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“Do you like it?”
Was she nervous? Standing there abusing her lip and drumming her fingers on the counter.
“Like it? Shit woman, this is the best thing I’ve eaten in ages. Where’d you buy these?”
There she went getting all pink again. Damn, the blush was just too cute. LJ had never been one to go for the innocent type, hell, he was an outlaw biker for fuck’s sake. Not to mention other parts of his past and present that didn’t attract innocent girls. Those types of women did not come with the territory, but this one had a wholesome air of purity around her that was drawing him in.
“I made it,” she said in a near whisper.
“No shit?”
She laughed. “No shit. I’m a pastry chef.”
Oh man. A sexy neighbor who carried a bottle opener, had some sass to her, looked like sex in clothes, and was a pastry chef. He was seriously fucked. “You opening a bakery in town or anything?”
Her phone buzzed from the counter, and she grabbed it, firing off a quick text with a frown.
“Sorry.” She rolled her eyes. “Overprotective parents checking to make sure I’m not in a ditch somewhere.” Holly sighed. “Anyway, opening a bakery is my goal, eventually. I don’t have the capital for it right now, but I’ve been building an online business. Custom cakes, desserts for events, things like that. But even that’s getting tricky.”
“How come?”
“Well,” she chuckled and gave him a sheepish smile. “I’m sure you’re not interested in talking about my work issues. I’ve probably kept you long enough. Thank you for your help.”
She went to place the lid on the Tupperware, but he caught her wrist before she completed the task. God, that soft skin…if it was that smooth on her arm, he couldn’t imagine the satin he’d discover under her clothing.
Her gaze shot to his and they stared at each other for a few seconds before he said. “I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t want to know. Once you get to know me, you’ll find out I’m not one to waste my time on bullshit I don’t care about. Okay?”
“Uh, okay.” She blinked and stared at his hand on her arm. The one where his thumb was stroking her skin.
“So tell me about it.”
“Well, the problem is two-fold. First, this kitchen is too small to keep up with my orders. And second, it can be hard to get a license for a home bakery if you own a dog. Unless you can prove the dog will never be in the cooking space.”
As if he knew he was the topic of conversation, Biscuit wandered over and nudged LJ’s hand. LJ obliged the handsome guy with a good scratch behind his ears.
Holly rolled her eyes. “And as you can see, keeping him away from this space is not gonna happen.”
The second he stopped rubbing, Biscuit whined and nudged his hand again. “So what are you gonna do?” He went for a third little cheesecake and Holly just fucking beamed.
“I used my parent’s kitchen for an online business before moving here, so I have a little saved up. I’ll probably rent time from a commercial kitchen. Sometimes churches rent out time in their kitchens, or restaurants that close earlier let bakers rent time and space after hours. That kind of thing.”
The wheels in LJ’s head started to turn. “Well, pretty girl, I better get going. Gotta double my run now to make up for all this sugar.”
“Yeah, I’m never gonna apologize for that. In fact, living next to me, you’re pretty much doomed to become my guinea pig.”
“Sugar, you can experiment on me anytime.”
Her eyes widened; the double meaning not lost on her.
Chuckling to himself, LJ leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her cheek as he swiped a cheesecake for the road. “See ya around, sugar. Thanks for the sweets.”
“Oh, uh, of course.” She blinked and raised a hand to her red cheek. Biscuit trotted after him to the door. As he opened it to leave, Holly seemed to snap out of her trance. “Thanks for the muscle!” she called out.
Once he was outside and away from all the sugary goodness—both the dessert and the woman—LJ fished his phone out of the zip pocket in his running shorts. “Hey, Z,” he said after his club’s enforcer picked up on the third ring.
“LJ! Hey, brother, glad to hear your voice. We were wondering if you survived the night.” Zach said. There was a loud clanking in the background. Zach must be at work. He owned the local gym in town and did some seriously great business.
“I’m still kicking…barely.”
Zach laughed. “How many women did you wake up with this morning?”
That would be none. Because he never woke up with a woman. In order for them to wake up in his bed or vice versa, he’d have to fall asleep with them, and there was no way in hell that was happening. One disaster on that front was enough to last him a lifetime.
