Page 56 of How Sweet It Is

Idid it. I smoothed things over with Levi, and I have a date to a wedding on Saturday. Wait. Not a date. Two friends going together. I try to tell myself it’s no big deal, but my heart still pounds like it means something. But it can’t mean anything. My parents need me back home. This whole thing is temporary.

An hour later, Levi comes into my office and hands me one of his now-famous Murder in the Frost Degree cupcakes. “Want to try my flagship gluten-free cupcake for my new section?”

I don’t know why this makes me tear up, but I blink back the moisture. “Sure.”

Levi either doesn’t notice or pretends not to notice. I eat the chocolate shaving first. Divine. I peel back the paper and take a bite. I’m surprised by the cherry filling. I hadn’t realized he’d filled it with anything. The cupcake is spongy and delicious, just like every other creation he’s made. As I eat it, I might or might not have let out a soft moan. Whatever delight this is, is magic.

I swallow. “It’s fantastic.”

Levi rocks back on his heels, clearly pleased. “Great. I’m just not sure what to charge.”

I know what his proprietary gluten-free blend costs him now. “How much flour did it take, and how many cupcakes did it give you?”

He rattles off the numbers, and I do the math. “Six dollars.”

He rubs his jaw, considering. “What about five ninety-nine? Sounds friendlier. Less… commitment.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Look at you, being all business-minded. Great job.”

He grins and leans over me, his hands on my arm rests, his voice dropping just enough to curl heat around my spine. “You keep talking like that and I’m going to start charging you.”

“Oh yeah?” I lean a little toward him, feeling a bit flirty. “What’s your rate?”

He pretends to think. “Hmm. One smirk? Fifty cents. A snide comment? Maybe a dollar. But if you bat those eyes at me again…” His gaze snags mine. “That’ll cost you a kiss.”

My heart stutters, but I keep my tone light. “That seems steep.”

He stands and shrugs, unapologetic. “Premium goods, sweetheart. You know how it is. Quality costs.”

I shake my head, trying not to smile too hard as my heart pounds in my chest. “And what about cupcakes? Same exchange rate?” I take another bite.

He leans down again, even closer, voice lower now. His breath tickles my ear. “Cupcakes are free. But only if you eat them in front of me so I can watch you close your eyes like that again.”

I freeze midbite. My eyes had fluttered closed. I know they had. I chew quickly, trying not to blush.

He chuckles, victorious. “Told you. Premium.”

Levi works the rest of Sunday afternoon testing other gluten-free creations to showcase when we open on Tuesday morning.By the time we close, he’s worked out the things he wants to debut with.

As he’s mopping the floor, I walk over and lean against the counter, trying to appear casual. My heart, of course, is anything but. It’s thumping like it wants to stage a prison break.

My mouth starts moving before I give my brain permission. “Do you want to have dinner with me?”

The mop squeaks to a stop. Levi looks up, eyebrows raised. “I am hungry. But let’s just be perfectly clear here.” He points the end of the mop at me like it’s a lie detector. “This is not a date, right?”

“Absolutely not a date,” I say, too quickly.

He narrows his eyes, mock suspicious. “You’re sure? Because if I show up in my sexiest T-shirt and cologne that smells like overconfidence and you call it a date afterward, I’ll be very confused.”

I laugh despite myself. “You own cologne?”

“Vanilla and heartbreak,” he deadpans. “It’s very niche.”

I roll my eyes, but I can’t help smiling. “Just dinner. Two people eating food. Like normal human beings.”

He props the mop against the wall and wipes his hands on a towel, studying me a moment longer, like he sees something I haven’t said out loud.

“All right, then,” he finally says. “I know the perfect place. But you can’t go like that.”

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