Page 57 of Jack

“The card?” He already knows there isn’t one.

Emily shakes her head.

“Who delivered them?” A darkness I’ve never seen fills his eyes.

“My cousin, Chrissy. She works at Blooms and Bows,” Ava replies.

Jack walks over to the display case in front of Ava. “What did she tell you about them?”

“Uh. She just said they were for the bakery, and we talked about our family’s Thanksgiving plans.” Ava grits her teeth. “Sorry, Jack. I didn’t think more of it.”

He points to the roses. “So, these could be for any of you, not Lily specifically?”

My three co-workers look dumbfounded. It’s a rare look for Emily. We should probably mark this day on a calendar.

“None of us are dating, Jack.” There’s my sassy boss. Whew. We couldn’t lose her.

He pulls his phone out and makes a call. “Hey, Sandy. It’s Jack McLeod. Who does the delivery to the bakery this morning go to?” He’s quiet for a moment and nods his head a few times. “Okay. Thanks, Sandy.”

Without saying a word, he carefully removes everything from the gold box and lays it on the counter. After a thorough inspection, he puts it all back.

“Well?” Emily Powell is not a patient person.

“It was an anonymous online order. Not all the questions and details were filled in. There was supposed to be a card inside sayingthinking of you. Sandy answered a call and missed adding it before Chrissy left. The card is still lying on the counter. There was no personal name on the form, just The Cupcake Cottage.”

“What does it mean?” Melody asks.

“It probably means one of you three have a secret admirer. Until you figure it out, keep ‘em here in the shop, or each of you takes one,” Jack replies.

“I’m fine with each of us having one.” Emily lifts one of the roses to her nose and sniffs. The other two happily reach for one, too.

Jay pulls up out front in a rollback truck. Jack goes to the front window and holds up a finger. He comes around the counter to where I’ve become a wall fixture. He lifts my chin until our eyes meet.

“Bake some cookies, angel.” His thumb slides just below my bottom lip. “We’ll grab something to eat after work and take a ride.”

He doesn’t say anything about my ex. We were both thinking that’s where the roses came from. I’m happy for whoever the flowers are intended for. Looks like I panicked for nothing.

“I’d like that.”

He presses his lips to my forehead before walking away. Cloudy meets him at the door for the key to his bike. Jack jogs around to the passenger side and jumps in. It’s fine. I’m fine. It’s a normal day in a small town.

Emily steps in front of me. “You okay?”

I take a deep breath and fake a smile. “Yep, but one of you three has an interesting life. Who do you think those are from?”

“You’re the one with the interesting life,” Ava says.

“What?” Does she know my story? Since Jack’s mom got me this job, I’m sure Emily knows something, but do the other two know, too?

Melody points to the front door. “Girl! Have you taken a good look at that man? The black leather, motorcycle, muscles, tattoos. Jack McLeod is beyond hot and one of the sexiest men in the state.” She waves the rose in her hand. “Whoever sent one of us these is nowhere as interesting as the man who just walked out of here.”

“And just so you know.” Ava smiles slyly. “You’re the only woman Jack McLeod has ever chased.”

“He’s not chasing me.” I narrow my eyes. Or is he? Do bikers chase? I don’t think so.

“Trust me.” Emily pats my arm. “He is. Now, back to work, ladies. Willow Creek needs its sugar fix for the day.”

Jack’s chasing me? Do I want to be chased? Better yet, do I want to be caught? After the things Joel did, I shouldn’t want another relationship, especially one so soon. I glance toward the front windows. Cars pass by like normal. Jack’s gone. Just thinking of him makes me smile. No. He’s not chasing. After all, you can’t chase what’s not actually running.

---