Page 55 of The Summer of Us

I chuckled. You could smell the bakery for blocks. The rich scent of cinnamon, sugar, and butter drew you in.

Abby came out of the kitchen, carrying a tray of the cinnamon buns. Her wild curls were held back with a hairband, her bright-pink stripe vivid against the blond. She was wearing her pink high-top sneakers and swaddled in an apron. After talking to Sunny, she slid two buns onto a plate and carried it over to the table, along with a coffee. As she approached, I turned to say something to Michael, except he wasn’t looking at me. He was staring at Abby, his eyes focused entirely on her.

“Holy mother of god,” he mumbled.

I tried not to laugh, especially when I looked at Abby and saw her returning his stare with one of her own.

She slid the plate and mug in front of Michael, their gazes never wavering. “I think I’m made for you,” she announced.

He gaped at her, and I snickered. Abby blushed and stammered.

“I mean, I made these. The buns. I brought them to you. Yeah.” She shot me a look. “Sunny asked me to bring them to you. So, I did. Here they are.” Then she turned and bolted back into the kitchen.

Michael stared after her, then turned to me. “Who was that?”

I crossed my arms. “My assistant.”

He ran a hand over his face. “Shit.” He looked down at the cinnamon buns. “She made these?”

“She’s been in the kitchen with Sunny all morning, so I assume so.”

“Does she have a name?”

“No. I whistle, and she shows up.”

His head snapped up, his eyes glaring at me, and I smirked. “Of course she has a name. It’s Abby.”

“Abby,” he repeated. He lifted a bun and bit into it, chewing slowly. He closed his eyes with a low groan. “This is so good.”

I stood and went to get a refill. Sunny smiled at me as I bent over the counter.

“Did you catch that?” I asked quietly.

“I think someone is smitten. Two someones, actually. Abby keeps peeking out the door.”

I glanced behind me. Michael was eating, his gaze fixed on the kitchen door as if he were willing it to open and Abby to reappear.

“Is he ready for that?”

Sunny sighed. “It’s been almost two years, Linc. That’s a long time to be alone.”

“He has kids. I’m not sure how Abby would feel about that. And she is younger than him.”

She stepped closer. “Why don’t you butt out, Linc, and let them figure it out. Abby’s a grown-up girl.” She brushed a kiss to my mouth. “I love how protective you are, but honestly, leave it alone.”

She was right, although I couldn’t resist pushing Michael a little when I returned to the table.

He had eaten both buns and drained his coffee. “I should get some of these to take home to the kids,” he said. “They’d love them.”

“Good idea. Want me to ask Abby to box up some?”

“Ah, no. I’ll do it.”

“Are you sure? It’s not a problem.”

“I said I’d ask,” he growled. I chuckled, and he relaxed in his seat. “You’re being an ass, Linc.”

I sipped my coffee. “Yep.”