Page 24 of The Bride and the Baker

“You know I’m right.” Marigold smiled. “Look, Daisy, I love you dearly, but if you let Lee go after what you’ve shared with him, you’re going to regret it. It sounds like he would be a good fit for you.”

“But…” Daisy gulped. “It’s too soon after Nick. Even though he cheated, he’s going to try and switch it around on me.”

“You mean make it sound like you had cheated on him as well?”

“Something like that?”

Marigold snorted.

“Your ex should have gotten his head out of his ass a long time ago. He managed to move on very fast. Why can’t you? If he’s going to have a hissy fit because you’ve found someone who treats you right, then that’s his problem. Nothing to do with you.”

Daisy knew that, but it still didn’t make her feel any better. Especially when she knew Nick and Elena were going to keep harassing her after she stuck them with the bill. If she had her way, they would leave her alone for good, but that wasn’t happening. Daisy didn’t want Lee exposed to that.

Although having him around would make Nick back off. He would never square up to Lee.

“So what should I do, Marigold?”

“Do what feels right for you. If you think there’s something in the way from stopping you being with Lee, you make steps to smooth the way, so to speak. You’re a single woman now, so you can do what you want. And if you want Lee Brown, you go and get him.”

“What if he doesn’t want me?”

Marigold shook her head.

“Don’t think like that. Be confident. You can do it.”

Daisy hoped she could. Because it was failing her right now, as it had been for the last two weeks.

She was such a wimp.

* * *

Lee knew he had to work, but he couldn’t bring himself to find the motivation. Everything was going on around him, and Lee could get involved. This had never happened before; he was always the first person there and getting things done. As the owner, that was expected. And yet he couldn’t do it.

Hell, he had been like this for the last couple of weeks. Ever since he and Daisy slept together. Since she told him that this could never happen again, she needed space from everyone. Including him.

Lee understood needing space, given what she had been through, but it still hurt having her distance herself from him. That night had been incredible, and Lee had made the most of Daisy in his arms for the first time. Now he was on the outside trying to look in, and it wasn’t painful.

Had he done something wrong? Had Daisy been offended by something Lee did? If she had, surely she would have told him about it. Lee wanted to know what he had done.

If it had been just a one-off, Lee could have handled it. And he had planned on treating it as such for now. But it hadn’t worked, and he wanted more. A lot more.

But Daisy wasn’t prepared to do the same. Would she ever be prepared? Or was she running away?

“You’re not going to get any work done if you stand there staring into space.”

Lee jumped. Myra was leaning on the counter with an amused smile. How had she managed to get in without Lee noticing? He frowned.

“Did you disable the bell before you came in? I’m sure it’s working.”

“It worked. You just didn’t react.” Myra tapped the counter. “You were just staring at nothing with a gloomy look on your face. Are you okay?”

“What? Of course I am.” Lee shook himself. “Why would you ask that?”

“Because you’re my baby brother and I worry about you.”

“I’m a grown man, Myra.”

“And still the baby of the family.” Myra peered at him. “What’s going on with you, Lee? Jordan was in here last week, and he said you were going around like you were in a fog. And Keith is worried about your mood change.”

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