Page 63 of Resisting Temptation

I go to the bathroom and splash some water on my face. I’m too busy to handle all of this. I take over the shop this week, and I need my head straight, not swirling with fear of how badly all my choices are about to blow up in my face. Shaken and still trembling slightly, I plaster a fake smile on my face as I walk back into the shop. Eva is right where I left her making up this morning’s orders, and the last thing I want to do is scare off my new employee with my drama.

“You okay?” she asks, giving me the once-over.

“Of course. I’ll give you a hand with those. Gemma will be in soon to run deliveries.” I work through all the orders with Eva then line them up, ready for our delivery girl to collect them. So far my new staff are working out. Stella has been unbelievable at helping me get set up for her departure later in the week, and while I’m not feeling ready for her to leave me, I think I’ve got this.

With a skip in her step, Mae walks through the door, the floral pattern of her dress and the soft texture of her cardigan adding to her cute appearance. I smile at her, remembering our lunchdate. “Give me a sec,” I tell her. “Eva, I’ll just be up the street. If you need me call and I can be back in a minute.”

“It’s okay, Paisley, I’ve got this,” she reassures me with a confident smile. And I’m sure she does, she has been nothing but capable since she walked through the door for her interview.

I grab my bag from the back and make my way out front to Mae, hooking my arm with hers as we walk down Main Street. “I know we live together, but I feel like I haven’t caught up with you in weeks.”

“That’s because you’re too busy hopping the fence to see your boyfriend.” She laughs as the aroma of freshly baked bread and sweet pastries fill the air as we enter Delaney’s bustling bakery.

Stopping to order our food at the counter, we then find a table in the front corner that looks out over Main Street. “What’s going on with you then?” I ask, feeling guilty I’m too busy to be a good friend at the moment.

She hands me a handwritten letter. “This arrived yesterday, and I have no idea what to do about it.”

Her face is paler than usual, and I look over the letter, wondering what it could be about. The line that jumps out at me isI’m your birth father and I want to get to know you. “Your father?” I gasp. “You think this is legit?”

She shrugs. “I don’t know, but I have to find out, don’t I?” She looks so unsure. This is huge for her.

I nod, passing the letter back to her. She slides it into her over-the-shoulder satchel. “Yeah, girl, you do. You want me to come with you?”

“Hope it’s okay with you, but Parker’s offered to take me. I thought you might be a little busy.” She winces, and I know she’s searching my face for a reaction.

“Parker?” The two of them have been spending a lot of time together lately. I know I shouldn’t be jealous, I have no right to be. I’m the terrible friend, too busy to even know what’s going onin my housemate’s life, but I want to be the one there for her, not my brother.

“We’re just friends, Paisley. You’re busy with the election and the shop and now Noah. Em’s busy with renovations and the hotel, and Gisele’s busy with Brody.” She giggles, implying where they’re up to. “Parker’s like me, he doesn’t have a lot going on. While the rest of you are out there living your lives, we’re just hanging out.”

I raise a brow. “You crushing on my big brother, Mae?” I just put it out there. I don’t care if she does. What I don’t want is her thinking she has to hide it from me. We share everything.

A blush rises on her cheeks, and I know I’ve hit the nail on the head. “Maybe.” She sighs. “Doesn’t matter if I do, he will never see me like that. I’m friend-zoned. Even worse, I’m little-sister’s-best-friend-zoned. I’m invisible to him like that.”

I offer her a half smile. “I don’t know, Mae, I’ve seen the way he looks at you. You want me to ask him?”

Her eyes go wide, and she grabs hold of my wrist across the table. “Don’t you fucking dare.”

“Settle down, Mae. Since when do you say the F-word?” I burst into laughter. I’ve never seen her so flustered, her cheeks flushed and her hands trembling slightly. She really likes my brother. This is more serious than I originally thought.

She glares daggers at me. “Since you’re meddling in something you shouldn’t.”

“Okay, fine, I’ll stay out of it,” I say, disappointed. “Would like you to be my sister, though? Just saying.”

A giggle escapes her lips, a smile chasing away the shadows on her face. “You’re getting ahead of yourself. But I would like that too. It’s just never going to happen,” she says sadly. I wish she would let me meddle.

Our pies arrive, and I thank Hailey, our server, then pop the top to let out the steam. Mae sips on her soda. Her eyes go wideas she shoves her chair back. “Xanthia, is that really you?” she asks the girl who’s sitting on a table in the far corner, typing into her laptop.

She pops her head up, glancing at the overexcited girl coming her way. “Dorothy-Mae Abernathy, it’s been years,” the raven-haired girl responds with a friendly smile. She closes her laptop before standing and throwing her arms around Mae.

I join them, wondering who this tattooed beauty is. She looks mighty out of place in here, more like a girl you would expect to see in the city.

“Xanthi, this is Paisley, she’s my roomie. Oh, and she’s also the new owner of the flower shop across the road.” She points out my shop, proudly smirking back at me.

“I’ll keep that in mind if I ever need flowers.” She offers me a warm, genuine grin as she takes me in.

“Xanthi and I went to school together. Her parents also own this place,” Mae explains.

“Oh, you’re Hailey’s sister? The one who lives in New York, works for some big trendy magazine or something. I remember her telling me about you.”

---