Page 16 of Inked Devotion

I liked it.

Brenna stood in the lobby, her rolling bag next to her, as she frowned at the bagel selection. I had my duffel bag beside me and set it next to hers. She looked up at me. Her wide eyes were bright, though I didn’t know if that had to do with the lighting or the fact that she might’ve gotten some sleep the night before. She’d piled her hair on the top of her head, little tendrils going down her neck, and it made her neck look long and inviting.

I needed a coffee if I was going to let my thoughts wander down that particular path.

She smiled at me and gestured towards the bagels. “I can’t make a choice. Either way, I’m going to want cream cheese. And since I want to get on the road, that means there’s going to be cream cheese in my car.” She cringed, and I held back a smile.

“We’ll use napkins.”

“Then I was thinking about getting a banana, but I can’t eat a banana while in the car if you’re in it, because if we make eye contact, eating a banana with other people watching is weird.”

She said everything so fast that it took me a minute for my brain to catch up, and then I barked out a laugh. Someone gave me a weird look, and I shrugged before looking back at her.

“I’m never going to be able to think about eating a banana in public again. Thank you for that.”

“Oh, I’m pretty sure you thought about that before, don’t even with me.”

“No, I’ve never once thought about making eye contact with someone eating a banana. Mostly because I break it into pieces before popping it into my mouth.”

“That’d probably be a smart way to do it.” She waved her hand at me. “Anyway, I think I’m going with cinnamon raisin, go with something sweet.”

“I’ll probably just go with a wheat bagel because an everything bagel is going to make the car smell like onion and get everywhere.”

She smiled at me, and I shrugged. “Thank you for taking care of my car.”

“I try. However, I need coffee.”

“I do too. They have the paper to-go cups, but I brought myself a traveling mug so that way I can get more.” She whispered that last part, and I snorted.

I reached into my bag and showed her mine. “Same.”

“We are the perfect traveling buddies.” She bounced on her feet, looking happier than I had seen her in a while.

I met her gaze, and she smiled, and I held back a frown. What the hell was wrong with me? Why did that smile do things to me? I needed fucking coffee. Or I needed to get laid. Or was I supposed to be saving my sperm for later?

I should stop thinking about sperm.

“Do you need me to drive?” I asked, and she frowned a bit, and I held up my hand before I went to fill my coffee. “I mean, you can. I was just saying, if you want to begin.”

“No, you’re right. I was thinking if I needed to answer email or not.”

“Even on your vacation?”

“As a business owner, you know we’re never on vacation. How many emails did you already answer?”

“Seven and a phone call, but Paige is dealing with most of it.”

“I’m glad that you have each other. You guys work well together.”

We did now, but it had taken a while to get there for that, and it had taken a family fight that could have broken everything with my parents to make that happen.

“Anyway, I’m all by myself when it comes to my business. That’s why I don’t own an actual bakery, and I decorate cakes and cupcakes on order.”

“And you do a fantastic job with it.” I wasn’t laying it on thick. Ilovedher baking. So much so that when she brought over samples, I had to make sure I worked hard outside to make up for it.

“Thank you. That’s sweet of you. I like what I do, I like coming up with new designs, and I have my sketchbook and digital book to make that happen as well, for when we’re on the road.”

“Really?”

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