Page 28 of Power Plays & Proposals

"What about your date?" Maria asked and glanced at me.

He offered her one of his adorable shrugs. "I don't mind waiting for the morning rush to die down."

"Wash your hands, then Lia give him your apron." Then she walked into the back to bake something else.

Nate washed at the sink I directed him to before returning. I untied the apron from around my waist and he lifted the loop up from my neck. The barest touch of his fingers sent goosebumps across my skin.

"This is really kind of you," I told him.

He shrugged and looped the apron over his head and turned so I could tie it for him.

A throat cleared, and I looked over to see one of his teammates grinning at the two of us like a cat that got the cream. Nate shook his head and offered introductions. His teammate who was grinning at us was Lou, and the other one was Dan. Lou was the apparent genius who made the post online and caused the long line of customers.

"Think I can get one of those gooey things?" Lou asked.

"I'll put one to the side for each of you." I offered.

Lou grinned and slapped Dan on the back, and pulled a backpack from off his shoulders

Dan rolled his eyes. "Coach is going to make us do so many laps."

Once the treats were put to the side, we got to work. Nate helped to box whatever people pointed to, and offered suggestions of things he'd tried when they were not sure what to get. Lou and Dan helped entertain the crowd, and the line moved much more smoothly. By the time the last customer left with the last of the cinnamon rolls, I was exhausted.

I flicked the sign from open to closed. Lou and Dan had taken a seat at one of the tables, their imposing size making it look like a kids’ table.

Nate pulled off the apron, and I took it from him to hang up. "I have a box of things for us if you're hungry."

He followed me eagerly to the back.

Maria was holding her experiment plate, piled with a variety of goodies she wanted to tweak the next time she made it.

"Want one?" She asked us. "I'm thinking about making these for book club."

I shook my head. "I got plenty for us earlier. But Lou or Dan might."

"The goalie?" Maria asked, perking up like a kid about to meet Santa.

Nate only had to nod, and she was through the door to the front with the plate. I shared a chuckle with Nate, and put my apron up on the hook. I turned around to find Nate was much closer than I’d thought, and the kitchen was still too hot from all the baking. I stepped around him, and I wasn’t so sure the warmth I was feeling had anything to do with the ovens. I picked up the box I'd packed earlier from off the counter and held it out to him.

"Do you want to eat here? Or we can find a spot somewhere..." I let the question trail off since he was not taking the box.

He checked the time on his watch. "Here would be good. Our appointment at Radiant Diamonds is soon."

"I really don't need a ring." I protested once more.

"You really do." He took the box from me, and held open the door for me back to the front.

"Well don't worry about paying for a real stone. I'm good with a fake one." I told him as I walked by.

"We'll see."

We walked into a glare-off between Lou and Maria. Dan was happily eating an eclair. Lou picked up one of the blueberry muffins, but Maria smacked his hand and he dropped it back onto the plate. Dan picked it up and started eating the muffin.

"Oh come on." Lou slumped in the chair. "I only got one."

"Everything okay?" I asked.

Maria pushed the plate to Dan, then turned around and stomped over to me. She looked at Nate. "You and anyone that's not Lou are welcome here anytime. Now get that idiot out of my bakery."

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