Page 3 of Mitch

Bake.

My parents had owned Penn’s Bakery—affectionately named after their only child, me—since I was in middle school. While they weren’t the only bakery in Jasper Springs, they were pretty well known in the county. My mother’s macaroons areto die for.I swore she could compete on Great British Bake Off with those things.

Who cares if she hasn’t been home to London in twenty years.

No, as usual, instead of socializing like a normal twenty-three year old, I locked myself in my parent’s bakery—my birthright as my father would say—and took out my perpetual singledom and emo woes on the giant five tier spectacle Giselle had ordered for her wedding. I got lost in the flowers, brushing and smoothing the buttercream on each individual tier. Every little detail was a welcome relief as I strategically placed each flower and accent.

I’d always loved weddings, and had fond memories of my mom baking for weddings and parties growing up. Our small house was overtaken by mom’scake and cookie orders, since in those early days before they opened the shop she’d work from home.

And when I’d ultimately ended up at home on a Friday night, because I was the awkward kid who didn’t fit in anywhere, she’d always let me help.

Though now, I was doing more than helping. Now that I had my certifications, my degree, I could finally take on more responsibility with the shop.

My dad wouldn’t admit it, and I knew my mom would say otherwise, but I was no fool. I knew that they were looking at retirement, justwaitingfor the right moment. Waiting for me to graduate, move home, and take over the family business. I knew what my future looked like.

But I also knew I wanted to love more than just my job.

I wanted to share my life with someone the way my mom and dad did.

But no matter how many women they set me up with, or how many times someone swiped right on me...

Nothing ever felt right.

And then I came to the Paradise, on ajob, and I sawhim.

Over in the corner by my masterpiece.

He was tall, dark, and handsome like the men in the fairytales always were. A little rogue-ish looking, which told me he was definitelynota guest. The wedding was a black-tie affair, but my mom assured me my button down and slacks would be enough. After all, I came home a week earlier, due to a glitch in the computer system regarding my train ticket, so it wasn’t like I was planning on going to a fancy wedding.

Not to mention the closest suit shop was in the city, and Ihatedgoing into the city. All those people, the traffic...

Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome leaned against the table, looking like he was bored to tears.

I swallowed harshly, feeling strangely hot, like I was going to get caught with my hand in the cookie jar or something.

Which was an odd way to feel about some stranger, some man who looked like something right out of a romance novel or something.

A part of me felt compelled by his apathetic expression, the way hesexilyleaned against the table like he was the King of the castle or something.

But I was frozen in place, scared to move, to evenbreathein his vicinity.

What the hell?

My cock twitched in my pants, and a maddening blush crept up my cheeks.

Now was certainly not an appropriate time for an erection!

My brain was a bit slow to process, and that’s when I felt more embarrassed than ever. Not because of where I was, but because...

What the fuck?

I’d never been attracted to men before, likeat all.

I thought surely, something must be off, maybe I got a whiff of some perfume, or maybe I too, was suffering from boredom.

Or maybe it’s because I haven’t jacked off since I came home.

I shoved the weird and inappropriate thoughts out of my mind though, because mymother,of all people, broke my concentration.

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