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“Well, I’ll tell ya. People flocked here first thing this morning, hoping to try our limited-time biscuits.” He gestured to the hand-drawn sign Liem had undoubtedly made. “But they weren’t expecting to find one of the masterminds behind it serving them. So instead of taking them to go, they hung around. And I’ll tell you what, our girl’s a charmer.”
I looked over at Bree, who was blushing furiously, gaze fixed on her favorite sparkly shoes. Dad was obviously as smitten as I was, so maybe over time, she’d get used to the compliments. I pulled her into my side and squeezed her affectionately. She looked up at me, her eyes shining with life and her smile genuine. I turned us away from the counter as some new customers approached and slid my hand up her back and to her neck, kissing the top of her head as I tugged on the black material of my apron.
Vinh’s girl.
Not a bad nickname at all.
40
BREE
By 11:00 a.m. Monny was in visible pain, and with no new wave of customers in sight, Vinh assured his mom that she could take him home while we took care of cleaning and closing. They left soon after, and within the hour, we were headed out too.
Vinh’s arm was looped around my waist as we walked to the parking lot. It was the perfect end to the morning. I pulled out my phone for the first time in hours, checking my messages before glancing up at him. “Sorry I missed your message this morning.”
He responded by pulling me into a full-on hug and burying his face in my neck.
“Awwwww,” Liem cooed, which turned into an umph when Vinh reached over without looking and shoved his shoulder.
We broke apart, and I gazed between them, smiling fondly as I refocused on my phone and opened up my other notifications. “Hey—” I brought us to a stop. “I’ve got a voicemail from Jeanne. I’m gonna check this.”
Vinh released me reluctantly, his hands lingering on me as long as possible as I walked to Cody’s truck. I leaned against it and played the message. The last time we’d spoken, Jeanne had said she was brainstorming more ideas for the magnolia situation, so maybe she had something new to share. As the adrenaline of the morning waned, my shoulders had nothing to stop them from slumping the longer her message went on.
“What’s up?” Liem asked, taking in my expression.
“I’m not sure.”
Vinh came up beside his brother, studying me intently as I did the same to him. His raggedy baseball cap was still on backwards, his messy hair poking out from under it, giving him an almost boyish look that was so at odds with the man underneath.
“I’m going to go over to Fortuna. Jeanne called about an hour ago and left a voicemail asking if I could come by today.” I looked down at my dark, crumpled clothes. “She’s never asked me to come work before. I usually just volunteer myself because I like to learn.”
Vinh frowned. “Did she specify that it was for work?”
I played back the message in my mind and realized he was right. I’d just assumed that she meant for work.
Vinh smiled at me with understanding, so the realization must’ve shown on my face.
“She’s your friend, Bree.”
“It could still be for work,” I hedged. “She’s still pretty upset about the magnolias and probably wants to talk about that—if it isn’t just about someone calling out today.”
“I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised,” Vinh assured me before turning to his brother. “Liem, do you think you could ride with me and help unload some of my boxes?”
“Of course, bro.”
Liem, being the perceptive brother he was, gave me a quick goodbye hug and dismissed himself to Vinh’s car.
I opened the truck door as Vinh stepped up behind me, his hands finding each side of my waist before he spun me around and claimed my lips. The kiss had a desperate edge that I hadn’t expected, and he took full advantage of my gasp, his tongue sweeping over mine. I was on the tips of my toes with my arms thrown around his neck in the next second, meeting him stroke for stroke, enjoying the feel of his hard body pressed against mine.
We eventually broke apart, his hands gripping my waist lightly. “That’s what I wanted to do when I saw you, but everyone and everything was in the way.”
I smiled. “Good afternoon.”
He leaned down and kissed me, softly this time, and then again, and once more. “Good afternoon. Drive safely. I’d go with you, but I need to get this stuff unloaded at my parents’ house. Call me when you’re done with Jeanne?”
I nodded. “See you soon.”
He helped me into the truck, patting my ass affectionately before I sat down, drawing a girlish giggle from me that I had never heard come out of my mouth before.
