AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Emily’s face falls slightly and she cocks her head. “Are you okay, Daisy? You look a little…I don’t know. Off.”
“I’m good.” I smile at her. “Sorry, I think I’m just tired.”
“Okay, if you’re sure.” Emily squeezes my shoulder. “How was your first day working with Jake?”
“Yeah, he did fine. No problems.”
“That’s good.” Emily smiles sadly. “Honestly, I was pretty happy with just the two of us working here together. But with the bakery and Axel and the kids, I just don’t have time to help you here as much as I want to. I hope Jake makes things easier for you.”
I give her a one-armed hug as I pull my coat on. Emily is more than just a boss; she’s become my best friend over the years I’ve been working for her. She’s so warm and kind, and just like me, she’s a curvy girl. Unlike me, she totally rocks it and loves her curves, and she’s always trying to help me do the same. I’d be lost without her.
“What are your plans this evening?” Emily asks when I release her from my embrace.
“Brett is going to meet me outside in a few minutes. We’re getting pizza. What about you?”
“Pizza sounds good. I’m staying in with Axel and the kids. One of our quiet nights in.” Emily smiles like she always does when she talks about her family. She’s crazy about her husband, and he adores her too—he often comes in during the day just to see his wife, and he looks at her like she’s the only woman in the whole world. It’s so damn cute.
“Well, have a great night,” I tell her once I’m bundled up and ready to leave.
Emily pulls me into another quick hug as we say our goodbyes, and she waves as I head out of the cake shop and into the freezing air outside. I catch sight of Brett already rounding a corner and walking toward me right on time.
“Ready for pizza, Daisy?” he calls to me.
“You bet.”
I smile at the sight of him, my grumpy big brother with his hands buried in his coat pockets. Even with the promise of pizza, he looks frowny.
“You had a good day?” he asks when he reaches me.
“Yeah.” My stomach somersaults as I continue. “I, uh, I saw Lincoln today actually.”
I’m glad that it’s dark out so early because it hides the way my cheeks burn as I say his name. Brett never knew about my crush on his best friend back when I was a kid, and I don’t want him to know now either.
“Oh, yeah?” Brett says, taking my arm as we walk together away from the cake shop. “He’s sure changed a lot. On the outside, anyway.”
“You mean the beard?”
Brett grunts, gesturing at his own facial hair. “Mine’s better.”
“Keep telling yourself that,” I tease.
We’re just about to turn the corner away from the cake shop toward the pizzeria when Brett stops in his tracks, looking at something across the street. I follow his gaze, and my stomach turns to mush when I see what he’s looking at.
“Talk of the devil,” Brett mutters. “That’s Lincoln’s truck.”
3
Lincoln
Shit.
They’ve seen me.
I didn’t plan on spending the last thirty minutes staring at the cake shop waiting for Daisy to come out, but somehow, I couldn’t bring myself to start up my truck and drive away. I just needed one more glimpse of her. So I sat here waiting. Watching. When she finally appeared, I felt like my heart was in my mouth, and all I could do was stare. Even when Brett showed up, I couldn’t take my eyes off his gorgeous sister. I don’t know what the hell I was thinking, and now they’ve caught me acting like a crazy stalker.
I try to pretend like I haven’t seen them. Like I wasn’t sitting out here waiting for Daisy. But they’re already walking toward my truck.
Fuck.
