Page 7 of Sweet Bred

Her eyes meet mine. “Just…thinking about the future. That’s all.”

“It’s a big change, getting married,” I say. “I get that it can be a stressful time.”

“Right. But the thing is…” But she cuts herself off with a shake of her head. “Never mind. I’m sorry. You’re not here for me to talk to like this.”

“It’s okay. Go on.”

“No. I couldn’t ask that of you.”

“You have someone else you can talk to, though, right?” I ask.

She hesitates. “Not really.”

“So let me be that person. I’d like to help, if I can.”

“That’s really sweet of you. Seriously. I appreciate the offer. I just—” She shakes her head again. “I can’t. But thank you.”

At that moment, her phone chimes. She fumbles as she gets it out of her bag and checks it.

“I’m so sorry, but I have to go.”

“Is everything okay?” I ask.

She nods. “I didn’t realize how late it is. I have to meet my fiancé.”

“I’ll wrap up the cake slices,” I say, disappointed in the interruption despite knowing it’s for the best. “The two of you can taste the rest on your own.”

“Thank you, Shaw. I really appreciate it.”

Hearing her say my name sends a painful surge of longing through my chest that stays with me as I wrap up the slices. What I wouldn’t give to change everything about this moment. If only she wasn’t engaged. If only I’d met her sooner.

If only, if only, if only…

“Let me know when you decide what flavors you want,” I say, walking Juliet to the front door. As I open it, the bells above sigh a sad jingle. “Or if there’s anything else you need, don’t hesitate to ask.”

She nods and gives me a quick smile as she steps outside. “Again, thanks so much. For everything, I mean.”

I want to watch her go, but I don’t. It will only make the stabbing pain worse. Instead, I lock the door and force myself to clean up the bakery, scrubbing down every damn surface until my arms ache.

Later that evening, I drive out to Reid and Mackenna’s place, both to get some more Ari time in but also to see my brother Jake again before he flies back to Seattle. When I arrive, I walk into the recently renovated house and find Jake looking stiff and uncomfortable as he sits in the living room with the baby in his arms.

Despite all the feelings I’m still wrestling with from my time with Juliet, I can’t help but laugh.

“Guess it’s safe to say you don’t have baby fever, huh?” I say as I walk around the back of the couch.

Jake awkwardly adjusts Ari in his arms, the crispness of his button-up shirt wrinkling under her little body. “It’s not that she isn’t cute. I’m just not good with babies.”

“I can see that.” I get settled on the other end of the couch. “It’s good you were able to visit, though. Your flight back is in a couple hours, right?”

Jake nods, giving our infant niece a wary look as she scrunches up her face and starts to softly cry. “Shit. What do I do?”

“Really, Jake?” I say. “Rock her. Try to soothe her.”

I know it shouldn’t amuse me, seeing my brother so clueless. But I’m used to thinking of Jake as the guy who has his shit together. He’s a cutthroat boss in a major city, and far more financially successful than Reid and myself. Some big-name business magazine did a feature on him a few months back, calling him a merciless powerhouse.

And yet here he is, looking terrified of a sweet little newborn.

I look up and smile as Reid walks into the living room. “Hey, man.”

---