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“Bummer.”
She smiles. “I know.”
The pastry is decorated with a simple white frosting in a thin layer that just coats the outside. Inside, there’s a thick oozing of raspberry filling and chocolate ganache. The berries smell fresh, though I don’t know how. It’s still far too cold for berry picking. “You a baker by trade?”
“God no. I, ugh, right now, I’m at the diner. I work mornings and a few night shifts as needed, but I’m saving to open my own pet spa. It’s stupid, so don’t judge me.”
“It’s not stupid, but I don’t know what a pet spa is.” I bite into the cake and groan. Shit, this is good.
“Oh, it’s like a place where dogs get groomed, except they use fancy shampoos and oils. I’m going to do this special dog massage that I’ve been researching, but it costs a fortune to open a place like that. So considering my bank account is far from full…”
“But you’re over-payin’ me for this weekend.”
She shrugs. “I need your help. I can’t show up to this thing alone, and your time is valuable. I can’t ask for you to give up something that important without reasonable compensation.”
I swig down another gulp of wine and stare toward Dolly. She’s so sweet, like an angel. Her skin is soft, her eyes sparkle, and like a goddamn movie, I see fucking stars when I look at her. The girl wants to help everyone, and all she wants is for people to see her too.
I see you, girl.
I see you so fucking well that it’s taking everything inside of me not to swing her up out of that chair and make her mine.
“I can’t take your money. I’ll go to the weddin’ because I like you.”
She laughs. “Please stop.”
“I’m serious. That money would be better spent on your business. I don’t need it.”
She takes a bite of cake and stares toward me as though she’s thinking over what to say next, but nothing comes out.
“What if it’s not fake anymore? What if I want to go to this weddin’ with you as my date?”
Her eyes roll to the side. “You want our first date to be at my mother’s wedding where we will most definitely run into my ex-boyfriend? The drama will be off the charts. That’s why you’d need the money. You’re going to be traumatized afterward.”
I shake my head and stand, taking her hand as I pull her against my chest. “Tonight was our first date. This weekend will be our first trip away together. I’m not takin’ no for an answer.”
Chapter Three
Dolly
Austin is a big man. Tall, wide, thick, muscular. With that comes a sense of authority before he even utters a word. Though, when he does speak, the timbre in his voice exudes power. Maybe that’s why I’m drawn to him. No one in my life has ever given off this kind of vibe. Hell, no one I’ve even run across has his energy.
His hand lifts to my cheek, and I feel like a child against his palm. “You look like you’re scared to say yes.”
I look down and away. I don’t doubt that Austin is a great guy. I’ve seen him around town for months and I’ve imagined what it would be like to be in this very spot. He’s handsome. Really, really handsome. Also, turns out, he’s not nearly as bad at dating as I thought he’d be. He’s actually, pretty great. I mean, he put steak seasoning in the spaghetti sauce. How cute is that?
That said, I’m a wreck. An actual full-blown, stop traffic, train wreck. I can’t spray that all over Austin and embarrass myself even more.
I glare up at him, desperate to throw myself in his arms but too anxious to find out what would happen if I did. “I’m having so much fun tonight, but I don’t want to get pulled into something that will only end up hurting.”
His gaze drops to my lips, before returning to my eyes, and then onto my lips again.
My clit throbs… hard.
“Why do you think I’ll hurt you?”
I shrug. “I don’t think you will… intentionally.”
“Unintentionally then. Why would I hurt you?”
