even sure what to say."

"Just enjoy everything, Scarlett, without feeling like you have to pay me back or something."

I wasn't sure how to explain to him that I wasn't used to getting anything without giving something in return. Or having an expectation placed on me.

"I'll try," I said. "I hope Mom gets it after work. That way she can enjoy it this evening."

"What do your parents do?"

"They’re both teachers. My dad used to be a nurse, but he had an accident and couldn't handle the job anymore. It was too physical and fast paced, so he got his teaching degree. We had a few rough years during that time. He did try to take on odd jobs, but it wasn't easy."

"I bet it wasn't," he said in a low voice. He opened his mouth again, tilting in closer, but then the marketing team stepped into the room, effectively cutting the sexual tension between us.

"Scarlett, we couldn't believe our ears when we heard that you got Genaro to deliver," Mia exclaimed.

My face exploded in a huge grin.

"I’m impressed." Chad looked at me with pride, and I relished it.

"The man isn't as hardheaded as he seems."

"No, I just think you have a way with people," Aurelia added.

My cheeks heated. "Thank you.”

“So, since we have the best shrimp in the city, let's go full steam ahead with the changes you had planned. These are the pitches for the advertisers." Mia put three sheets of paper in front of me. It was copy for Facebook ads as well as magazines, describing flavors, textures, and so on.

"I love this. I read one of the descriptions and can taste the food already." I looked up. "Well done. I couldn't have written it better if I tried."

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