“Tomorrow,” I say, barely able to talk.
His eyes drop to my mouth. This is it. He’s going to kiss me!
My first kiss ever. I’m so happy I waited for this perfect moment.
“Charlotte!”
Oh crap.
Almost perfect moment.
“Charlotte, how was your first day?”
Aunt Tracy is standing at the front door, watching us. She’s completely oblivious to the perfect moment she just ruined.
“It was great, Aunt Tracy,” I call back to her.
I look at Malcolm with an apologetic look as he releases my hand and waves to my aunt.
“Hi, Tracy,” he says with a wave. “Your niece is a natural baker!”
I shake my head and laugh. There’s never been a more ridiculous statement than that ever uttered in the history of mankind.
When Tracy doesn’t go back inside, it’s clear the moment is over. There will be no kiss.
Not now anyway.
Tomorrow maybe? I’ll just have to wait and see…
“Goodbye, Charlotte,” Malcolm says in that smooth sexy voice that always creates a throb between my legs whenever I hear him say my name.
“Goodbye, Malcolm.”
I just stand there like a dope as he walks away. He doesn’t take five steps before he looks over his shoulder and smiles at me.
I’m in love. It’s official.
My head feels like it’s floating in the clouds as I walk inside and Aunt Tracy assaults me with a barrage of questions. I only hear about ten percent of them.
My head is too busy spinning with thoughts of Malcolm.
I can’t believe I’m actually starting to like this small town.
And I really can’t believe that I’m excited to go to work tomorrow.
I’m already counting the minutes…
CHAPTER FIVE
Charlotte
* * *
The bakery is packed on the weekend. There are a ton of customers and Malcolm and I are busting our asses to get everything ready.
Luckily, we’re not the only staff working today. There’s a whole team on the weekend and they all know what they’re doing, bouncing around the kitchen like Santa’s elves the week before Christmas. It’s very overwhelming and when I’m feeling like I might start hyperventilating, I run into the back pantry to catch my breath.
“You okay?” Malcolm asks as he peeks his head in.
A big goofy smile forms on my face despite myself. Can’t you at least try to play it cool around this guy?
I wouldn’t be surprised if my irises turn into little hearts whenever I look at him. Today he’s wearing a gray shirt that clings to his chest in the most irresistible way. I spent ten minutes this morning contemplating whether I’d rather lick his chest or curl up into it. The jury is still out…
“I’m great!” I lie. “Just needed a second.”
“Weekends are always crazy,” he says as he comes in and sits on a pile of huge flour bags. “You’ll get used to it.”
“I feel so incompetent here.” I don’t know what it is, but the truth always spills out with this guy. I can’t seem to keep it in. “I don’t think I’m going to be very good at this job.”
“Give yourself a break. It’s only your second day.”
“I guess,” I shrug. My eyes drop to his Air Jordan’s that are always somehow spotless.
He comes over and my pulse races when I smell that intoxicating scent of his cologne. I swallow hard as he puts his hand on my arm. His touch ignites something inside of me. It’s electric. It wants more.
I drag my eyes up his flat stomach, over his hard chest, to his gorgeous face and those stunning green eyes that always get me going. He’s looking at me with such intensity. Such need. My cheeks immediately start blushing under that possessive gaze.
“You can do anything you want to, Charlotte Oberman,” he says in that deep assured voice that never fails to stir my insides up. He says it with such confidence and certainty that I almost believe him. “You are a strong, intelligent, beautiful woman and this town is lucky to have you, this bakery is lucky to have you, and I’m lucky to have you.”
God, I want him to have me. In so many ways…
He leans in and my lips part. My body moves toward him like we’re two magnets destined to be drawn to one another for the rest of eternity.
That soft strong hand touches my cheek and my eyes fall closed.
yes… kiss me… please…
A little moan slides out of my mouth as I feel his soft thumb run along my cheek.
“You have some cherry sauce here,” he says in a deep throaty voice as he scrapes it off.
I open my eyes just in time to see him put his thumb to his lips and suck the sauce off, his heated eyes on me the entire time.
My knees nearly buckle as I watch the sexy sight.
“Delicious,” he whispers as he steps in, looking like he wants another taste.
I’m on fire for this man. I want him to taste me. I want him to take me. I want it so fucking badly. It’s all I can think about.