Page 161 of Butterfly Effect

I lob a playful smack against his solid bicep. “Rude.”

“Monsieur, mademoiselle?” The young woman behind the counter addresses us. When Wade answers, and they continue in French, I zone out.

We take our mugs of coffee and croissants over to a table across from the display case. Doug noisily scarfs down his complimentary doggy treat, a sugar-free peanut butter cookie, then places his crumby snout in my lap.

“You and Doug get the same look in your eyes when you beg.”

“Are you calling me a dog?”

I stay tight-lipped. “I’m saying there are similarities.”

“Oh, for sure. We’re both adorable, loyal?—”

“Needy—”

He ignores my addition to his list. “And don’t mind begging for a worthwhile meal.”

“How do you manage to make everything about sex?”

“It’s a gift.”

“Truly.”

“On that note, what do you think of this place?”

“Yeah, it’s nice.” I eye the cupcakes. “Ticks all the boxes for a French bakery; the cupcakes are pretty basic.”

“You could help them with that.”

“Oh,sure.” Sarcasm laces my inflection as I lodge a bite of croissant into my cheek. “It won’t be presumptuous at all for me to go up there and offer unsolicited advice.”

“It’s your bakery; you can do whatever you want.”

Croissant flakes fall from my mouth, mid-chew. “It’s what?”

“It’s yours.”

“Since when?”

“Since I bought it for you.”

My hand covers the lower half of my face. “Youboughtme a bakery?”

“Yep.” The unbothered shit sips on his coffee.

“That’s…” I recline into the seat, mind reeling. “…this is nuts.”

“You like baking cupcakes but don’t want to deal with it en masse. This place is already well-staffed and has a lead baker, so you can be as involved as you want. Consider it your testing ground.”

“Ahhh,now I see,” I tease. “You want me outta your kitchen.”

“Well, I tried to be nice about it, but you leave behind the biggest mess.”

This guy.

“Be serious.” My shoulders drop, and my head tilts to him before my gaze drops. “It’s too much.”

Wade places his coffee on the tabletop and retrieves my hand from where it strokes Doug’s soft ear. “It’s not enough. But if you don’t like it, I’ll get rid of it?—”

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