Page 19 of Tempt

“Ma called in to tell her she needed two dozen cinnamon rolls and volunteered me to pick them up. It’s no problem at all.”

I nod, but suddenly I feel even more stupid for assuming he was coming all this way to walk me for coffee.

“I called to ask if they were ready, and your gran said she needed twenty more minutes. But then said you were getting ready to go get your coffee so I could always hang with you until they’re out of the oven.”

I don’t respond but instead simply nod.

“Have you had any more run-ins with Phil?”

“No,” I say. “But then again Gran has been like a warden lately, so I haven’t gone anywhere without her or someone else by my side.”

“She’s just worried about you,” Garrett says as he pulls open the door and waits for me to enter.

“Well I wish she would worry a little less,” I mumble. “It's suffocating me.”

Garret smiles and I have to look away, because his dimples are so tempting.

We wait in line, placing our order for our coffee and Garrett remembering to order my Gran’s too. It’s sweet and not many guys would take on Gran the way that Garrett has.

“Are you working today?” I ask, trying to fill the silence that has settled while we wait for our coffee.

“Yeah,” he pushes his hands into his pockets rocking back on his heels. “Already been at Bud and Gemma’s for a couple hours, gotta be on the job site by eight to start the wiring.”

“So you do electrical?”

“I do,” he nods, that dimple of his popping out on his cheek and making my stomach do its wild flipping.

“Garrett,” the younger guy behind the counter announces as he places down two coffees next to Gran’s Frappe that was already waiting. “Have a great day.”

“You too,” Garrett nods, lifting mine and passing it to me before picking up the other two.

The walk back to the Bakery is quiet.

There are several things I want to say, but I hold back, for fear of sounding like a fool. I honestly couldn’t determine if what we have going is anything more than Garrett being friendly. Being a nice guy is in his nature.

* * *

Spa Day.

Somehow I figured the invite was simply an offer out of obligation. I sat around listening to all the girls talking about how amazing the facials were and the pedicure, massages and everything else, I never expected the invite to be more than that.

Yet here I am piled in a Jeep with not only Julian but also Grace and Gretchen. There are three more cars following close behind filled to the brim with ladies and we are on our way to Savannah.

A day of pampering and relaxation.

I tried to get myself out of it, but Gran made it impossible. She practically pushed me out the door when Grace showed up and told them I had no life and no friends outside of her.

I love her, I seriously do, but I think I need to have her evaluated, she’s becoming a liability to my social life, or lack thereof.

“Have you decided what you want to get done?” I glance up from my phone to find Gretchen turned around in the seat looking at me. “Have you ever had a facial? It's amazing, and the full body massage is killer.”

“Nope, the only thing I’ve ever had was a manicure.”

“The facial is a must,” Grace pipes in.

“And the massage,” Julian says with a smile.

“Adrian may not even be there anymore,” Gretchen tells him with a smile. “I swear he could have given the world's worst massage and you would have said it was a dream.”

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