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I rolled my eyes and gave him a playful glare. “You mean, you don’t want Gus to know you’re eating this much sugar?”
“Exactly.”
“I understand,” I told him, and his shoulders sagged in relief. “But I don’t lie to my friends.”
Oliver shrugged. “Worth a shot.”
I shook my head and rang up his order with a smile, and that’s when I saw him: a tall figure with broad shoulders and a thick mass of chestnut hair that I would recognize anywhere.
Casey.
He was always the most good-looking man in the room, even when he was just a boy. He was modest, had no idea he was as gorgeous as he was, and sweet as my cherry pie. Looking at him now in a worn jeans and a faded T-shirt, you’d never guess he was the golden boy of Jackson’s Ridge. The great-great grandson of the town’s founders, his name was emblazoned on half the businesses and buildings in town, but Casey shrugged it off as no big deal. It only made me love him more.
I handed Oliver his order with a smile and he was on his way. My heart raced at the sight of Casey standing in line, chatting amiably with every single person who stopped to say hello. He kept his distance with the women who didn’t respect our relationship, but he was never rude.
“Hey, handsome.”
His mouth bloomed into a wide grin, and he leaned over the counter with a flirtatious glint in his eye.
“Hello, gorgeous.” Then his lips were on mine, the kiss too short but hot enough to melt my veins at the same time. “Missed you.”
I practically melted at his words and leaned into him. “Missed you, too. What can I get you?”
“More of that cheesecake you left the other day. It was delicious.”
I beamed at his compliment. “Thanks, babe. Anything else?”
“A big cup of hazelnut coffee, and another of those kisses if you have any left.”
I tossed my head back and laughed. “I’ve got plenty of those stocked up, just for you.” I batted my eyelashes, heat flaring. My thighs clenched and I licked my lips. “I’ll bring it out to you.”
He winked and brushed another kiss to my lips before he found a table near the window. I rushed through the next several orders, eager to have a few moments with Casey even if they weren’t private or intimate.
“Hey, Megan, need some help up here?” The teenage part-timer poked his head out of the kitchen with a knowing grin.
“That would be great, Tommy. Casey dropped in and I could use a break.”
“Go on, I can handle any stragglers and the muffins for the council meeting just went in the oven.” Tommy pushed the door open and removed the heavy-duty apron he wore before replacing it with a branded Sweet Treats apron. “Go. I’ve got it, I promise.”
“Thanks, Tommy.” I took a minute to grab Casey’s order and remove my own apron, making my way to his table with a swing in my hips. “Did somebody order more kisses?”
He smiled up at me and my heart fluttered. “Come here, you.” Casey wrapped his arms around me and pulled me onto his lap, kissing me like we were long lost lovers. “Damn, that’s hot.”
I winked and kissed him again. “You’re hot,” I told him and took the chair across from him. “How are you?”
“Good.” He sighed and rested his chin in his hand, staring at me like I was the greatest thing in the world. “I’m operating on a VIP patient day after tomorrow.”
“VIP? Fancy. Do you know who it is?”
“Not yet, probably not until the day of the surgery. But I convinced Suzie that this surgery was too important to have my schedule off balanced, and tomorrow is my last overnight shift.”
I gasped, shocked and excited and happy. “Really?”
“Yep.”
“That’s great, Case! Now I can go to sleep wrapped up in your arms.” I sighed and smiled across the table, suddenly feeling lighter. Happier. Like whatever this weird funk was, it would be behind us soon enough.
“And we won’t be too tired for other things.” Casey wiggled his eyebrows, and the goofy move pulled a smile out of me.
“Definitely.”
“What about you? What’s new? How’s the rhubarb cheesecake selling?”
“Fantastic!” I launched into a long, excited word salad about cheesecake bites and the big order for the Founder’s Day Festival. “It’s a big opportunity and I want to do my best.”
“You always do your best. Don’t worry about that.”
I laughed again. “You’re just saying that because I keep you plied with sugar.”
“Sugar and sex,” he added with a sexy grin.
“Speaking of, I’m heading into Eugene for some pre-anniversary shopping. Should I plan something?”
“No,” he growled, his face twisted into a frown. “I’ve got it.”
I laid a wary, sympathetic hand on top of my husband’s and frowned. “You’ve been so busy, I just wanted to take it off your plate.”
