Page 11 of Merry Me Bad Boy

There is a whole list of things I shouldn’t have let happen. I’d think having him eat me up like a meal would be right at the top. But no, it’s not. Instead, letting this man get his fingers around my heart is holding down the number one spot.

Now I don’t know what in the world I’m going to do.

Maybe this was a spur-of-the-moment kind of thing for him, but not for me.

Unless I want to catch myself falling hard, I need to reel back before it’s too late. Before I risk getting hurt.

Because, why in the world would a divorced, older, gruff-looking man want someone likeme?

Oh boy. Ironically enough, I think I’ve gotten myself in quite the sticky mess.

Jason

I think I fucked up.

Maybe I shouldn’t have flattened my boss out and licked her all up. Ever since that heated moment, there’s been a shift in the air.

Abby won’t meet my eyes, not without going all red. I’m going crazy.

It’s been two days since that incident and for the most part, I’ve kept my hands to myself. Sometimes, when she hands something off to me, I purposely let our fingers brush each other for longer than what is necessary.

I’m starving here. I need more than finger brushes. I want her mouth, her smiles, and even her blushes. As a greedy bastard, I want it all.

Tomorrow is Sunday, the one day of the week the bakery is closed. I plan on taking advantage.

“Are you free tonight?” I ask, breaking past the layer of silence between us. Need to fix whatever the problem is.

Yesterday, Abby started playing Christmas music. I think she’s getting tired of the silence too. It’s her excuse to keep avoiding having a conversation. One more reason to make me go crazy.

I can’t get away from these tunes.

She perks up, looking surprised. “Tonight? Ah, I’m normally in bed right before the sun sets.”

“After work then?” I pause my attempt to frost a reindeer cupcake. “Do you have plans?”

Now her cheeks are forming a pinkish color. I can already see the excuses winding around in her head. Her lips purse when she shakes her head.

I invite her to Rusty’s in hopes I can get her alone somewhere that isn’t her shop. Somewhere she can get comfortable. Knowing I’ll need to straighten up my living space, I tell her a time that will give me enough time to clean up.

I’ll tell her my feelings and make sure she knows damn well that I want her. How I’m tired of dancing around the fact.

If she doesn’t feel the same, then I need her to let me down. Otherwise, I’m not going to be able to get her out of my mind.

Knowing damn well tonight will be what makes or breaks me, I try to keep myself together through the rest of the shift.

* * *

I find her standing by the jukebox that Pops bought a few decades back. She’s not wearing her usual uniform, dressed in a nice sweater with leggings. Looks soft. I immediately notice her hair. It’s been chopped, riding her jawline.

Fuck me. I love the change.

“Doesn’t work anymore,” I tell her from behind, ignoring the urge to run my fingers through the short strands.

She jumps when she spins around and a hand shifts to her chest. Knowing I’ve sent her heart sailing shouldn’t leave me feeling so pleased.

“My brother broke it trying to impress his fiancee.” I rub the back of my neck, looking at the old machine. Knowing Kade won’t get rid of it, broken or not, I’m left wondering if I can fix it. “He’s the owner of this place.”

Abby takes a minute to look around, taking in all the different decorations and other bar patrons. Finally, she looks back at me. “This is my first time being in here. I didn’t expect to see it decorated so festively.”

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