Page 27 of Power Plays & Proposals

I glanced at my watch. "In an hour. He had to drop Penelope off at school. Did you see the interview Hannah posted from after the game?"

"You mean him fielding all the questions about your engagement that's straight out of a romance novel?"

"Yeah, but it'll probably end up like a crime novel. You should have seen some of those looks his ex gave me at the salon." I shuddered.

She rolled her eyes, "Let me know if you still feel that way after he kisses you."

"Who said anything about kissing? There will be no kissing a man I just met."

"You didn't just meet him though. You've been flirting with Super Dad for months. The sparks from your banter make it feel like the fourth of July. Of course there will be kissing. You're gorgeous, he's gorgeous. There needs to be smooching of the best kind so you can tell me all about it. Otherwise that's like cookies without chocolate, cake without frosting, brownies without--"

"You're ridiculous." I cut her off. She could go on for a long time when she started making food comparisons. "Why don't you find someone for your own sparks? Like that neighbor of yours."

I waggled my eyebrows at her and laughed at the glare she shot me.

"My neighbor may be hot, but he's the most inconsiderate, insufferable, man. You couldn't pay me to kiss him, and I haven't been on a date since that last guy I swiped on. He told me I tasted like garlic. We'd just had Italian with garlic bread. What could he have expected?"

"You're better off without him."

She nodded her head emphatically. "You know I am, and I knew it too when he told me that I’d be more attractive if I cut out carbs. Who ever heard of a baker that didn’t eat carbs? So I better be the first person you tell about your kisses with Nate."

I lifted and dropped one shoulder in a semi shrug, "How about I see how breakfast goes with him first?"

"Go pick out your box. I'd hate for it to sell out before you get a chance."

"Don't lie, you'd love to sell out. But I want first dibs on those cinnamon rolls."

She shooed me to the front of the store so I could put together a to-go box for Nate and I. I hadn’t thought to ask him if he preferred to eat at the bakery or somewhere else. The upside of having helped Nate when he came into the bakery is I knew what to pick out for the both of us. I added a couple of the bacon and egg croissants he liked so much, before adding two of my favorite chocolate muffins to a mini box. Movement out of the corner of my eye caught my attention and I saw a line of customers already lined up outside the door, a really long line.

"Maria," I called out nervously.

When she came to the front I pointed to the long line of people. "How much more can you bake?"'

"More if I didn't have to man the counter."

I pulled my phone from my pocket and pulled up the text messages between Nate and I. We'd sent a lot of messages back and forth over the weekend. "I'll text Nate. He'll understand the need to reschedule."

I couldn't leave Maria without help to face this crowd.

"No! You don't need to cancel your date."

The moment I finished typing that I needed to help Maria I hit send. "Too late. Now get to baking."

"One hour Lia. Tops." She went back to the kitchen to start mixing up yummy things. "You can still go on your date."

We were swamped as soon as the door opened, and I rushed to fill boxes and bags as I rung up orders. People were getting hangry from waiting so long in line, and I thought we were one muffin-shortage away from a riot. We'd already run out of the blueberry and banana nut muffins. I didn't even know how much time had passed when the energy of the crowd shifted from annoyance to an excited buzz. People parted as Nate and two of his teammates strode through the door. They were wearing their blue jerseys and jeans and Nate had his incognito hat on. His gaze found mine, and a warm smile slowly formed on his face. A gentle flutter stirred in my stomach as a sense of warmth enveloped me.

People were asking for autographs and selfies, and his teammates obliged them as Nate confidently walked up to the counter. The customer I was ringing up stepped to the side to give him more room.

He leaned in close to me, and he smelt like a combination of amber and something woodsy. His lips barely brushed my forehead before he said, "Hi."

My insides turned into a pile of jelly, and I had to hold onto the counter so I didn't fall to my knees. "Did you get my text?"

He nodded and pointed to his teammates. "That's why I brought reinforcements."

Maria chose this moment to bring out a tray of freshly iced cinnamon rolls. She stopped midstep and her jaw dropped at the sight of Nate. She was seconds away from a full fan-girl moment when she shook herself. Focused on filling up the display with the cinnamon rolls, she worked fast as she swapped the empty tray for the full one.

Nate smiled at her. "Mind if I help? I can box orders while Lia rings them up."

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