Page 34 of Forced Knocked-Up Mate

“I’ll be back soon to check on you,” she says.

I want to make a cutting remark, but she disappears before I can.

I throw out the blackened loaves of bread and put the cookies in the oven. When I look at the bread recipe, I see it’s extremely simple. I only have to mix a few ingredients together before I start kneading the dough.

The dough needs to be really pummeled, then left to prove before kneading it again. It’s immensely satisfying to slam the dough into the hard tabletop and smash it back and forth.

Now this is actually fun! I’d never admit it to Lucy, but I’m starting to enjoy myself back here.

I’m so occupied kneading the dough that the faint scent of peaches filters slowly through my senses before I notice that she’s standing across the bench, watching me. My heart does a little jump in my chest.

“How long have you been standing there?” I ask.

“A little while,” she says. “You’re pretty good at that.”

“Thanks,” I answer, a smile of real warmth spreading across my face.

She smiles back, and there is a moment of pure, blissful connection between us.

And it scares the fuck out of me.

“It’s not like this is difficult,” I say caustically. “So I don’t think much of your praise. Do you think I need your validation? It’s not like I’m here by choice.”

She frowns. “I was just saying that—”

“Yeah, yeah, I know. I don’t care. Go and serve some customers or something and stop trying to be my babysitter.”

“You did almost burn the kitchen down,” she points out, almost whispering.

“A mistake I won’t make again. Just get off my case, seriously. I can’t take this anymore. If it’s not your wisecracks, it’s your disapproval. Do I need to remind you that this situation is entirely your fault?”

Lucy shakes her head. “No,” she chokes out. “You don’t.” She turns to go, and I notice her wipe her eyes with the back of her hand.

Shit. Did I just make her cry?

For a moment, I freeze. Part of me wants to chase after her and apologize. The other half of me wants to slam the dough as hard as I can until I can forget this horrible guilty feeling.

Even though the urge to follow Lucy is strong, the dough wins out, and I keep my emotions held tightly in check.

Chapter 11 - Lucy

I turn my back on Peter and his hurtful comments as I go back to the front counter. It’s not easy to push my emotions away, and I know it’s only a matter of time before I collapse and cry.

I can’t take this anymore. I know this is my fault, but this is worse than prison, being stuck with a man who hates me so much!

As I smile and greet my customers, a sharp ache twists in my chest and worsens by the second. This situation could be bearable if Peter would just choose an emotion and stick with it.

It was wrong to kiss him, I know that. Obviously, we are just not a match, and I shouldn’t be indulging in these fantasies. Maybe his mixed reaction really is my fault.

More customers start pouring into the shop. A lot of them are regulars, but there are also groups of tourists. It’s a chance to make a bit of extra cash, as well as get good word-of-mouth referrals and online reviews.

I head out the back, dreading talking to him but knowing I have no choice.

“Peter?”

“Yes?” he answers. He’s standing by the ovens, and it looks like he’s successfully made a few loaves of bread and batches of cookies.

“Can you help out front?”

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