The Introvert's Guide to Online Dating (The Introvert's Guide 1)

“I care.”

“Well, then care about the fact you’re a good kid.”

“I’m almost twenty-eight. I stopped being a kid ten years ago.”

“Until you have arthritis in your fingers and need help standing up when you bend over, you’re a kid.” She kissed my cheek. “Now go, before you’re late for your meeting. But if you happen to see any Red Vines in the store next time you go…”

“I’ll buy them all and bring them for you.” I grinned, hugging her one more time before I said goodbye and slipped out before everything went insane.

I darted out of the senior home, thankfully without seeing Colton again, and all but ran to my car. There, I locked my doors, turned on the engine, and dropped my forehead against the top of the steering wheel.

Why was my mother so goddamn useless?

Why was Colton so goddamn hot?

Why was I not able to get my shit together?

Well, that last question was a whole ass rabbit hole I was not getting into in a parking lot.

I sat up, steeled myself, and backed out of my parking space. I really did need to go home and get to work on finishing the website for my new client, but my stomach was telling me I needed carbs and sugar.

I was a woman, so I listened to that need and headed for Piper’s bakery instead.

She wasn’t open yet, but I knew for a fact she was at the bakery testing out things she wanted to sell, and I also knew she’d open the door for me.

Hey, if we had our meeting now, I’d kill two birds with one stone.

I made the short drive and pulled up on the street, sliding into a rare parking space that told me the universe was ready for me to have this conversation. I grabbed my purse and got out of the car, heading for the bakery a few stores down, right on the corner.

She’d painted it white and put pink awnings with a cupcake printed on over the windows and doors, and I just knew that cupcake was going to be a part of her brand.

Totally fine.

Personally, I was a fan of cupcakes.

Since she was on the end, I walked around the back to the door that led from the kitchen outside. A glance in the window showed she was hard at work, and I tested the door. The handle dropped and the door opened without resistance.

“It’s Tori,” I called, waiting at the door.

“Come in!”

I did just that, stopping as soon as I stepped inside. “Oh, my God. This smells like ten thousand orgasms all rolled into one.”

Piper laughed and moved back from the counter. “You need better sex, my friend.”

If only she knew.

“Probably,” I replied. “Why aren’t you open yet? You don’t need branding for this. Piper!”

She groaned as she washed her hands. “I’m too fussy, Tor. I keep making everything over and over and I’m feeding everyone.”

“Feel free to drop things on my doorstep.”

“Good to know. Did you want to talk branding?”

“Actually, I was hungry. I figured we could kill two birds with one stone.”

“Okay, great. I have four types of bread, six donut frostings, three cakes, and nine cupcake frostings.” She finally turned to face me, and I burst out laughing.

There was peanut butter in her blonde bangs and sprinkles dotted through her hair. Something that vaguely resembled chocolate was smeared across her cheek, and her apron was covered in everything from flour to honey to cocoa powder and sugar.

“Piper! What are you doing here?” I pressed my hand to my mouth as I looked at her. “Is that all from today?”

She widened her blue eyes and nodded. “Help me.”

“I’ll help you eat it.”

“Thank God. London will kill me if I send anymore sugar to her house. Leo’s been on the ceiling for a week.” She grabbed a tray full of donuts. “Is this lunch?”

“We’re adults,” I replied, eying the smorgasbord of goodness. “Damn right donuts are lunch.”

CHAPTER TWO – TORI

rule two: if you’re looking for a relationship, it’s probably not the best idea to be screwing someone else.

If Colton didn’t open his front door, I was going to fucking murder him.

But seriously. It was pitch-black out here, and I was wearing little more than lingerie and a trench coat, and my nipples were reaching a point where they were about to pucker so hard they were going to fall off.

Also, I didn’t want anyone to see me here, as he well knew.

Hence the trench coat.

I felt a bit like Inspector Gadget. You know, if Inspector Gadget was a woman and wandered around in Fenty’s finest G-strings.

I knocked on his door one more time. I swear to God, if he didn’t get here now, I was leaving. I wasn’t going to stand here and wait for him to let me in.

I had a relatively okay vibrator at home. One that didn’t have a mouth to piss me off with.