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Kane was Winnie’s husband, he was also her brother’s business partner and best friend. There’d been some drama when they first got together, but after Winnie was assaulted at the diner one awful morning it didn’t seem to be such a big deal anymore.
“How’s the morning sickness lately?” I had no idea how she was able to keep up with her busy diner while she’d been sick. Certain food smells had been triggering for her and that was a real bitch when your livelihood depended on serving it to customers.
“I don’t want to jinx myself but it seems to have disappeared. I even ate bacon this morning which shocked the hell out of Kane. That man may be a health nut most of the time but he loves his breakfast meats, I think he cried a little when I told him I was craving it.”
We giggled together. She and Kane had loved each other from afar for years before they finally got together, I loved seeing how happy they were, now.
“I have a bit of an ulterior motive for my visit,” Winnie began sheepishly.
“Jo has planned this girls’ day at a spa for us and she keeps calling it a bridal shower. When I remind her I’m already married, she just growls and blames it on Kane ‘selfishly rushing me to the altar.’ It’s nothing big, just me, Jo and I was hoping you’d be able to come as well.”
Winnie’s pleading smile had me wanting to say yes. But the balance of my bank account was a cold reality I couldn’t ignore. Every penny I had was going toward rent for my small apartment and expenses to get my bakery up and running. There was no wiggle room for any luxuries and a day at the spa would be just that.
Winnie must have seen the denial on my face because she quickly added, “Did I mention it’s free? It’s the grand opening and Jo somehow got us all in for complimentary massages.”
A massage sounded absolutely amazing. My body ached all over from the work I’d been doing around here. “What the hell, who am I to pass up a free massage?”
“Yay!” she shouted, throwing her arms around me and bouncing on her toes. “We’ll swing by your place on Saturday and pick you up. Jo assured me there would be alcohol for the two of you and that way I can drive us all home if you want to have a drink.”
I waved goodbye to my friend as she left and watched her walk next door, presumably to go see her husband at work. Visiting your spouse on your lunch break seemed so normal, I didn’t know if I’d ever be able to have normal. There had never been any romantic partners in my life before or after I left home, I was too worried about survival.
Now that I was settled in Little Falls and building a new life, maybe it was time to start thinking about putting myself out there. Jo used those popular dating apps, even though most of the men she met sounded absolutely atrocious. It would be an easy way to meet someone with my busy schedule.
I fired off a quick text to her asking for her help setting up a profile, before I could lose my nerve. She responded almost immediately…
YES!!!!
Anxiousness consumed me, but I couldn’t take it back now. Determined to keep moving forward with my new life, I put my phone in my pocket to avoid telling her to forget it and resumed my scrubbing.
* * *
Leaningon my cart for support, I turned the corner and pushed into the cereal aisle.
Everything hurt. My body felt like I’d been training for a triathlon instead of what I’d actually been doing all week, patching drywall, painting, scrubbing ovens and floors. Some ibuprofen and a long hot bath were calling my name, but unfortunately, I had zero food in my apartment and that meant I had to go grocery shopping before I could get some rest.
I reached for my favorite cereal and noticed that it was two for one. I’d have done a happy dance right there in the store if I didn’t think I would collapse in pain. Opening a business wasexpensive.Any money I brought in went right into my bakery. Therefore, my meals consisted of anything I could get on the cheap.
Dumping both boxes into my empty cart, I halted moving forward when I heard my name shouted in a squealing voice. Turning toward the sound, I saw Winnie’s niece, Daisy, streaking up the aisle to me.
She had a radiant smile on her precious face and her outfit consisted of a pink leotard, a fluffy white tutu and pink cowboy boots. She was the most adorable thing I’d ever seen and a genuine smile stretched my lips when she gave me a hug.
“Fancy seeing you here, sweet girl. Will you be performing for all the grocery shoppers tonight?”
Daisy giggled, “No, silly, I just got done with ballet class and Daddy said we had to come here to find something for dinner because if he orders pizza again, he thinks the owner will call CPS.” I belted out a laugh before I could stop myself.
“Daisy, what have I told you about running off in the middle of the store?” her father chastised as he joined us, wrapping an enormous arm around her little shoulders.
My mouth went completely dry. I’d appreciated how good he looked in his work attire but Grayson James in casual clothing was a visual I hadn’t known I needed.
He wore a tight, plain t-shirt that gave me glorious views of his expansive chest and arms with navy basketball shorts. Every inch of him was toned and muscular, I could even see the edges of a tattoo peeking out of his sleeve and I found myself desperate to know what he would want permanently marked on his body. Maybe Mr. Perfect had a bad boy side?
“I’m sorry, Daddy. But I saw Lily and I wanted to say hi.” Daisy’s bottom lip poked out and I had the feeling it got her out of a lot of trouble when it came to her father.
The stern look he’d been giving her lifted as his eyes shifted from his daughter to me and a smile bloomed on his handsome face.
“Ah, good to see you again, Lily.” I waved at him stupidly, making his smile spread even wider.
“I’m not the only one who forgot to do their shopping until it was time to eat.” He glanced into my cart at my lonely boxes of cereal. “Is that what you’re planning for dinner?”
