Page 41 of A Sweet Mess

Only when he led her to her room and took a step inside did she dig her heels in. “Wait a minute. This is my room.”

“Yes, it is.” He gave her a little tug, and she followed him inside, curiosity getting the best of her.

Her hands rose to her chest as she gasped at the sight of her giant bathtub, filled to the rim with snow-white bubbles and surrounded by lavender-scented candles. The smell was enough to make her swoon, but the fact that Landon had drawn a bath for her jellified her bones.

“Oh, Landon,” she whispered. “You did this for me?”

“I thought you might want a break from your sorbet. I couldtell how much getting it right was stressing you out. And I only thought it fair to do something in return for the honor of watching a master pastry chef at work.”

“I’m not a chef, much less a master.” But she couldn’t quell the flush of pride warming her cheeks.

“You’re wrong about that.” His voice was soft, but it carried a ring of conviction that made her heart pound against her ribs. “I’ll leave you to your much-deserved bath, then.”

“Landon, wait. You wanna… Could you keep me company?” When his eyebrows burrowed into his hairline, she blushed furiously and waved her hands in the air. “No, no. Not like that. Once I’m in the bath and hidden under all that bubble, you want to stay and chat? It would help take my mind off the disaster waiting for me downstairs.”

What the hell am I doing?It still totally sounded “like that.”

He nodded mutely, licking his lips as though they had gone suddenly dry. She stared at him for a few seconds before he startled. “Uh. Right. I’ll be right outside. Let me know when it’s safe to come in.”

Looking over her shoulder as though Landon was about to burst through the door without warning, Aubrey quickly stripped out of her clothes and stuffed them into the laundry bin. Then she rushed back to the tub and lowered herself into it.Mmm.She couldn’t hold back her moan of bliss.

“What was that?” said Landon’s muffled voice.

Her eyes widened, recalling the situation she’d put herself in. “Umm. I’m ready.”

The door swung open the second the words left her mouth, and Landon hefted in an ottoman from her sitting area like it weighed nothing.So. Hot.Her body warmed in ways not related to the heat of the bath, but she snapped herself backto attention. It wasn’t about their attraction. It was about their friendship. Friends talked, and she’d been enjoying her conversation with him too much for it to end. That was all.

She cleared her throat and talked all friendly, like. “I’m perfectly content with being a small-town baker, you know.”

“Content?That’s a loaded word.” His gaze shot to her face. “Some people search for a lifetime never finding it. Twenty-seven is hardly a lifetime.”

His eyes darted to her shoulders above the bubbles and then down the length of her body to the toes peeping out at the other end of the tub. Until then, he’d been staring at his hands, which were clasped between his knees. Aubrey bit the inside of her cheek to keep a satisfied smile from touching her lips.Friendship? What friendship?Her mind was doing so many flip-flops, her eyes swam.

Landon coughed, swallowed, and cleared his throat, and did it all over again before he continued. “How could you be certain you don’t want more?”

Aubrey hesitated. His question touched a nerve, resonating deep within her.Am I content with my life as Weldon’s favorite baker?She had been, but now she wasn’t at all certain. With a suddenness that stole her breath, a gaggle of dark-haired, brown-eyed munchkins skipped across her heart.A life with Landon. No.She shook her head so hard the beautiful children ping-ponged around in her head and disappeared.

“It’d be nice to travel the world again. I would love to explore Asia and experience the different flavors, smells, textures, and colors of each country. It would help me continue to grow as a baker.” She forced her mind to focus on work so she could ignore the aching loneliness and the longing formorehe’d ignited in her.

“You should. Why box yourself in when you have limitless potential?” Landon cocked his head and regarded her thoughtfully. “Wanting more isn’t a bad thing. Not always.Youshould want more. Have more.”

“Maybe.”

She’d been working for hours, thanks to the sorbet crisis, and exhaustion engulfed her. Closing her eyes, Aubrey rolled her bunched-up shoulders and massaged her neck with one hand.

“Turn around.” Landon stood and approached her.

She should’ve said “No, thank you,” but Aubrey was too sore and tired to argue. She turned in the tub and offered him her back, gathering more bubbles to ensure her girls weren’t visible. His hands were strong and warm against her, and she moaned deep in her throat as he worked out a stubborn knot.It hurts so good.

Landon stilled behind her at the sound and then blew out a slow breath. When he resumed his gentle ministrations, the tenor of his touch had changed. Her body’s response was instantaneous. Aubrey pressed back into him and shivered when his hands slid up and down her wet, slick arms.

With her heart slamming against her rib cage, Aubrey turned to face him and held his hot gaze. She couldn’t think straight, but she wanted this. She wanted this so much. Landon lowered his head and she leaned toward him, her hands lifting to his hair and her lips parting in anticipation.

The chime of the doorbell jarred Aubrey out of her trance, and she hid back under the bubbles with a sharp gasp. Landon didn’t budge and continued to hold her gaze. She shut her eyes and stopped breathing.

Saved by the bell.

She didn’t dare look at him. If he chose that moment toflash the Smile at her, she would drag him into the tub fully clothed and have her way with him.

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