Page 20 of One Whopper of a Love Story

I stood and walked up behind her. “Some of them were nice, I suppose, but none of them occupied my thoughts when I wasn’t with them... other than feeling guilty about not calling.”

She grabbed my hands and pulled them around her waist. “Is that why we’retalking?”

“Part of the reason.” I closed my eyes and rested my chin on top of her head, being more honest than I’d ever dared or cared to be before. “I spend more time thinking about you than I spend on any other single topic.”

“What about married topics?” She giggled, sending high-voltage electricity dancing through me. Then she leaned back and dropped her voice to a whisper. “What’s the other part?”

“When you didn’t accept my invitation for a date—I’m glad you thought about it more—I decided I needed another way of getting to know you.”

“Showing up to the doughnut shop on Tuesday was sort of like calling after a first date. After a really long first date that involved kissing.”

I wished I could see her face. From the sound of her voice, I knew there was a wide smile tugging at her lips. “I guess it was.”

“And I’ve seen you every day since.” She tilted her head back. “Your poor brother. And that poor squirrel. What was her name?”

“I don’t remember.” I scooped her up and carried her back to the table. “I want to eat before I have to leave for work.”

“I sort of like it when you go all caveman.” She took a bite and wrinkled her nose. “It’s cold. Let me warm it a bit.”

I was going to exhaust every last shred of my willpower and restraint to make it another fifteen days without kissing her. Why had I said only talking? We could have been developing a talking and kissing habit.

Chapter 11

Layla

I dumped the contents of my purse onto the bed because carrying a small purse that could be worn crossbody would be better for tonight’s date. I separated out old receipts and anything else I didn’t need with me but stopped when I found a small plastic frog.

“Lettie, why must you tease me? Eventually I’ll tell him about Prince Nicolaus.”

She leaned around the doorframe. “What are you talking about?”

I held up the frog. “There were four of these in my apron at work. One in my car, and now I find one in my purse.”

“Not my frogs, but I did see one on top of the fridge this morning. I thought you were trying to be funny.” She shrugged. “Should we call an exterminator?”

I ran to the kitchen and snatched the pink frog off the top. Four at the shop plus the one in my car and the one in my purse and the one on the fridge... seven frogs. “What day did I have that party? Sunday, right?” How could I not remember what day I’d met Nico?

“Don’t know. I was out of town, remember?”

“You aren’t being helpful. Yes, Sunday because Nico took me to breakfast on Monday, and the shop was closed. But then he came in on Tuesday.” I counted days on my fingers. “There are seven frogs. Nico is counting the days.”

“You already said he was marking days off on his calendar.”

“He knows I like frogs, and he chose an odd number of days. He’s giving me a frog for each day.” Tomorrow I’d bring those little frogs home with me from the shop. I lined up the three I had on my dresser. “Don’t they look cute all lined up?”

“Y’all are weird.”

“He’s being sweet. There’s got to be something you like.” I sat on the edge of the bed. “What do you like?”

“Not what. Who? I like Archer.”

“Maybe you should get him a frog.”

She rolled her eyes. “Have fun tonight. I’ll be asleep by the time you get home.”

“I’ll be quiet, and I promise to be in time for work.”

“Good because I can’t run that place by myself. I make the doughnuts. You sell them.”

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