Page 2 of The Hot New Single Dad Next Door

“Still, I wouldn’t risk it. This is Kiss County. The land of love at first sight and all that.”

“Then I’ll just have to walk by him again and again until he falls madly in love with me. In fact, after my shift tonight, I’m going to do just that with a batch of my famous blueberry mini muffins.”

Tish licks her lips. “Your muffins are the best.”

“And soon, the whole county will know how good my muffins are,” I say. “I’m this close to having enough to afford the down payment on the loan for the bakery.”

She gasps. “Really? That’s great!”

“Speaking of which...” I twist toward the register as Bruno himself steps out from his office in the back. “Hey, Bruno.” I feign a gasp, making a show of looking him over, admiring him. “You look so handsome today!”

He doesn’t buy it. “What do you want?”

“No, really! Is that a new flannel? And your beard is looking so… fluffy!”

Bruno blinks twice, his bright blue eyes chill as ice.

I drop it. “Got any extra hours for me this week?”

He chuckles as he slaps a sign on the front of the register that says HELP WANTED. “Yup,” he grunts.

“Help wanted?” Tish asks. “Why?”

“Mika’s quitting.”

“She’s quitting?!” I ask. “Why?”

“Summer’s coming,” Bruno says. “Going full time at the inn.”

Tish snorts. “While making part time with that hot new bachelor of hers, I bet.”

I shudder with envy, but it quickly subsides. “Lucky girl,” I say. “Carter’s delicious.”

“So delicious.”

“Happy for her.”

“So happy.”

“But my hot new single dad is gonna blow him out of the water!” I clap my hands together happily. “Can’t you feel it, Bruno? The love in the air? The sweet?—”

He walks off, escaping into the back without a word.

Tish sighs. “We’ve got to get him laid,” she says. “He’s way too young to be an old hermit.”

“How old is he?” I ask.

“Thirty-five?” she guesses.

“That’s all? He acts fifty.”

“It’s that Tall Mountain elevation, I guess.”

We sigh.

“Anyway,” I say, twisting to face her. “This is it, Tish.”

“This is it!” she says.

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