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What really pissed her off was the answering pulse of arousal his presence had made inside her.
How could she respond sexually to a man who’d bullied her?
Pushing her thoughts to the back of her mind, June concentrated on baking. This was her baby, and she wasn’t going to let anything stop her from making it a success. At around two in the afternoon, Molly pulled her out of her baking.
“I’ve got to go and pick Sasha up,” Molly said. “Is it okay if I leave early?”
“Sure, what’s the problem?”
“Her teacher just phoned. She’s been fighting again. I don’t know what to say to her anymore.”
“I’m here if you need me.” June offered her friend as much support as she could. There was nothing else she could do for Molly. Sasha was a sweet kid, but she kept getting bullied. June tried talking to her, but nothing ever got through.
Finishing up the baking, she headed around the front to deal with the rest of the day’s customers.
By three she was tired but continued to deal with the high-school rush and then onto four. A lot of the locals tried to talk to her as she worked. She listened to them talk, laughing and smiling in all the right places. At five, her mother stopped by to grab several different kinds of breads. She was hosting a dinner party, which June was invited to.
Again she declined the invitation. Four-thirty rolled on by, and June was ready to call it a night. She started packing everything around the back away. It was Friday, and she had one more day before it was a full day off.
The shop bell jingled, and she was about ready to rip the damn thing off. It had been a long day, and all she wanted to do was go upstairs to her home, have a long relaxing bath and settle down for the night to read a good book.
Pushing her glasses up her nose, June looked up to see Trey, Max, and Dale entering her shop.
Memories assailed her all at the same time of these three men taking it in equal turns to tease her.
It’s all in the past. It’s all in the past.
“June, it’s great to see you,” Max said, smiling.
She didn’t smile back. Trey stayed in the back, looking over his friends’ shoulders at her.
Tearing her gaze away from him, she turned her attention to his two friends.
“What can I get you?” she asked.
“You’re looking mighty fine,” Max said.
She saw Dale was busy looking at the displays of biscuits and treats that were still available. “Where’s Molly?” Dale asked.
“Molly got called away on an emergency.”
“Is she okay?”
“As far as I know.”
Dale gave his order, and she went about getting it for him. All the time she was aware of Trey’s stare. Why was he intent of making her nervous?
“So, you’re a kick-ass baker, and Trey here is a kick-ass tattooist. Have you ever thought about getting a tattoo?” Max asked.
His attention was starting to grate on her nerves. Why couldn’t he back off?
“Why does it matter?” Putting hands on her hips, she stared between the two, waiting for an answer.
“Well, if you would like a tattoo, I’d be more than happy to make an appointment with you.”
She wrinkled her nose. “No, thanks.”
“Come on, one little tattoo.”
Checking out the clock on the left wall she saw they had ten minutes before she needed to kick them out. “Can you order? I’ll be shutting soon.”
Trey stepped forward, pointing out what he wanted.
“What are you doing tonight?” Max asked.
“Max, stop it.” Trey took the food from her and gave her some money. She quickly rang up the purchases before handing Trey back his change.
“What are you doing tonight?” Max asked once again.
“Why?” She stared at the last man, wishing he’d stop hassling her. This was the first time he’d entered her bakery, and she hoped it was the last. Max was a pig, even more so than Trey and Dale. All three men had a reputation with the ladies. She listened to the women speak and wished more often than not that she could burn her ears off.
“Do you want to go for a drink with me?” Max smiled at her, obviously expecting her to be excited about it.
“No.”
She shut him down, moving from behind the counter to go for the door. Their time was up, and she wanted to go home.
“No?”
“That’s right. I don’t want to go for a drink or to have anything to do with you.” Opening the door she pointed at each of them to leave. “Your time is up.”
“You’re seriously turning me down for a drink?”
“I’ve got nothing to say to you, so why would I want a drink? To reminisce on old times?” June chuckled. “It’s a good joke, but I don’t want a drink with you or anything else.”
“I didn’t order anything,” Max said. “I’m a willing, paying customer.”
“You’re a pain in the ass, and you were too busy trying to flirt to order. I want to go home.”
“Do you know how many women would jump at the chance to have a drink with me?” he asked, shouting at her.
“Lucky them. I’m not about to join that club.”
“I’ve got something interesting I can do with my tongue.”
Trey slapped Max over the head.
“I’m happy not to know.”
She closed the door behind them, waved and dropped the blind. Had she seriously just been asked out by Max?
No, she wasn’t even going to let herself think about it.
Chapter Three
“I can’t believe you just asked June out. Are you completely insane?” Trey asked. He was so angry, and all he wanted to do was hurt his friend. Max’s flirting really annoyed him.
“What? Am I the only one who sees the hottie she’s turned into? So she’s got a bit more meat on her than what women want today. I think she’s hot.” Max threw his arms wide cursing the female population. “I’m tired of fucking thin women. I want a woman I can hold on to.”
Trey followed his friends down the street toward the only bar in town. The Sexy Cowgirl was where the party was at on a Friday night, a lot of music, a lot of beer, and a lot of dancing. Most Fridays he left with a woman or two to take the edge off his weekend.
“In case you didn’t notice she shot me down.”
“She’s not going to go for you,” Dale said, finally joining in the conversation.
“And why not?”
“She looked ready to burst out laughing at your mere suggestion of going out. June wants nothing to do with you.”
Trey was happy with that. Dale hadn’t shown any interest, and Max was shut down. Trey had a stack of respect for June, and it increased knowing she wasn’t easy.
You’re not one to talk.
Ever since he’d lost his virginity at sixteen, Trey had taken more than his fair share of women. He loved sex, but for a long time now, sex had lost its edge. Bringing a woman to orgasm was easy to him. They were putty in his hands, and they’d do everything he asked. Most of the women were happy to do as they were told. Not one of them took the lead with him, and he was tired of doing all the work.
Slinking his way to the bar, he ignored all the greetings from the women and ordered a beer.
“What’s gotten up your ass?” Max asked.
“Nothing. I’m just tired. It was a late night with the dolphin chick.”
The bartender, Joe, handed him an ice cold beer. Trey had given the other man a mean ass tattoo down the length of his arm, and the two had been cool ever since. Joe was a lot older than Trey and had kicked his ass once for hitting on Joe’s girl. After the ass kicking, Joe bought him a drink, thanking him for revealing what a skank the woman was.
It was a strange kind of friendship, but Trey was thankful for it all the same.
“Had a busy day?” Joe asked.
“The busiest.”
“Hey, Joe, you heard anything about June Armstrong who runs the bakery?” Max
asked.
Trey tensed.
“She’s Elliot’s daughter. You touch her, he’ll come after you, and they won’t be able to recognize your body. That man loves his family more than anything. No one hurts his family.”
Joe left them alone.
“Fuck me, her father sounds like some kind of mafia boss.”
“He owns my building,” Trey said, sipping at the beer.
“Oh crap. I won’t do anything to compromise your career, man. I’m sorry.” Max slapped him on the back. They were his friends, the two men who had his back through high school and through life.
“No worries.” Trey took another swig of beer thinking about the smile on June’s face. She really had thought Max’s suggestion was funny.
“I’m going to get me a woman for the night,” Max said. “See you later.”
Spinning around in his chair, Trey watched Max head into the throng of people.
“Are you okay?” Dale asked.
“I’m good. I’m always good.”
“You’re looking a little tense with Max.”
Letting out a sigh, Trey looked out at the dance floor seeing the happiness going on all around him. There was a time he’d be in the center of it all, fighting for his spot. When had his perspective on life changed? When did getting drunk and fucking every woman he met become a bore?
“I think I’m getting old.”
“Twenty-four is not old,” Dale said.
“No? Then why am I bored and fucking tired all the time? This is our life, Dale, and I’m fucking sick of the same old crap all the time.”
It was the first time he’d opened up to anyone about his thoughts.
“Trey, we’ve been getting drunk and having sex every weekend since we were sixteen. That has been eight years now. It’s okay to get bored with it. To be honest I wanted to stay home tonight.”
“Then why didn’t you?” Trey asked.
“Because I’d be alone. I’d rather be here than at home all alone. How pathetic is that?”
He didn’t find it pathetic at all.
During the night several women wrapped their arms around his neck, kissing and touching him. For once, Trey wasn’t in the mood to take anything. Dale left first at around midnight. Max left with three women on his arm and a promise to see him Saturday.
