Page 20 of Someone You Deserve

Watching her ass sway in her jeans as she walks away from me, I’m grateful that her back is to me so she can’t see how transfixed I am by her curves. Astrid has always been a beautiful girl, but after she became a mom, and more importantly, in the years since she’s been a single mom, there’s something about her that sets her apart. Maybe it’s that she’s so busy, she barely bothers with makeup, which she doesn’t fucking need anyway. Maybe it’s that she makes a simple t-shirt and pair of jeans look like they were made for her perfect fucking body.

Or maybe it’s the fact she has no idea just how sexy she is by just being her.

God, I’m hopeless and pathetic.

When she finally stops moving, I reach out and wipe the flour from her nose, showing it to her on the tip of my finger.

She rolls her eyes and groans. “Flour practically seeps from my pores these days.”

I lean in and take a whiff of her, which catches her off guard. “What are you doing?”

“Seeing if that’s true.”

She grins at me curiously but then I see her shudder as I get closer. “Well?”

I inhale deeply once more and then lock my eyes onto hers when I say, “Nope. You smell like fucking sugar.”

Her throat bobs and she smiles nervously. “Well, there are worse things, right?”

“Definitely.” Standing tall again, I cast my eyes over the kitchen and remember why I’m here instead of imagining tasting her sweetness as well. “Okay, so I figured I’d start in the back, work on those shelves for the pantry for you since that will leave the front untouched for a day or so. Then those tables…”

“They’re hideous, right?”

“Nothing some sanding and a new coat of paint can’t fix.”

“Perfect.” She reaches for a big metal bowl and starts scooping in cups of flour.

“The display case is going to be the most expensive change.”

She sighs, leveling out sugar and adding that to the bowl. “I know.”

“I did some research on them last night and the ones that had the best reviews were about $2500 apiece.”

She freezes and looks up at me. “You researched them last night? After you left my house?” I nod, but she looks at me like I’m a fucking alien. “God, Penn. When do you sleep?”

The truth is that I don’t, not for long anyway. If I can manage a solid five hours, then I consider that a good night. But by two or three in the morning, I’m usually wide awake and my mind is racing with everything that needs to be done.

Or how I’m stuck in the same place in my life that I’ve been in for years.

Well, as of this afternoon, that won’t be true anymore, for better or for worse.

“I manage. So, do you want me to order those, or would you like to research some on your own?”

She shakes her head. “I don’t have time for that. I trust you.”

“All right. I’ll place the order today.” I take out my notepad I keep in my pocket, jot down my to-do list for the day, and then shove it back in my jeans just as the chime above the front door rings out again, and Astrid groans.

“I keep getting interrupted. I need to get these cupcakes going or I’m going to be behind filling an order.”

“Where’s Tanya?” I ask. Tanya is a recent high school graduate who worked for the previous owners. She’s eager to be a pastry chef, so when Astrid took over she agreed to stay on, promising she wouldn’t leave her high and dry. In fact, she was more than excited to be working for her and Astrid promised to teach her everything she knows.

“She had a doctor’s appointment this morning, so I gave her the morning off.”

“And what about Vanessa and Anthony?”

“They won’t be here until nine.”

“Then I’ll handle the customer.”

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