Page 13 of The Longshot

“Closed!” she shouts, catching me off guard. “We. Are. Closed. Got it?”

The door slams shut and before I know it, off she goes, away from the doorway and back into the kitchen, beating me at my own Goddamn game.

Shit.

I walked myself into that one, better yet, talked myself into it.

My mind works in spirals.

What do I do?

What do I say?

I need a cake.

I can’t leave here without a cake.

I got it.

I’ve mastered two things in my life, first my charm, but my ability to guilt trip? It’s an honorable second.

“You know what?” I linger by the front door, speaking loud enough so that I know she can still hear me. “I guess I’m just going to have to tell my sister…”

A little white lie won’t hurt for now. Sorry, Delaney.

“That she won’t be getting another cake for her baby shower after all. She felt awful, you know.” I frown. “When she accidentally dropped it all over me. But what can you do, right? You’re closed.” I slump my shoulders, kicking the pebbles beneath my feet in defeat as I solemnly peer towards the ground. “I suppose I’ll just have to tell her that I tried going to Ruby’s Bakery to get her another, but they said ‘too bad’, ‘tough tits’, ‘sucks to be you?—’”

“Are you always like this?” Like a mouse falling into a trap she’s back at the door, her voice tense—loud, as she peers down the street for any passer byers.

“Handsome and sexy?” I shoot her a cocky smirk, placing my hands into either one of my pant pockets. “Most days,” I self-proclaim. “But today, you’re just getting lucky.”

Less than amused she bites down on the inside of her cheek. “I meant annoying and persistent.”

“Well that’s the thing…” I take a prideful step forward. “I can be whatever you want me to be, baby, but right now, I really need you to help me out. Think you can do that?”

She swallows, huffing out a breath of frustration until she relaxes her shoulders and turns swiftly on her heel. “What kind of cake do you need?” she calls out while making a beeline back into the kitchen.

It worked.

Oh my God, it worked.

But wait, what now?

Do I follow her?

Do I stay?

Do I?—

“Well, don’t just stand there!” she answers my question for me as she tightens her apron around her waist. “You were begging to come in a minute ago, weren’t you? Now, c’mon, I don’t have all day!”

I gulp.

There’s nothing hotter than a woman with authority. Especially when it’s this woman.

“You don’t have to ask me twice, darling.” I step in through the front of the shop, closing the door carefully behind me as I assess my surroundings.

I guess I was wrong when I said I knew everything about this town. I’ve never been to this bakery before. The cake Warren and Delaney ordered was from a different shop. Why haven’t I noticed this place? But more importantly, why haven’t I noticed her?

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