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“Fine.” She came over to the drink station and stood next to Leighton. “We have to be quick because Dino Dan needs his dry cap.”
“How did he get that name?” Leighton asked quietly. Dan was standing a few feet away, but their proximity to each other allowed the private conversation. It also made Jamie highly aware of Leighton’s arm touching hers.Here we go again. Her body shot to attention. She’d had sex on the brain lately, and every fantasy starred Leighton.
“He has this green shirt with an outline of a brachiosaurus on the pocket. Well, at least he used to.”
“One shirt and you’re dino branded for life.”
“I don’t make the rules, Leighton.”
“At least I’m not Bambi’s Mother anymore.”
Jamie paused. “How do you know you’re not?”
“Less flirting, more coffee,” Genevieve called playfully from behind her laptop.
“No! We’re not—” Jamie rushed to explain, hooking a thumb at Leighton. “She has someone. A girlfriend. We’re just having a lesson.” Her cheeks were flaming. Fantastic.
Genevieve raised a brow. “Is that what they call it now? There’s more steam over there than the steaming wand could ever provide.”
“You behave,” Leighton told Genevieve.
Genevieve gasped. “Admonished by Bambi’s Mother.”
“See?” Jamie said. “Still a thing.”
What had started off as a difficult day had blossomed into a truly fun afternoon. After a proper lesson, Jamie even let Leighton make a few supervised drinks. To her credit, she was a fast study, biting her bottom lip in concentration, which Jamie found hard to look away from.
A lightbulb seemed to pop on over Leighton’s head. “Hey, you didn’t tell me about the date last night.”
“Right. That.” Marjorie was visiting her sister in Connecticut, which gave Jamie the leeway to speak freely without the report getting directly back to Tegan. “I like her. A lot. But I had a rough day before our date, which might have shown through. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was put off by my red-rimmed eyes and lack of full focus.”
“Uh-uh.” She shook her head. “None of that matters. She’ll get to see the real you next time.”
“How do you know there’ll be one? She might be done with me.”
Leighton leaned back against the counter. “No one is turning down a second date with you, Jamie,” she said quietly. “Trust me.” She straightened and went immediately back to the drink station, leaving Jamie standing there with a comment that made her arms and legs feel like Jell-O.
“Thank you,” she murmured, unsure whether anyone heard her. She turned and watched Leighton quietly wipe down the machine, just the way Jamie had taught her. Her heart squeezed, she closed her eyes, and right on cue that burst of longing that always accompanied thoughts of Leighton nearly toppled her. She gave her head a shake, changing the direction of her thoughts, purposefully running from the dead-end feelings.Distract. Distract. Distract.She reached for the waxed paper bags and went about packaging the newest batch of doughnuts.
Later that night, she sat on Clarissa’s couch, letting the hectic day fall off her as her friend worked on her laptop, updating the monthly inventory for De Colores.
“Aaanddone!” She set the laptop aside. “Did you kiss?”
Jamie popped her head up. “More specific.”
“On your date, weirdo. I just finished work, and I’d love to be rewarded with a sexy detail about the best first date ever. Was it that?”
“Not quite. No kissing. There was Thai food and get-to-know-you conversation. I’d like to go out again, but the ball’s in her court. Mymom and I were crying over Dad just before, and it carried over. I was a scattered little mess.”
Clarissa took her hand. “Grief never really fades for too long, does it?”
“No. It’s the worst. I still wait for him to call and ask me over for his famous chicken noodle soup. It’s strange.” She shrugged, feeling the emotion well again. “Anyway. Tegan was great. She loves animals and wine. Two of my favorites.”
“Right. Well, that’s something.” A pause. “And why haven’t you just been honest with yourself about what else might be holding you back from giving the date your all?”
“I already told you what it was.” Jamie sat up. “Where is this headed?” She narrowed her gaze.
“I think it might be time to admit there’s a beautiful elephant in the room who you will never be able to let go of.”
