Don't Go Baking My Heart

“Of course not. I’m just pushing your buttons because it’s fun.” She reached into her bag and pulled out a familiar piece of paper. It looked wrinkled—like it had been folded and unfolded a few times. “What does this mean? Why did you give this to me?”

So she had read it. Explaining his thought process to others was never something he enjoyed. They either didn’t get it or thought it was odd. “Sometimes I have to write things down to process the jumble of things I’m experiencing.” Emotions. They’re called emotions, buddy. “This is what came out in that moment.”

“Beautiful chaos? Is that how you see me?”

“Yes.”

“It’s pretty. Kind of.” She folded back the piece of paper. “I should have told you thank you immediately. It’s better than how a lot of people see me.”

“Their loss.”

Reba took a deep breath, all playfulness vanishing as she put the paper back into her bag. “So, Cherisse offered me a manager role for the new Sweethand location that’ll be opening next year.”

“That’s amazing.” She didn’t look as thrilled as he’d expected, her frown at odds with the good news. “It is amazing, isn’t it?”

“Definitely. I just don’t know if I want the promotion.”

“Why wouldn’t you?”

“I’m not qualified for that? I don’t have a degree. My experience is hands-on and not manager level at all.”

Devon frowned. Did she really think she wasn’t worthy of this role? “Other than Cherisse, I assume you’re the person that knows everything about Sweethand. Don’t you handle the social accounts? Plus, didn’t you tell me you basically ran those executives’ lives at your previous jobs? Why wouldn’t that qualify you for a manager position?”

“I, well…when you say it like that. There’re so many expectations that come with a title like that. What if I suck at it? I can’t let Cherisse down. I should stick with what I know I excel at.”

“A list would come in handy here.” He grinned at the face she made. He was only partially joking. His lists might have backfired where relationships were concerned, but otherwise, they worked quite well in helping him parse out his thoughts. “A pros and cons list.”

“I can try that, I suppose.”

He leaned back. “See, we make a good team. Look at us learning from each other.”

“Yeah, that.” Her sober expression didn’t change. If anything, it got more serious. “I need to think about that, too. You, me…us? It doesn’t have to be awkward, these last baking sessions, while I figure some shit out. It’s just to fine-tune the process. The baking process, I mean, not…” She gestured between them.

“I understood you, don’t worry. Will you come to Dax’s birthday party with me still, or is that asking too much?”

“The yacht thing?”

“Oh, he told you about that? But no, I meant the public event for everyone. The boat is private. I don’t know that I can do either without you there. I’m not good at these things, as you saw.”

“It’s the perfect chance to practice without me.”

“Ah, so that’s a no, then? But you’ll be there for the bake-off?”

“I can guarantee the contest appearance, yes.”

“Okay.”

Reba got to her feet. “I should go then.”

“If you must.”

He led her to the door. She paused before turning back to him. “I’ve never been wooed before,” she said softly. “It’s not so bad. I just…maybe I’ll make a pros and cons list for you too.”

“Well, it would serve me right, wouldn’t it?”

That earned him a small smile. “See you this weekend.” She planted a quick kiss on his cheek, looking shocked after as if she hadn’t planned to do that. “Uh, yeah, sorry, you hate surprises.”

He reached for her wrist and brought her hand up to press against his chest. “Feel that? I think I’m not doing so bad on those kinds of surprises.”