Page 66 of Temptation Trails

I just hoped if he did, no one would get hurt.

My phone buzzed with a text and, despite my frustrations, the corners of my mouth turned up in a smile at seeing Harper’s name. My anger cooled.

She’d sent a picture of herself holding a cupcake with pink and yellow swirled frosting.

Harper: Pink lemonade cupcakes. Aren’t they cute?

Me: You’re cute.

Harper: Want me to save one for you?

Me: How about you save some frosting. I can lick it off you.

Harper: How soon can you be at my place? Not really, I can’t leave work. But now I’m all tingly in, you know, places.

Me: What places?

Harper: Secret places.

Me: Delicious places.

Harper: You’re killing me right now.

Me: Not sorry.

Harper: Can’t wait to see you again.

Me: Me too.

The urge to type love you hit me like a punch to the jaw. Love you? It was too soon for that. Spontaneous Garrett might have taken over for a while, and I didn’t regret that, but I still needed to be careful.

And I needed to stay focused. If I really had made mistakes, I couldn’t let it happen again. My job was at stake.

CHAPTER 17

Harper

The scent of vanilla sponge cake filled the bakery kitchen. It had been pouring rain all day, which probably accounted for the lack of customers. Fewer people out and about, fewer still stopping in for a treat.

It was nice to have a breather. With no more need for cookies and cupcakes, I had time to work on custom cake orders. And for a cup of tea.

I pulled a stool to the island and sat, giving my feet a rest.

My phone buzzed with a call, giving me a zing of anticipation. Was it Garrett?

I was probably a little too excited about that.

But it wasn’t. It was my sister, Holly. That was odd. She didn’t call very often.

“Hey, Holly. Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, fine. Do you have any idea what happened to Grandma’s vintage cameo brooch?”

“Um, no. I don’t think so.”

“You didn’t end up with it?”

“No.”

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