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“You okay?” She put a hand on Kate’s arm.
“She just jealous. She wants another donut like me.”
Baylee shook her head. “Go get one, friend. It’s on me.”
Maggie took off for the counter. Baylee nodded to Eva who got a fresh plate while Maggie surveyed her choices in the case.
“So. What’s up?” Baylee turned her attention back to Kate.
Kate pulled her phone from her purse and tapped the screen. She handed it to Baylee. “This isn’t exactly how I wanted to tell you this, during a busy time while you’re at work on a Saturday. But Maggie dragged me in here and, quite honestly, you need to know.”
Baylee’s stomach dropped. Her immediate thought was something was wrong with Drew. She looked down at Kate’s phone. A photograph of her and Drew having dinner the other night at the nice restaurant was on the screen. Drew was leaning forward on the table, smiling at her. Her green dress stood out against the black and gray tones in the photo. Her back was to the camera but Drew’s face was clear.
She recalled that moment. She’d told him a story about how she and her sister had gotten into some red paint when her dad was working on their house. They were little and thought it would be fun to make art out of one another. Her mother had been furious and scrubbed them over and over again but their hair and skin stayed pink for a week. He’d listened with rapt attention, laughing at their shenanigans, his eyes crinkling at the corners from his smile.
The man took her breath away. It was a great photo.
She handed the phone back to Kate. “I don’t understand. How did you get this?”
“Someone posted it on twitter. It’s pretty much everywhere now. The world is wondering who the ‘blonde bombshell’ is with the hot pitcher for the New York Empires.”
Baylee’s heart rate sped up. Talking to Kate about this potentially happening was one thing. But having her picture out on the internet was another. Sure, it wasn’t of her face, but still. What Kate warned her about had begun. It wasn’t as if people would let it go. Or would they?
“It’s just one picture, Kate. And it doesn’t even show my face. I’m sure it will die out. By tomorrow there will be someone else in the sports world to talk about.”
Maggie returned with her donut.
Kate gave Baylee her best smile but her eyes said she wasn’t convinced. Quite frankly, neither was Baylee. Would it fade out? People would surely lose interest if they just ignored it.
The bell over the door jingled and Baylee turned to see Drew in the doorway. Based on the look on his face, he was as worried about things as Kate. Maybe more.
*
Drew walked intothe bakery and found Baylee talking to Kate and Maggie. By the look on her face, Kate had already talked to Baylee about the picture. He’d only found out about it himself that morning at training. He’d kept his phone off almost the entire time he was in Silver Bay, grateful to be disconnected for a while, but Tyler showed Drew the picture, asked him if this was the Adrian in his life he was talking about the other day. Drew didn’t answer. Just showered and got in his rental car as fast as he could. He wanted to talk to Baylee. He needed to talk to Baylee.
He nodded to his sister who did the same in return. She said something to Baylee who then excused herself from the table and came to meet him.
“Is there somewhere private we can talk?”
She nodded, then led him to the back of the store, through the kitchen and into a small office. He’d never been in the back of the bakery before. They spent all their time at her house. The kitchen was immaculately clean, except for the center island covered in flour with large silver bowls around full of dough. A woman with a Baylee’s Bakery apron on kneaded dough. He recognized her as Eva, the one Baylee said was a huge help to her. She smiled as they passed by but didn’t say anything.
Baylee closed the office door behind them for privacy. A large window looked out into the kitchen so Eva could see them but not hear them. She was engrossed in her task though. And Baylee trusted her. Drew knew that much.
“Are you okay?”
Baylee’s voice brought him back to the moment.
He nodded. Hell, he dealt with this crap all the time. He was worried about her. “I needed to see you.”
She stepped into his arms and wrapped her arms around his waist. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
He held her close, soaking in her warmth. “You’re not mad? Don’t wanna punch me?”
She pulled back and looked at him. “Why in the world would I be mad?”
“I know my sister. I’m guessing she already showed you the picture on social media. I’m so sorry, Baylee. I try hard to keep my private life private, but it’s so damn hard now with smartphones and cameras in everyone’s hands.” He stepped away from her and ran a hand through his hair.
He sat down on the edge of her desk, caught between relief she wasn’t angry and frustration over the situation. Now that the pic was out, the press would be asking about her. His twitter feed was already beginning to fill with questions from fans. His assistant was dealing with that, God bless her, but it was only going to get worse. The ball was rolling and it would only pick up speed.
