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Oh my God.Her chest warmed at his words. She’d missed him, too. After seeing him three days straight, it had been almost weird not having him tag along the night before to her book club. Of course, she’d planned on bailing on book club—she hadn’t read the book anyway—if he’d been available. “It was odd not seeing you, too,” she said, hoping she sounded casual, light.
He reached for his seat belt. “Tell me you don’t do these deliveries every morning, or I’m going to feel really guilty about having kept you out so late every night.”
She laughed as she pulled out of her parking spot behind the bakery. “No. Only a few times a week.” Though it wouldn’t have mattered. She wouldn’t have called it a night any earlier even if these grocery store dessert deliveries were a daily part of her mornings. They’d spent a lot of time together that past week and it still didn’t feel like enough. They were only scratching the surface of getting to know each other, but so far she liked everything she was discovering. His looks were a given turn-on, but his intellect and compassion were probably the sexiest parts about him.
Jessica had never dated anyone who checked off all the right boxes before. Unfortunately, his lack of a permanent home address put a red flag on his potential boyfriend résumé.
Not that he was applying for the job or anything.
He covered another yawn with his hand and she laughed. Early morning used to be tough on her, too, when she’d first opened the bakery, but now she woke without an alarm clock most days.
“You really didn’t have to do this,” she said.
“I told you—I want to experience small-town life. Your life.” He reached across the seat and took her hand in his. “You don’t need this to drive, do you?”
“Speed limit around here is only fifteen, we should be okay.” The feel of his strong, warm fingers interlaced with hers was one she was quickly getting used to. Something she’d quickly miss as well.
He glanced out the window. “Not to mention, it’s a ghost town at this time of morning.”
“I like it. Feeling like I’m the only one awake. It gets so crowded during the day with tourists that I enjoy the peacefulness of dawn.” Being one of the few people up so early on the empty streets made Jessica feel even closer to her hometown. Like she was experiencing a different side that others didn’t get a chance to see. A rare glimpse into the twilight hours when the world was still sleeping.
“Once I can keep my eyes open, I’ll probably agree,” Mitch said with a grin.
“Really not a morning person, huh?” He was cute when he was tired and grumpy. What would it be like to wake up next to him? Would he still be adorably grumbly or would she be able to lure him into a better mood?
“Not unless there’s a really good reason to be awake,” he said, as though he’d read her mind, his gaze burning into hers. His expression said he wouldn’t mind being woken up by her.
She swallowed hard and turned her attention back to the road before she swerved into the other lane.
A block later, she pulled into the lot of Supersave Groceries. Seeing old Mr. Parsons waving as he opened the loading dock door in the back of the store, she blushed at the inappropriate thoughts she’d just been having.
“First stop?” Mitch asked, unbuckling his seat belt and pushing his sweatshirt sleeves up to his elbows.
“Yep.” She climbed out of the van and opened the back, then reached inside for the crate of boxed cinnamon rolls. Mitch joined her, and she stacked three crates onto his outstretched arms, enjoying the sight of the straining forearms just a little too much.
Damn, he was hot.
“Morning Jess, you have a helper today,” Mr. Parsons said, approaching the van. Dressed in his grocer smock and his old L.A. Rams baseball hat on his head, the man could pass for fifty or eighty. It was impossible to tell his age. He’d run the grocery store since Jessica was a kid and he looked the same age now as he did back then.
Having Mitch around while she worked probably wasn’t the most professional decision she’d ever made. But he was there to work. This wasn’t a date. Even though he’d held her hand and flirted with her. “Yes, you remember Dr. Jameson?” she asked as he reached inside the van for a tray of cookies.
“It’s just Mitch,” he said, following the older man into the back stockroom of the store.
“I do remember you,” Mr. Parsons said. “I believe you stocked shelves for me back in the late nineties.”
“That I did…when Jess was still in daycare,” he said.
She laughed as she grabbed the last crate of muffins and joined them inside. He’d asked her several times if their age difference was an issue, but it really wasn’t. She could definitely vouch for Lia’s relationship advice she’d given her a few months before about dating older men—Mitch was the most mature and centered man she’d ever dated. Also kind, caring, sweet, charming, sexy as hell…an amazing kisser…
She blinked as both men stared at her. She’d missed something. “I’m sorry, what?”
Mr. Parsons laughed. “My invoice?”
“Oh right. Here you go.” She reached into her pocket and handed him the invoice.
“Thanks, Jess.” He tucked it into his smock. “Hey, did Amber come see you yet?”
She frowned. “Your granddaughter?”
