Page 14 of Baking for His Omega

“Oh no.” Kelly flashed me a grin that lit up his blue eyes like the ocean in sunlight. “I looked up their menu, and my only problem is going to be choosing which sandwich to order. It’s amazing how they can make a whole restaurant around nut butters and specialty breads and jams.”

“It’s more of a challenge than you realize. Tanner set it up before he met Godric, his mate, and they came very close to closing it.”

“Why is that?” Kelly turned the corner, the stroller wheels squeaking a little on the sidewalk. “It has incredible reviews online.”

“The quality was never at issue.” I held the door open, and Kelly pushed Wyatt in.

“Gideon, are you telling tales out of school about us?” The man who approached was tall with a scruff covering his jaw. He held out a hand to me and then looked at Kelly. “I don’t think I’ve seen you in here before. I’m Tanner.”

Kelly also shook his hand. “It’s my first time, but I’m really excited to be here. Gideon just said you almost closed once, though?”

“Ah, yes. He’s referring to my mate’s allergies. They are very serious, but we found a way to make it work. I see you have a little guy. Is he all right around nuts?”

“Absolutely. At least all the ones he’s tried. Thank you for asking. It must have been difficult for you and your mate.”

“True. But we’re good. We have some items that are very popular with the younger crowd to suggest as well.” Tanner led us toward a table on the patio. “You’ll want to sit outdoors on such a beautiful day.”

Soon we were sipping iced fruit juice and waiting for our meals. Friendship wasn’t so bad after all.

Chapter Thirteen

Kelly

Gideon and I spent the lunch date talking about everything. Parents. Families. His eyes shimmered when he talked about working for himself and making his own hours and decisions after some years of working for someone else.

He had a dream job as far as I was concerned. Baking goodies all day. Making people smile. Watching as they enjoyed your baked goods. Seeing a father’s face as they see their child’s birthday cake. Making anniversaries and retirements and every occasion special with just the right cakes and cupcakes.

He positively glowed talking about it.

Unfortunately for me, that only made him ten times more attractive.

My resolve to stay his friend and focus on my son and my son alone had crumbled a bit over my blackberry jam and cashew butter on a croissant.

Wyatt had some of their almond butter protein balls and somehow managed to get more into his mouth than on his hands. A small miracle for this daddy.

My heart sank as I realized that we’d been at the restaurant for over two hours. It was time to end the date, but all I wanted was to invite Gideon home with me and see where things went.

We parted ways at the bakery where, despite it being his afternoon off, he wanted to check in on some things. Small business owners rarely got a break, he’d said.

Wyatt and I took advantage of the park and then walked home. It was when I went home and gave Wyatt a bath that I heard a noise from the kitchen. The water pressure in the bath was low as well.

“You’re getting a quickie shower tonight, little one. I think something’s going on with the water.”

With Wyatt dried off and in jammies, I walked around with him on my hip to find the origin of the noise. And when I entered the kitchen, I nearly slipped and busted both our butts on the puddle on the floor. I busied Wyatt with a snack in his high chair while I looked under the sink and found one of our pipes had burst. Water was everywhere. Why hadn’t I checked sooner?

“I don’t have money for a plumber. A bucket!” I put a mop bucket under the pipe, but it was only a temporary fix for a problem that would only get bigger if I didn’t take care of it.

I was standing there, towels all over the floor, when Gideon popped into my mind. I would bet anything he knew exactly what to do.

“Kelly?” Gideon answered. “I didn’t expect for you to call so soon. But I’m glad you did. I had a nice time today.”

“Me too, and I wish I was calling about that, but I have a broken pipe in my kitchen and I don’t know what to do.” I hated admitting what a failure I was. “I don’t have the money for a plumber.”

“I’ll be there in five minutes.”

“But…”

“But what? That’s why you called me, right? I have some experience with plumbing. Let me help you, omega. I don’t mind.”

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