Page 4 of Love Unwrapped
“Who knows with her?” Though it looked like it took all her effort, she turned toward Blake and said, “Thank you for the lesson. It’ll help a lot.”
“Not a problem,” Blake said hesitantly. “Your grandmother didn’t tell me you were coming today.”
“Yeah, she didn’t tell me about you either. If I’d known, I’d have gone with the hot glue bookmarks,” Andi muttered.
He had no idea what she was talking about but figured it was safer to leave it alone, stick to other topics. “Well, I’m glad you’re here. It’s nice seeing you again.” Surprisingly he meant it. He’d obviously never gotten over the crush he’d had on her in high school. Hell, the only reason he’d agreed to hang out with Nat and her friends was because she’d assured him they’d run into Andi. Nat had used his interest in her sister to get him to do whatever she wanted. He’d learned that lesson on who to trust the hard way.
“I can’t say the feeling’s mutual. I take my responsibilities seriously though, so I’m here for the duration.”
“Oh, Princess, you have no idea how serious I can be.” Blake turned toward the door to the bakery’s main area, leaving her sitting at the table. He had no control over his mouth where Andi was concerned. He’d have to figure out something or the next four days would be miserable for both of them.
Chapter 4
With great effort, Andi pushed aside the past and forced herself to concentrate on the here and now. By doing so, she eased the headache building from how ramrod straight her spine had been for much of the morning. For the last half-hour or so, she’d actually de-stressed enough to not totally freak out when Blake had come around the table and put his hands on her.
The seconds he was there felt like eons. The rigors of law school had taught her how to bury her emotions in order to complete a task. Even then, with Blake’s arms wrapped around her, his chest brushing against her back, her body ran the gamut of reactions. But she could say with all certainty that he was no longer the young boy who had been the adorable class clown, always cracking jokes and testing the patience of every teacher and administrator in their high school.
Any easing of her feelings vanished as she remembered the teasing torture he had inflicted on her from the very first day of high school. She had always had long blonde hair. Back then, she’d talked herself into believing the braided pigtails were the height of fashion. The first moment he had spotted her, standing outside the school waiting for the doors to open, all nervous and excited about the prospect of starting high school, Blake had mocked and teased her about the little-girl look. Her cardigan and topsiders were the next target of his humiliation. He kept going until everyone around her was in on his joke. All day long, she had someone pulling on her braids and it seemed like that hadn’t stopped until she’d graduated from high school.
Years had passed since that time, yet every one of her accomplishments meant nothing compared to the little girl who had believed in fairytales and unicorns, who had just wanted to please her teachers and make the cute boy at school like her—not tease her mercilessly like Blake had done.
“I was kidding, Andi.” Lost in the memories of the past, she zoned back into the here and now as Blake turned back toward her in the doorway at the other side of the room. She lowered her gaze, which caught on her horrible design on the gingerbread cookies. How could drawing a face be so difficult to achieve? Frustrated, Andi picked up the cookie and somewhat aggressively bit off the ginger man’s head as she scooted off her stool and got to her feet.
This was so much more than packaging cookies. She looked down at her freshly ironed black skinny jeans and high heels, seeing the apron she wore hadn’t caught all the flour. Her clothes were a mess, much like her attitude.
“I’m going to take that break.” She pulled off the hair cover, wishing like anything for ponytail holder, and tugged off the apron.
“I’ll stop,” Blake said, interrupted by the buzz of the oven’s timer. She already had her purse in hand, heading toward the door. She needed air…now. She hightailed it through the bakery, just shy of a trot, and stepped outside, soaking in the warm sun as she started for the health food store across the street. Even that left her unsatisfied. Nothing compared to the taste of a freshly baked piece of cake to get her through a hard time, but even that had been tainted. She was a traitor for even enjoying his cakes at company celebrations. She’d been so excited to volunteer at what had quickly become her favorite bakery in town. She’d had no idea he had anything to do with it.
“Andi, where are you going?” Bree called out. “Want me to grab you something here?” Her assistant stood about midway through the line leading to a street taco truck, apparently having decided on grabbing something more substantial than a croissant. Andi nodded then lifted a finger, asking for a minute as she dug through her purse to find her cell phone. Times like these, she wished she had her grandmother on some sort of instant speed dial.
Like there had ever been a time like this.
Andi rolled her eyes as she worked her phone. Her grandmother answered on the fourth ring.
“Hi, honey. I’m busy. Did you make it to the bakery?”
“Grams, what’re you doing?” she asked, heading for a bench in front of the health food store.
“Well, I’m trying to make these bookmarks. It’s not easy. I can’t see as well as I used too and the little beads…”
Andi closed her eyes, praying for patience as she cut her grandmother off.
“That’s not what I’m talking about and you know it.”
Her grandmother was silent for a moment then chuckled, proving what Andi had suspected: today was on purpose.
“You aren’t funny. You know how I feel about him.”
“Yes, that’s true. I do. It’s why you needed to face your fears. Sometimes the past isn’t as crystal clear as you believe it to be.” When had her grandmother become the all wise one?
“I’m not afraid of him,” she snapped, feeling the headache coming back.
“Well, you sure are afraid of something, dear. You live a boring life. I’m more socially active than you. You need to shake things up.”
Oh God, how were they back there? Her life was planned and structured like everything she’d ever done. How was being a responsible adult a bad thing?
“Did I tell you about my date with Roger last week? Well, let’s just say he was no Roger Rabbit, that’s for sure.” Grams harrumphed. Her grandmother had no boundaries. “When I got home, I had to pull out my trusty—”
