Page 140 of Almost Love

He laughed softly and pressed another kiss to her mouth, then loosened his grip on her. “Everyone’s waiting for us.”

“Who is everyone?” she asked, straightening his glasses.

He blushed and rubbed the back of his neck. “Mack, Ginny and Daisy helped put all of this together. I was threatened with bodily harm if I hurt you any further or didn’t bring you back in one piece.”

“They’re so dramatic.” Shaking her head, she said, “Then we better show them proof of life.”

Smiling, he kissed her forehead and held up a finger. Clementine frowned as he rushed back to the kitchen, then returned with a squirming golden fluff. “She’s been missing you too.”

Taking Gracie from him, she hugged the dog and kissed the top of her head. Gracie stopped moving and a rumble vibrated through her. Sighing happily, she snuggled the furry baby as Oakley retrieved their things, including her flowers and the coffee. She made sure to lock up as they stepped outside and piled into her truck because it was right there. With Gracie in her arms and Oakley beside her, Clementine finally felt like everything was right in the world.

When they walked up to the Pretty Baked stall, she saw her friends standing around and eating cookies. Oakley was beside her, leash in hand as Gracie trotted ahead of them. She took one more sip of her filter coffee as everyone turned to face them.

Pointing at the food in Ginny and Daisy’s hands, she said, “I hope you paid for that.”

“I think I’m owed all the cookies I want for the rest of my life,” Ginny countered, reaching for another one and licking it.

“As long as you don’t lick all of them.” Clementine went around the stall and realized that Oakley wasn’t with her. Looking over her shoulder, she found him smiling nervously at everyone. “Oak?”

“I…uh…want to apologize. And thank you all for being patient with me, with us, as we navigated everything.” His expression turned awkward and she was ready to step in when he clapped his hands together. “All right, how can I help?”

Suddenly they were all talking at once and she stood back to watch as her friends hugged him, as her staff shook his hand and brought him into the stall to work. Her heart had been expanding over the last few months to make room for Oakley, and seeing everyone accept him as well meant the world to her. Ginny and Daisy stayed for a bit before they went to get food, Indigo offered to take Gracie, and Mack mumbled something about Jesse before vanishing out of sight. Then she pulled her hair back and joined everyone at the counters, taking orders and handing out food for the next few hours.

When the mayor announced that the food festival was officially closed, her crew started packing everything up. Once the boxes of leftovers were piled into the back of her truck, she turned to her staff with a proud smile. “We did it. Technicallyyoudid it and I’m so proud of you. Now that we know what this looks like, maybe we can do it again?” Everyone agreed with claps and cheers. “I’m also so grateful to all of you for holding down the fort while I was busy this week. If I haven’t said it in a while, this bakery would be nothing without you.

“Speaking of busy, we’re making really good progress on the new shop. I can’t wait for you to see the new space. Over the next few weeks, we’re going to talk about responsibilities and how things will change. I’m also looking to hire floor staff, so ifanyone is looking for a job in your circle of friends, send them my way!” Everyone clapped again and she felt happy and light. “All right, get out of here. Thank you for an amazing weekend. Enjoy your day off and I’ll see everyone bright and early on Tuesday.”

After a round of hugs, she watched her staff head off to their respective vehicles. Oakley appeared beside her with a gentle nudge.

“That was a damn good speech, chef.”

“They’re a damn good team.”

“Helps that they’ve got a good leader,” he added and she waved him off. She might own the bakery, but if it wasn’t for her staff, it wouldn’t matter.

“You busy now?”

“For you? Never.” She rolled her eyes and he made a noise in the back of his throat. At her arched eyebrow, he said, “I really did fall in love with you because of your eye rolling.”

“Jesus, you need to meet more people.”

“No, I don’t. I found my person, I don’t need anyone else.”

She swooned, despite how cheesy that sounded. “Good, because I’m scrappy and I’ll take them down if I have to.”

“ThatI would pay good money to see.”

Poking him in the chest, she laughed and gestured to her truck. “Get in.”

He rounded to the passenger side and slid in. He didn’t ask where they were going, and instead turned on the radio and hummed along with the song neither of them knew. When she pulled up at Wildes Haven, he smiled.

“Been meaning to come back here since that night, but someone’s kept me pretty busy,” he told her and then got out, opening the back to pick up boxes on his side of the truck.

“We’re not staying though. Just dropping this off tonight.” She pulled the boxes out from her side as well as Jim and Toby stepped out through the back door.

“Well, well, look what the cat dragged in,” Jim crowed, grinning at both of them.

“I would have come sooner, old man. But my girl here didn’t invite me.”

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