Page 197 of Devil's Bargain

What is he doing here?

“Get him a cupcake!” she whisper hisses.

When I still don’t move, she grabs one, puts it in my hands, and gives my back a shove. “Get moving! This is too good for business to mess up! Offer him the best customer service you can! Smile that pretty smile of yours.”

I roll across the floor and before I know it, there he is, elbows on the table.

I tuck my hair behind my ear only to realize it’s in a ponytail. “I got you your cupcake.”

He smiles, and it’s blinding. I’m burned by his bright rays. “You look well!”

I place the cupcake on the table, suddenly very aware that he’s now a famous NFL player with supermodels lining up to date him.

“How are you?” I ask, gripping my wheels so I don’t fidget.

His eyes flick between mine. “I’m good. How are you?”

This feels so formal, but the way he looks at me is not. “I’m doing well, considering…”

He nods in understanding, his eyes falling to my lips. “How long have you worked here?”

I can’t breathe but not due to a panic attack this time. No, Rick has a way of sucking all the air out of the room. “A year.”

His eyes flick back up to mine.

“How did you find me?”

“Who said I came here to find you?”

I blush, feeling foolish. Of course he didn’t. Why would he? “I’m sorry, that was presumptuous of me.”

“I asked around.”

I flit my gaze up from my lap. My heart is doing somersaults in my chest.

“What time do you finish?”

I swallow. “I err—” I look over my shoulder at the clock on the wall. “Two hours.”

“I’ll wait.”

Our eyes clash. One beat, two. I nod. “Okay.”

He takes a bite of the cupcake and I watch intently while he chews. “It’s good.”

My eyes light up. “You like it?”

His lips curve in a smile as he studies my face. “I love it!”

I blush and duck my head. “Do you want anything else? Coffee? A soda?”

“I’ll have a black coffee, please.”

“Okay.” I feel like a bobblehead as I nod again before wheeling back to the counter.

Nancy is waiting for me, conveniently pretending to wipe down the counter in front of Charles, Peter, and Frank. “Spill the details!”

I reach for a mug with a trembling hand, then pick up the coffee pot and pour black coffee while they watch me expectantly. “He’s an old friend from school.”

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