Page 9 of Sweeter Than Honey
They were gone now. Taken in an accident enough years ago that the numbing pain should have lessened some. Maybe it had. He never gave himself a chance to notice.
“Here, I saved the sweetest one for you. We all know you need it.” Dax slid the plate of rolls to Jett. “Why do you look like you got lost in the woods?”
Jett grunted. “I never get lost.”
“You have grass in your hair.”
Jett lightly touched his head, moving his fingers around to feel for debris. “I thought I got it all.”
“No, man, you’re a nasty mess. Whyareyou so dirty?”
“Why are you still talking?”
Dax looked between Jett and their father, who had yet to say a word. “Someone has to fill in for you two chatterboxes. I thought maybe you brought that odd stink in with you. You smell that?”
He did. But the customers didn’t seem to be reacting to the woman’s strange odor. Probably because the delicious bakery scents mostly masked it. “I’ve experienced it up close and personal. Don’t want to do that again.” It was brutal on his extra sensory sense of smell.
“What is it?”
Jett took a bite of his roll. His stomach constricted and lurched happily at the same time. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d had anything but coffee.
“I don’t know, but I’ll find out so I can get you some for your birthday.”
Dax’s eyes glittered with amusement. “Dude, you just made a joke. Did you hear that, dad?”
Rowan Mitchell grunted.
Jett was about to retort when he spied the woman appear from the restroom. She glanced around nervously, one arm slightly behind her as she dragged her suitcase. She’d changed into a sweatshirt and jeans. He detected the scent of the flowery soap Allie used in the restrooms—he smelled like flowers for hours after he used it—and her face was gleaming as if she’d scrubbed up. The strange odor was barely detectable now. Thank goodness.
After surveying the busy room, she took her place at the end of the line just as Allie came by with more cookies. The woman turned slightly, knocking into Allie, and nearly tipping her tray. Both women grabbed ahold of it at the same time, diverting disaster.
“I’m so sorry!” The woman exclaimed. “I didn’t even see you there.”
“It’s fine,” Allie soothed. “This belly of mine keeps getting in the way. I bumped into you first.”
The woman smiled serenely. The expression tugged Jett’s heart. “You look beautiful. No worries.”
Allie smiled. “Thank you. And you look exhausted, my friend. Travel far? Can I get you something?”
He focused his hearing to pick up each word. He was interested in her answer.
“I’d love a double espresso, but…”
“One of the downfalls of being pregnant, huh? No caffeine.”
The woman’s hand strayed to her abdomen. “Oh, how…how could you tell?”
Allie shrugged. “I guess us preggos just know. I’m Allie. This is my bakery and I’d love to help another mama out, so if there’s anything you need, let me know. Will you be staying in town long? I can help—”
“Actually,” the woman’s voice stiffened at Allie’s questioning. “The Miderra hotel is on this street, right?”
“Yep. Two blocks down on the left.”
“Great, thank you. I think I’ll head there before I’m too tired to walk.” She turned to leave the line, but Allie hurried next to her.
“Can you spare a couple minutes? I’ll be right back. It will be worth the wait, I promise.”
She ambled through the crowd to behind the counter and returned with a small white bakery bag and a plastic cup and straw. “Here, a couple fresh muffins and a peach cooler, sugar free, on the house.”
