11
Lonnie pulled his car up outside of the bakery just as the shop closed. He walked up to the door and waved at Alexis, who waved back. She let him inside and swept her eyes over the street before closing the door behind him.
“Everything okay?” Lonnie asked.
Alexis smiled up at him. “Yes.”
Lonnie followed her into the kitchen, where Melissa was pulling on her coat.
“All right, you two, I’m out. Don’t get into too much trouble,” Melissa said.
“Bye, Melissa. Have fun with your mysteriously convenient plans,” Alexis said.
Melissa laughed and let herself out the front door. Alexis locked it behind her.
Lonnie held up a takeout bag from an Italian restaurant down the street. “Care to have some dinner before we get started?”
“I’d love that.”
A small table sat in the corner of the kitchen, and they sat down with the meals. Lonnie loved Italian food and always ate itanytime he got a chance. He had already eaten at this restaurant four times since coming to Cupid City, and he suspected he’d go there at least a few more times before he left.
Before he left.
The intrusive thought had him pausing mid-bite.
He was falling for this woman, but he knew he couldn’t stay. At least not without giving up a job he loved.
“You okay?”
Lonnie looked over at Alexis and smiled. “Of course. So what’s on the agenda tonight?”
“A lot of orders.”
“Do you enjoy baking? What got you into it?”
Alexis chewed on a piece of garlic bread as she mulled over his question. “I don’t know, honestly. A long time ago, I used to bake for fun, and people always joked I should open my own bakery. That seemed daunting. But cupcakes are fun, and fairly simple. So I thought I would try it.”
“I think you've found your calling.”
Alexis smiled softly. “Was working in security something you always wanted?”
“Not really. I got really into martial arts as a kid and got good at it. I met other people who had worked as bodyguards or security detail, and they invited me to help on a few jobs with them. At no point did I expect to enjoy it, but I do. Even more so now that I get to work with friends.”
She nodded. “I bet working with friends all day is enjoyable.”
He smiled. “Seems like we’re both lucky.”
“I suppose we are.”
They finished their meals and then cleaned up the area. Lonnie planted his hands on his hips and looked around the kitchen. He knew nothing about baking, so this was all foreign to him.
“Okay, boss. Where do I start?”
Alexis smiled. “How about you start by eating this cupcake and giving me an opinion?”
“Now that’s the kind of job I like.” He bit into the chocolate cupcake and groaned. “Now all I need is a cold glass of mi?—”
Before he could finish his sentence, Alexis was setting a glass of milk in front of him.
