Page 53 of A Perfect Match
I bend down to kiss Mom's forehead."I'll be back tonight," I promise her.
The shop is mercifully busy when I return, forcing me to focus on something other than my tumultuous thoughts.Jerrica has kept things running smoothly, but there's always more to do.I dive into finishing the Henderson order, grateful for the mindless rhythm of measuring, mixing, piping.
I'm so focused on my work that I nearly jump out of my skin when the bells on the door jingle sharply just before noon.
"Welcome to Cloud—" I start, then break into a grin when I see who it is."Bella!Jackson!"
I abandon my work and come out from behind the counter to give her a big hug—and Jackson too.He doesn’t even resist, his leather jacket crinkling as I squeeze my arms around him.Immediately I can tell eyes are on us—well, onJackson—but according to Bella and Jackson, the move is to ignore it and press on.
“How was the visit with Aunt Laura?”Bella asks as I return to my post behind the counter.There’s nobody in line so they stand near the front as we chat.
“A little depressing.She looks so small and weak.But her vitals are stable.They think she’ll wake up soon.”I try to offer a smile, but I can feel my cheeks twitching with the effort.
“It’s gonna happen any time now,” Jackson reassures me.
“Did you get any sleep last night?”Bella asks me.I notice she looks a little tired.
“Some,” I say.“It was hard to fall asleep thanks to my thoughts.Did you?”
“Same situation for me.”She reaches over and squeezes my wrist.“I can take a shift at the hospital while we’re here.I want to.”
“That would be great.I’m gonna head over there after work for my overnight shift.Hopefully we won’t be needing to do them for too much longer,” I say."Now what do you guys want?On the house, of course."
I point out our specials in the display case, giving Jackson a quick rundown of the marshmallow ethos and options of Cloud Nine.Once they settle on a pumpkin caramel latte and a hot chocolate with every marshmallow combination available, a loud knock from the back room distracts me.
“Hang on guys…let me go see what that was about,” I tell Bella and Jackson as I rush toward the back of the shop.As soon as I step over the threshold to my storage room, a hand grabs my wrist.I spin toward the arm, a yelp escaping me.A moment later, I’m against Kru’s hard, warm chest.
I laugh into the front of his black chef’s coat, melting into him.“Oh, hey there.”I prop my chin on his chest, looking up at him as I slide my arms around his firm torso.This is nice.Reallynice.“Was that you making a mess back here?”
“Purely fictional mess, I promise.”His lips quirk up into a smile and he tilts his head, his gaze washing over me.His thick arms encircle me, pulling me tighter against him.“How you doing?I wanted to check on you.And your mom.”
I’m touched that he’s thinking of me after our fraught conversation aboutusthis morning.
The truth is that this doesn’t feel like bad timing to me.
It feels like perfect timing…but the wrong family.
“She’s still in a coma but stable.And I’m…okay.”
He nods, his grin widening.“That’s a win, considering the situation.”
“I think so.”
“And just so you know, I didn’t initiate this hug.That was all you, Maven.”
I open my mouth to protest, but that’s when I realize Ihavebeen contentedly settled in his embrace of my own volition.Embarrassing, after the big stink I made that morning.
“Well, you’re…comfortable,” I tell him, as I slowly begin extricating myself.
He tuts, shaking his head.“I shouldn’t have said anything.”
My head is swirling when it comes to this man.I’m desperate for more of his kisses, but it’s too complicated even think about right now.“Don’t you have a lunch rush to tend to?”
“I just cranked through a bunch of orders and got Brady set up so I could disappear for ten.But I should be getting back.”
“Everything okay back here?”Bella’s voice cuts through the convo and I gasp, spinning on my heel.
“Oh my god, you scared the crap out of me,” I hiss.
