Page 33 of Building What's Meant to Be

“That’s, um, okay,” I say with a nervous little upturn to my voice.

“And mold,” Bess adds. “You don’t want to stay there. At least not until the owner gets the insurance money and does repairs.”

A cold sweat spreads across my skin.

This isn’t a Cinderella story because, in the end, she got the prince. As for me? I’m experiencing the anti-Cinderella moment. My life is her story in reverse.

There I was, living in the lap of luxury with regular shopping sprees, swanky dinners, and VIP events. My friends called me Tinsley, the queen of Tinseltown. Whether there, in Nashville, or in NYC I strutted along the golden paved streets. Now, I’m in Nowhereville aka Butterbury, Georgia. I don’t even have a pumpkin to turn into a carriage to make an escape.

Stressed, I start to have second thoughts about the pie, but I don’t even have a way to pay for it.

Through the windows, all of a sudden, rain drops in buckets, hammering against the glass. I’m afraid the same is about to pour from my eyes.

“Oh no, I left the windows open at HQ.” Louella Belle races toward the door with Bo on her heels.

“I did the same but at the inn,” Nash says and he and Camellia leave.

“Our windows are closed,” Christina assures Buck. “However, the dogs probably need to go out.” They filter toward the door, leaving Aiden’s sisters, their guys, and the two of us.

“Any other ideas?” I ask. “I probably need a job too.”

“Oh, that’s easy. Weren’t you just saying you guys need help at Sweethearts Bakery and Café?” Bess asks Mae.

She shoots her a sharp look of warning followed by a cringe because Rhondy appears at that exact moment.

“Did I hear someone say they have a candidate for employment at our sweets shop?” Rhondy’s face lights with hope.

“Sure do. Since Tinsley is going to be here a while, she said she needs a job.” Aiden claps me gently on the back.

“Well, you’re in luck. With the ladybosses busy with Designed to Last, I can’t run this place and Sweethearts by myself.”

“She won’t admit it, but she needs a break,” Paul calls from the kitchen. “Please say you’ll do it,” he directs to me.

Like a guppy, my mouth opens and closes. “I, uh—”

This is a moment of truth or non-truth. I can’t tell them that I’ve never worked a day in my life. They’ll leave me outside the city limits then I’ll get arrested for bailing out on my mandatory thirty days of community service.

“Yeah, I’ll do it,” I say.

“Really?” Rhondy asks with her arms lifted like she wants to hug me.

“Sure.” How hard can it be? I don’t have a chance to ask because she pulls me to my feet and gives me what can only be described as a warm, motherly hug. I’d like to remain in her embrace for the foreseeable future.

“Is that going to conflict with community service?” Aiden tips his head in question.

“I’ll only need her from six am until ten. She can get to Bubba’s in five minutes no problem.”

“Actually, there is a problem. Unless Tinsley has a bicycle in the back of her BMW, she doesn’t have wheels, meaning we’ll have to rideshare to Bubba’s.”

“Does that also mean she’ll stay at your place?” Bess asks pointedly.

“She’ll have to.”

“But...” I stutter.

“But we could start at Bubba’s at ten am, giving me time to get some other things done,” Aiden says as if it’s decided.

Cassian gives him a subtle but knowing look. He nods slightly in reply. Does Cassian sense the chemistry between us and doesn’t disapprove like Mae and Bess surely don’t? Or is it something else? Maybe it has to do with the cat. All the same, jail cell bars or not, I’m magnetized to Aiden even though I have zero intention of staying in Butterbury beyond my thirty days of community service.

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