Ember nodded before she turned her gaze back to me. “So, a doggy bag for the puppy?”
I grit my teeth to keep myself from telling her she was a brat and chose to simply nod instead.
She smirked. “Got ya.”
I watched her walk away, grabbing a to-go box and tossing pastries into it, and bagels into another with a spare cinnamon roll.
“Pastry one is for you and your sweet tooth, bagel one is for Rowan and Aspen to take home. Anything else you need?” she asked, one hand on the counter and the other on her hip.
I stalled out, staring down at her pouty lips and stunning brown eyes. Thankfully, it was a short stall, as I reached into my pocket and pulled out my credit card. “Money,” I replied back simply.
She watched me, her gaze careful. “Don’t want your money. I recall owing you for the next five years, and it’s only been about two weeks, Carragan.”
“This is true, but still. I feel bad coming in and taking all of your pastries and coffee, while you get nothing in return.”
She shifted on her feet again, and I could see the light blush starting to grace her cheeks. “Well, consider us even. Most people would take me up on my previous offer and be in here every day getting free coffee.”
I smiled. “Is this your way of telling me you want to see me more, Brady?”
The blush deepened, and she shook her head. “No, that isn’t—that’s not what I meant. I just mean?—”
I held up a hand. “Don’t worry. I’ll start stopping in more and saying hello, grabbing a coffee for myself.” I shrugged. “You know, get my hard work’s worth of free goods from the famous Buns of Delight.”
She bit her bottom lip, and I knew it was to try to tame down the smile that was threatening to take over her face. “I guess you should do whatever you need to do, Carragan.”
Rowan chose that moment to walk back out—looking disheveled and out of breath. Essentially, like he’d just committed a crime. James Bond he was not. “Are you okay, Rowan?”
He glanced over at her and nodded. “Oh yeah! Just eager to get these bagels home for my little angel! Right, Wyatt? You ready?”
I nodded, unable to say anything about what I was really thinking while looking at this man.
“Cool, let’s roll. Bye Ember! See you around, I’m sure.” He took his box and strolled out of the bakery as if his sweaty ass hadn’t just committed a damn felony for me. But I wasn’t going to be saying that, so I grabbed my box and followed him towards my SUV.
19
EVERY TIME I SEE YOU
Ember
Every single dayfor the last week, there have been flowers outside of the bakery. Every morning like clockwork, someone left a bouquet of something different. Carnations were the first ones to show up. The card was simple?—
“Carnations for fascination, for that is what you bring to me every time I see you. Pure fascination. Soon, yours.”
I’d immediately looked it up and, lo and behold, in the language of flowers, carnations were the sign of fascination, and now the word wouldn’t leave my mind.
It played over and over again on repeat.
The next day, it was a bouquet of Daisies. The card read?—
“Though Daisies are meant to show innocence andpurity, there is truly nothing innocent about my feelings towards you. They grow more desperate and ravenous by the day. Soon, yours.”
Then it was Chrysanthemums with a note that read?—
“Loyalty and devotion shall never be anything you don’t fully receive from me. Soon, yours.”
Every day since, it had been a bouquet of vibrant red roses with one word on the card?—
“Soon.”
