Page 56 of Dr. Sexypants

As I stood behind the bakery display case helping customers, a certain black Jeep pulling into a parking space out front caught my eye.

My stupid heart skipped a beat at the thought of seeing Justin. We’d gotten together for sexy times Monday afternoon before he went to the hospital, and I hadn’t seen him since.

I told myself that was a good thing, but I found myself missing his company more than I cared to admit.

The overhead bell jingled when he walked through the door, and he caught my eye and smiled wide. I had to force myself to stay behind the counter and not go throw my arms around him in the middle of the bakery.

Lainey noticed where my attention had gone and looked over at me with a knowing smirk.

“Someone’s a smitten kitten.”

I glared back at her. “Who? Because it sure as heck isn’t me.”

“Yeah, sure. Whatever you say, Cleopatra.”

I knew she was suggesting I was the Queen of Denial. Maybe I was, and I was going to deny that, too.

I ignored her teasing and focused on the next person in line. With my best customer service smile, I said, “What can I get for you today, Granny O’Brien?”

She looked wistfully over at Justin and remarked, “I don’t suppose he’s on the menu.”

I angled my body to look up at the overhead menu board before replying, “I don’t see ‘handsome doctor’ anywhere.”

“It’s just as well,” she said with a sigh. “I’d probably wear him out.”

I didn’t know whether to laugh or be impressed, so I simply agreed with her. “I bet you would, Granny O’Brien.”

“Besides,” she said with a twinkle in her eye. “I hear you’ve taken him off the market.”

“Oh, don’t believe everything you hear.”

At that, she stood up taller, her eyebrows raised. “So, he’s available then? Because my granddaughter’s friend, Emily, would be perfect for him.”

I wasn’t sure if she was purposefully trying to get under my skin or if it was being innocently done. But everything I knew about Granny O’Brien told me it was on purpose.

“You’ll have to ask Dr. Weaver about his availability. Do you know what you’d like? That’s on the menu.”

“I’ll have a cinnamon roll and a cappuccino.”

I grabbed a plate and a pair of tongs and bent down to reach one of the cinnamon rolls in the display case. When I stood up, I felt a hand on my hip and a deep voice I’d come to know well softly say, “Hello, beautiful.”

And dammit, I found myself smiling even as I scolded, “Employees only behind the counter, sir.”

Granny O’Brien looked over at me with pursed lips that seemed to say, “Don’t believe everything I hear, huh?” but then she directed her attention to Justin. “So, Dr. Weaver, what’s your relationship status these days?”

He quickly cast his glance my way before replying, “Um… I’m not sure what you mean? I’m not married.”

“But are you single?”

He looked at me again. “Uh… I’m, um, not looking to date anyone right now.”

“Because you’re dating Kristy.”

It was a statement, not a question.

I held my breath as I waited for him to respond. He gave my hip a subtle squeeze before telling her, “I am.”

Part of me wanted to shout, “So you can tell Emily to suck it!” while another part of me felt a sense of panic in my gut.