Placing my hand over my goo-filled mouth, I stare right back as I try to chew and swallow. The last thing I need right now is to try and smile at him with my teeth filled with chocolate and caramel. That’s not how my dream went at all!
Lawd! Save me from myself!
Running my tongue over my teeth and finally my lips to clear away any crumbs, I hold up a finger and place the half-eaten cupcake on top of a napkin. As I’m doing one last check with my tongue, I notice the way his steel-blue eyes drop to my mouth, and his jaw tightens. Does he look mad?Oh, shit. I think he’s mad.
Crap on crackers!He must have realized that ‘deal’ I talked him into yesterday wasn’t a deal at all. I charged him full price for every one of those two dozen cupcakes.
Grabbing another napkin, I wipe it over my mouth, then toss it in the trash before I look back at him and square my shoulders.It’s showtime.
“Now, before you say anything,” I begin, trying not to let his penetrating stare disarm me. “Not once did I tell you I was giving you a discount. I stated the price, loud and clear, and you agreed. So, there’s no buyer's remorse here. You bought and paid for the cupcakes fair and square.” I nod for emphasis, my hands settling on my hips in a defiant stance.
Just like before when his gaze dropped to my mouth, his eyes fall to the hands at my hips, and take their sweet time coming back up to look at my face. His mouth is twitching, and his eyes are filled with…mirth? Confused, I blink and tilt my head to look back at him.
“I’m not here about the cupcakes,” he replies, his tone amused.
“You’re not?” I ask, a little uncertain now.
He shakes his head. “They were fine. More than fine, actually. My secretary tells me they were a big hit at the office. They were gone when I went back into the kitchen an hour later.”
Relieved, I grin up at him. “Well, there you go. Didn’t I tell you that one dozen would just not do?”
He inclines his head, smiling. “You did.”
Still grinning, I walk behind the counter, and carefully lift a box up and place it on the surface. “So, how about another round for your colleagues?”
His deep chuckle in response sends a thrill up my spine. I can’t help but feel a giddy sense of relief, and an even giddier sense of pleasure at seeing him again.
And how sexy is that chuckle?
“I’m not here to buy more cupcakes,” he says, still smiling.
“You’re not?” I ask, thoroughly confused. If he’s not here to ream me out for charging him full price, and he’s not here to buy more, then why is he here?
“No. I’m here to see you.” He steps closer, and I catch a whiff of his cologne, a deep and spicy scent that I can almost taste on my tongue.
“Me?”I balk. “Why on earth would you come here just to see me?”
He grins, and there’s something about the way he looks at me that has my knees struggling to cope with my weight. “I realized I never asked your name.”
“My name? Oh. It’s Emmy.”
“Do you have a second name, Emmy?” His smile widens, and now my ovaries are quivering along with my knees. If that grin of his gets any bigger, I’ll end up pregnant over it!
“Sorry.” I run an embarrassed hand through my hair, pulling it over my shoulder. “It’s Townsend. Emmy Townsend.”
“Nice to meet you, Emmy Townsend. How long will you be working here?” he asks, indicating to the pop-up stand.
“We wind up at the end of the week. But if you’re looking to place an order for cupcakes or a cake, Mrs. Morgan’s bakery is just—”
“I don’t want to place an order.” He shakes his head.
“Oh. Well, then, what do you want?” My brow knits in confusion, my mind too afraid to hazard a guess as to what he really wants from me.
“You, Emmy Townsend.”
My breathing hitches and I’m pretty sure I let out a little squeak at his words.
I press my index finger against my chest. “You want…me?”
