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“Is there something you’d like to taste?” That sounded far less professional—and way dirtier—than I’d intended it to. “I mean…would you like to eat something?”
Shut up, shut up, shut up.
He hummed, uncrossing his arms and looking me up and down. “I really only stopped in for a coffee, but a taste sure does sound intriguing.”
Oh lord, fire. I was on fire. My face, my neck, my chest…lower. Pure fire.
“I recommend the éclairs,” I said, my voice way too low and breathy. “They’re a personal favorite.”
“That’s a lot ofsweetnessfirst thing in the morning. I’m not sure I can handle it.”
The way he said sweetness almost did me in. There was an odd sort of implication in that word, a promise of some kind. As if he knew he could handleitjust fine and wasn’t meaning the sugar rush. “You’ll never know unless you try.”
“You make a compelling argument.” He looked over the tray, humming again. “Tell you what. I’ll make you a deal—I’ll buy one of these delicious looking éclairs and a cup of coffee. I just drove into town and need a little somethingsweetbefore I get to work.”
“Of course. But what’s my part in the deal?”
“You can accompany me to dinner this evening.”
Not a question but not really a demand either. “Oh…I—”
I spun as Misty slammed through the kitchen door, the fox shifter no longer looking frazzled but definitely pissed off. “Give me your phone. I’ll text that asshole back for you. And he’d better not be expecting you to drop to your knees and…” Her eyes went wide, her mouth falling open as she looked over the man before me. “Shit. Sorry. I just—”
A rumble sounded, a vibration I couldn’t place. One that called to me, made me want to rub up against the man behind me and curl into his arms. I even took a step back as if to do just that…with a stranger. Acustomer.What was wrong with me?
At my tiny misstep, Misty crossed her arms, still staring at the customer even as the room went silent once more. Her eyebrow winged up high on her forehead, the look on her face one that I’d seen before. One that screamed attitude. “New in town?”
I looked back at the man in question just in time to see his lips quirk and his shoulder rise on a casual sort of shrug. “Here for the wedding.”
Of course he was. Which meant he wasn’t sticking around. A sad sort of cloud passed through me, one that made no sense. I didn’t know this man, and yet his leaving hurt as if we’d been friends for years. A fact that would probably make him think I was an absolute loon.
Not of the shifting variety—bird shifters were rare even in the Cove.
“I should get back to work,” I said, shaking the thought of men shifting into eagles and turkeys from my mind. “Misty, the gentleman would like an éclair and a coffee.”
She blinked, looking from me to him and back again. “If you say so.”
“Wait.” My silver fox grabbed my arm, his touch gentle but warm. “I probably didn’t ask properly, but it’s been a long time since I’ve done anything like this. I’d really like to see you again. Will you have dinner with me?”
Oh god, oh god. His eyes. They owned me, made me want to strip right there and do dirty things to him. Made me want to tell him yes to anything he wanted from me. But my brain threw up a roadblock…or twelve. “I don’t even know your name.”
Smooth, Coco. Real smooth.
“It’s Magnus.” He let go of my arm and held out a hand for me to take. “And you are?”
“Coco.” I grabbed the proffered hand, letting him tug me toward him. Gasping quietly when I was close enough to feel the heat rolling off his body.
“Fitting name for someone so delectable. Now, how about dinner?”
I couldn’t speak, could only nod, which seemed to be enough of an answer for him.
“Excellent. If I can just—”
“That no-good bastard of a man.” Ginger rolled into the bakery like a storm, not even giving Magnus or me a second glance. “How dare he text you out of the blue like that? I’m still for the fucking his dad plan, but I know you’ll want to be all responsible and polite and stuff. How we’re sisters, I have no idea. Well, hello there.”
She stopped, giving Magnus a smile most men would have fallen all over themselves for. I had to fight back the urge to jump in front of her.
I also had to fight back the urge to growl at her, but that was likely just a weird reaction to…something.
