Page 3 of 40 and (Tired of) Faking It
“Is it a man?” Maria asked, brown eyes teasing. “I think that’s what she needs most, a man.”
Lily groaned. “God, no. Please, let’s avoid the man talk today.” Her circle of friends had been trying to hook her up with blind dates for the past several months, teasing that if she didn’t use her lady parts for something, they were going to atrophy. Even assuring them she did just fine in that area on her own—better than any past boyfriend had managed, that was for sure—hadn’t convinced them to stop.
Not that they knew many more men than she did. Small towns weren’t brimming with attractive, middle-aged men who weren’t already married, a sad fact for the ladies in the same category who’d dearly like to have more options.
Besides, she knew her friends meant well, but her last experience with a steady guy was still haunting her, literally, every time she showed her face in town. Better to avoid those kinds of repercussions and stay single.
Claire continued to bounce on her toes with excitement, the move putting her almost at eye level with Lily’s heel-enhanced height. “It’s not a man; it’s better!”
Her friend released them to run back behind the counter, disappearing through the side door leading into the bakery. The two businesses shared a building right on Main Street, Maria whipping up the best coffees and cocoas, and Claire creating the most delectable pastries and confections to go with them. Hunger pangs rumbled in Lily’s stomach at the thought of what Claire might have cooked up for her as a special birthday treat.
Maria released Lily as well and returned to her place behind the counter. “Speaking of treats, one mocha for Black Wolf’s Bluff’s lovely mayor, coming right up.”
Lily rubbed her hands together in anticipation. “You know me so well.”
“Sheknows you?” DeeDee asked. Maria’s daughter was just as sassy as her mama, and the arch of one eyebrow told Lily something big was coming. “Everyone in town knows you have the same thing for breakfast every morning: a mocha latte and egg muffins.”
She gave the nineteen-year-old a wry grin. “Rude!”
But true. She was stuck in a bit of a rut, wasn’t she? Was this what being forty did to a woman?
The sound of the shop door opening prompted her to get moving, and she gestured toward the cash register. “Ring me up and stop judging.”
DeeDee smirked. “You know I’m right.”
“I admit nothing.”
Before DeeDee could enter the sale, Maria appeared at the counter with a frothy mocha topped with whipped cream and chocolate shavings. “Hands off the register. Today’s on the house.”
The scent of cocoa and coffee drew a moan from Lily even as she opened her mouth to protest. “Maria—”
Her friend waved her off. “It’s your birthday. I’m not missing the opportunity to give you your first gift of the day.”
“And I’m fixing to give you your second gift,” Claire called as she crossed over from the bakery. Lily gasped. In her friend’s clasped hands was a pastry box holding the biggest, most outrageous cupcake she’d ever seen. A luscious chocolate cake—and it would be luscious, Lily knew from past experience with Claire’s cakes—topped with a mountain of whipped chocolate buttercream. Scattered across the icing were shavings of white and dark chocolate and tiny silver balls, along with three tall sticks topped with chocolate stars. Two sparkler candles sizzled above it all, giving the confection a happy, bright look.
“Holy crap! That thing must weigh a ton!”
Claire gave her a wink. “Told you it was better than a man.”
“Most men, anyway,” Maria said with her own wink.
“Only the best for my chocaholic friend.” Claire set the cupcake on the counter.
Lily felt her mouth water as she was inundated with the scent of the confection, and licked her lips. “That might take me a month to eat.”
Maria hooted. “That’s what he said!”
The sound of a masculine chuckle behind her had a blush heating Lily’s cheeks. “God, y’all hush.” She hissed the words but barely held back her chuckle as she scooped up the massive cupcake.
Her friends just snickered as they drifted back to their workstations. Lily set her birthday treat to one side of the counter, retrieved her mocha, and moved out of the way of the register. Only then did she dare glance up from under her lashes, praying the man behind her wasn’t her ex or any of his friends. Embarrassed or not, she was actually enjoying her morning; she’d hate for that to be ruined by someone who went out of his way to wreck her day whenever they ran into each other.
But it wasn’t Mason waiting behind her. In fact, it wasn’t anyone she’d seen before. She couldn’t have missed this man if she’d wanted to. Tall, broad-shouldered, and grinning, he was the epitome of sexy as he stepped up to the register. His dark hair was longer on top, clipped close on the sides, showing off a heavy sprinkling of gray at his temples that did remarkable things to her girlie parts. Light blue eyes sparkled with amusement as he glanced her way, and full lips curved enough to show a dimple in one cheek that literally made her heart flutter.
Wow. Just…wow.
Her gaze met his, and the heat in her cheeks intensified. She dropped her eyes to her mocha, praying her long bangs hid the blush.
“Special occasion?” a deep voice asked.
