Page 4 of Sweet Bred

My mom beams. “Thank you, Eric.”

Later, as the Kristoffs are leaving, I tell Eric about the taste test I have scheduled at the bakery on Thursday, and ask if he’s interested in joining me. Eric has been pretty hands-off with the wedding planning so far, so I’m not surprised when he shakes his head no.

“That’s all right, I don’t think I need to be there,” he says. “I’ll be happy with whatever you choose.”

“Are you sure? What if I end up choosing confetti cake?” I joke.

He laughs. “Like I said, I trust your decision. You have good taste.”

And then he gives me a quick peck on the cheek goodbye, a kiss that’s so quick I’m not even sure if it comes in contact with my cheek.

I spend my entire shift at the bookstore on Thursday waiting for five o’clock to roll around. One of my co-workers, Heather, even teases me about how often I keep checking the time.

“It’s nice to see you so excited about your wedding, Juliet,” she says, grinning at me as we set up a new book display in the shop’s front window. “I was starting to wonder if you even wanted to get married.”

Her words send guilt coursing through me, but I laugh it off. “Of course I want to get married.”

“You should tell your fiancé to come by sometime. I’d love to meet him.”

“I’ll try.”

“He’s not much of a reader, huh?”

I shrug. “Not really.”

“I get it. My boyfriend doesn’t even read instructions.” Heather laughs, glances around, then leans closer to me. “At least tell me your fiancé is good in bed.”

“Uh…to be determined, actually.”

Heather gapes at me. “What? Oh, are you saving yourself for marriage?”

“No. It just hasn’t happened yet.”

“Wait. Let me get this straight. You’re not saving yourself, but you’re also about to commit to a lifetime with a man and you don’t even know if you’re compatible in bed?”

“I’m sure it will be fine.”

“What? No, no, no. Juliet. Listen to me. This is not something you want to gamble on.”

“Heather, I appreciate your concern, but it’s not a big deal.”

She shakes her head vehemently. “No, it is. Look, I realize that it’s none of my business, it’s your sex life, but—” She cuts herself off to smile at a passing customer, waiting for the other woman to walk away before her attention snaps back to me. “Trust me about this. Sex is about so much more than just sex. If the two of you don’t connect on that level, you’re really going to be missing out.”

I rearrange the books I’ve been fussing with for too long. “Yeah. I know.”

“Sorry,” she says, frowning. “No, of course you do. I don’t need to tell you that.”

“It’s okay.”

“Well, I hope for your sake that he’s a wonder between the sheets,” she says, winking as she hands me a fresh stack of books.

At last, five o’clock arrives. I’m immediately out the door and on my way to see Shaw. My feet don’t slow until I’m a block away from the bakery, when I stop to check my reflection and make sure my hair and makeup looks okay.

I should have worn a different outfit, I think, tugging at a spot that’s too tight on me. No. Stop it, Juliet. It doesn’t matter what you’re wearing. Cut it out.

Taking a calming breath, I walk up to the bakery door, where a Closed sign hangs. I knock on the glass pane and feel my heartbeat pick up as Shaw’s large figure approaches from the other side.

“Hi, Juliet,” he says, greeting me with a warm smile as he opens the door. “Come on in.”

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