Page 70 of Where the Music Grows

I reach for her, catching her wrist. “Stay.”

She smiles but shakes her head. “Can’t. Bakery opens in an hour. I’m lucky I was able to switch shifts with Lisa and sleep in as it is.”

I sit up, the sheet pooling at my waist. “Let me take you to breakfast first.”

“Tempting.” She leans down, pressing a quick kiss to my lips. “But how about you drive me to work instead? I know those chocolate muffins you love will be fresh.”

Her fingers linger against my jaw, and for a second, I think about pulling her back into bed. But she’s made it clear that the job is important to her. I don’t want to risk her losing it because I can’t get enough.

“All right,” I groan.

“Think of it like this: you can pick me up after work and then we can do...whatever.”

I grin, liking the sound of that. “Okay, deal.”

I throw my clothes on quickly while she’s in the tiny bathroom. The place is small, but it feels cozy rather than cramped. It’s very much a reflection of her. Little touches everywhere—colorful throw pillows, plants in the windowsill, photos stuck to the fridge with magnets. I walk over to look at them while waiting. Most are of her with who must be her parents, a few with friends. They all show her smiling and happy.

Max saunters over, eyeing me with what can only be described as feline disdain.

“Sorry about last night,” I tell him, feeling ridiculous for apologizing to a cat. “Although, I think it’s you who owes me an apology. You never interrupt a man when he’s with a lady. I wouldn’t do that to you.”

He blinks slowly at me, then turns and walks away, tail high in the air.

“He’ll warm up to you,” Jinnie says, emerging from the bathroom. Her hair is pulled back now, face freshly washed. She looks beautiful, even in her simple work uniform.

“I doubt it.” I laugh. “Pretty sure he thinks I’m the competition.”

She grabs her purse and keys. “Ready?”

The drive to the bakery is easy, filled with the kind of comfortable silence that only comes after intimacy. Jinnie stares out the window. Every now and then, she glances at me, her lips curving in a small, private smile that makes my chest tighten. I’m already looking forward to picking her up from work. We’ll have a few hours before I have to be at the bar to play. That’s more than enough time to do what I’m thinking about.

Lisa nearly drops a tray of muffins when we walk in together. Her eyebrows shoot up, eyes darting between us.

“Well, well,” she says, wiping flour-dusted hands on her apron. “Look who finally showed up.”

Jinnie rolls her eyes. “I’m five minutes early. Jack gets the good muffins today.”

Lisa grins. “Oh, I bet he does.”

Jinnie shoves her playfully before disappearing into the back. Lisa turns to me, looking me up and down before nodding. “You’ll do.”

“Excuse me?”

“You’re a hundred times better than him.”

“Him?” I question.

Lisa shakes her head. “She deserves someone decent after that last disaster.”

I freeze. “Last disaster?”

Lisa frowns. “Yeah, her ex was a real piece of work.”

It’s not like I didn’t think she’d never been in a relationship, but I find it odd Jinnie never mentioned an ex. We spent all day talking yesterday and she never said a word. It seems like this ex was a big deal.

Lisa’s eyes widen, suddenly realizing what she’s said. “Oh, shit. I thought you knew.”

My stomach drops to my feet. “Knew what?”