Page 69 of Resting Beach Face
I paused. “What?”
“A massage,” he said. “It could end any way you liked.”
The teasing tone was gone. I glanced over to see a pensive look on his face.
“I like to flirt, but I just want you to know?—”
“I do,” I said.
It was true. Cash already understood me better than any of my past boyfriends had—partly because he’d made the attempt to learn.
It didn’t change his needs, though. Didn’t change the fact he was a man in his prime who deserved everything he wanted, everything I couldn’t give.
My phone alarm went off, ending the conversation before it drifted into dangerous waters.
“I need to run to the bakery and pick up breakfast.”
Cash nodded. “I’ll keep at this and meet you over there in twenty minutes?”
“Sounds good.”
I made the drive to Hot Buns to pick up an assortment of baked goods. When I arrived, Danny from Just The Sip was there.
And he was fluttering his lashes at the big, brooding baker, Abe, while Jasmine looked on with a smirk.
“I’d love to carry some of your goods in my shop,” Danny was saying, “but I need someone to bring them over for me.”
“I could do that,” Abe said.
“Yeah? I’d give you free coffee. Free anything you want, actually.”
“I don’t need anything.”
Danny pouted. It should have looked ridiculous on a thirty-something man, but Danny was so small—five-foot-six—next to the hulking Abe that it somehow worked for him.
“What if I want to give it to you, though?” Danny said.
I cleared my throat. “Uh, I hate to interrupt, but I need my breakfast order.”
“Of course,” Jasmine said. “Let me grab it.”
But Abe was already turning away to head back into the kitchen for it. Danny turned a dirty look on me. “I wasthisclose to getting that man to smile.”
“Sorry,” I said. “I’m just on the clock.”
“Me too. I’m not getting any younger.”
“And I am?”
“Well, you’ve got Cash wrapped around your little finger.”
“I don’t have anyone,” I said quickly, heart lurching—with fear, unease, excitement? I didn’t even know.
“Oh, yeah?” Danny grinned. “Maybe I’ll ask out Cash, then.”
“Go ahead,” I gritted out. My teeth had clenched involuntarily.
“I just might,” Danny said with a sigh. “Abe sure isn’t giving me the time of day.”
