Lonnie frowned and looked out the window. “Let me know if you see him again.”
Melissa walked to the back, leaving Alexis to help Lonnie. Alexis pulled out a box she had prepared for him with the chocolate cupcakes she had made the night before. Lonnie’s eyes lit up when he saw them, but then he frowned at her.
“I’m so sorry I had to leave last night,” he said, his voice low so Melissa couldn’t overhear them. “It was seriously bad timing.”
Alexis tried to smile at him, but still felt off from the previous customer. “It’s okay. I knew it wasn’t avoidable.”
Lonnie tilted his head and studied her. “I’m going to come by in the morning as soon as you open and hang out for a bit, if you’re okay with that. You could put me to work as well.”
Without realizing how stressed she was over the stranger in her shop, immediate relief flooded through her. A genuine smile lifted her lips, and she sounded hopeful as she looked up at him. “Really?”
He smiled. “Really. I also want a do-over for last night.”
Alexis leaned against the counter with a smirk. “Are you sure you can handle that?”
He leaned in. “Oh, I can handle it.”
She stared into his eyes. If either of them leaned only a few more inches, their lips would connect. The bell overhead jingled, and she jumped away from him as if she was a teenager not wanting to get caught. Her face flamed.
Lonnie only smiled back. He slid cash across the counter and took his box of cupcakes. “I’ll see you tonight, beautiful.”
Then he disappeared through the door.
