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Damon pulled away from the curb, and Adam entered the shop, the smell of freshly baked muffins and scones filling his senses.
“Good morning,” Lily shouted from the back. She walked out wiping her hands on a cloth. “Are you exempt from the famous party? Surprise, surprise, Dan invited me to go with him, so I’ll hustle to get my work done.”
“Look, you are entitled to have a life. You go to the party. I, on the other hand, really don’t have to go. Ha! Lucky me. Alison is ready to kill, but she understands. Saturday makes the difference financially every week, that much we’ve figured out. And I’m not letting Carmen run the place alone. I can’t even imagine the chaos.”
“Ha, no, I agree. Let me get back to work.”
She went back into the kitchen, and all she could think of was Dan. Gentle Dan, considerate Dan, Dan the lover man. Shivering, she shook her head. The things he did to her, she didn’t think she’d ever have that again. Her phone beeped just as she pulled a tray of oatmeal cookies out of the oven.
“Hey, what’s my beautiful girl doing?”
Closing her eyes, she wondered if this was really happening, or if he was teasing her.
“I’m baking cookies,” she said. “And I’m not eating one.”
“Don’t abstain on my account. I like you just the way you are.”
“Well, I guess I have to take your word for it,” she said, giggling. “What are you doing?”
“Did you ask Adam yet if you can ditch that place for the party of the year?”
“I did, and he’s all for it. I’m baking up a storm and will be done here by noon. I’ll meet you at one over there, okay?”
“No, I’ll pick you up. You need to give your landlord notice, too. It’s almost the end of the month. Tell him your attorney said due to the unresolved bug issue, you’re leaving now.”
She was laughing so hard, she had to put down the next tray she was trying to stick in the oven.
“Dan, my apartment doesn’t have bugs.”
“Pretend. I’ll plant some.”
“I’ll just give the guy thirty days. That way, if you get sick of me in a week like you usually do, I’ll have a place to go back to.”
“Well, that’s not going to happen. Trust me. I’m older now than I was the last time we were together. This is the new improved Dan Chua.”
“Okay, if you say so,” she said. “I’d better get back to work.”
“See you at one,” he said. “Kisses.”
He made kissing sounds, which both tickled her and charmed her.
“One it is.”
Adam came in then. “So are you getting serious?”
“We are. I know I said it would never happen because he hurt me once when I was a kid. But we’re seeing each other again, so maybe this time it’s a charm.”
“He’s a great guy, Lily. I’m happy for you. I’m glad he’s settling down, too. He’s got a couple of great kids.”
“Yeah, the kid thing is an issue we haven’t really talked much about. You married a girl with a big family. How’s that working for you?”
“It’s fine. I have to deal with the baby daddies. The doctor is fine; he loves Diana and is respectful to me. Ryan is Ryan. You know Ryan. He does the best he can.”
“Wait. Ryan is Morgan’s father?”
“Yes, you didn’t know that?”
“Ryan’s Alison’s brother, isn’t he?”
