Page 39 of Baking With A Ghost

Laughing, I turn my attention back to Ivy. "Sorry, listen, I've got to finish and get the bakery open soon. I apologize again for not keeping you updated. We'll have a proper catch up soon?"

"Yes, we need to do that and I still want to come visit, so we'll talk. Simon, take care of my bestest friend ever. I don't like it when he's sad. I never want to see that beautiful smile off his face again."

"You have my word. I like his smile, too."

Ivy rushes her apologies and hangs up to get ready for work and I'm left with Simon, the soft sound of the ovens whirring, and the aroma of all the cookies and breads I've baked today. I know I still have lots of work ahead of me, but all I want is to feel the weight of Simon's body on mine right now.

"I don't know if I'll ever get used to you being here. I keep thinking I'm dreaming and there's no way this happened for real." I draw him into me again and burrow my face into his neck. "If it's a dream I never want to wake up."

Simon's arms squeeze around my waist as I lift my head.

"I don't know if I'll ever get used to operating as a real human again, but I'm here and it's not a dream."

"Did you ever wonder if you'd get this chance? To be back on earth I mean?"

"The more time passed, the more I felt like I had made a mistake waiting. I thought I was going to be stuck between life and death forever, but then your soul called to me." He brings a hand to my cheek with a caress. "It was so loud in the static of my world, I couldn't ignore it and I knew waiting was worth it. Many times I wondered if I made the right decision to stay, every time I told myself to be patient and I'm so glad I did."

I swallow the lump in my throat and kiss his palm.

"No one has ever said something so beautiful to me. Thank you."

Which is the truth. No man I was ever in a relationship with, no matter what the length, ever told me I was worth waiting for, or even worth being with. Carl was the worst, but for whatever reason, I accepted it all as normal. Even when my friends gushed about the things their partners did for them, I chose to accept it didn't mean the same would happen for me.

When I had the wake up call with Carl, the one when he belittled me and said I didn't have what it takes to be a baker or the smarts to run a business, I finally accepted I was settling and deserved more. I left with fear he was right, but I needed to do this for myself. When I met Simon, well, while he was still a ghost, the idea of him being real was unfathomable. Someone to say what he just did? That my soul called to him? Never was that ever in my realm of possibilities.

"So, I happen to have this bakery that needs products every day. I know you have an idea how to bake, but do you know how to make all the items I bake and operate the equipment in the kitchen? I could use a partner."

Simon tightens the drawstring on his pants and puffs his chest out. He reminds me of an adorable kitten ready to fight with a tomcat.

"I happen to be a great baker. You'll have to teach me to use some of the contraptions in here, but I have ideas and… if you'll let me, I think we can perfect the bread you've been working on."

The timer beeps on the oven for the whole grain loaves and I pull on my oven mitts.

"You're hired. Easiest interview ever."

Thankstoonlineshopping,we manage to outfit Simon with clothes of his own style that actually fit him. He's been trying on all the clothes and modeling for me for the past hour and I'm not one to complain.

Simon in ripped skinny jeans and a fitted t-shirt? Yes, please.

When he comes out of the bedroom, with a giant smile on his face I burst out laughing.

"It's funny, right?"

He's wearing a loose fitting pair of jeans, and I like those too, but his t-shirt has me in hysterics. Especially since he finds it so funny. His t-shirt is a vintage rock and roll shirt for the band, The Grateful Dead, but the name is spelled wrong and the logo isn't quite right. Which makes sense because there's an image of a skeleton with a big thumbs up as he peeps through a window at a woman undressing without being noticed. It's more of a statement about being dead and invisible than a band, and I can see why it would make him laugh.

"You're not going to wear that in public are you?"

He looks down at his chest. "Too much you think?"

"Well, are you going for creepy pervert vibes?"

He shrugs a shoulder. "Maybe he just likes to watch."

As he gazes at me and fiddles with the hem of the shirt, fire flashes through my body. His eyes give him away.

"Simon… did you watch me? Were you there when I said your name?" Standing, I stalk over to him and smirk as his breath falters. "Did you watch me when I made myself come thinking of you?"

I stop in front of him and notice his pupils are as large as saucers, as his throat bobs with a heavy swallow.

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