Page 2 of Blowing His Circuit
I burst out laughing.
"What can I get you, Mr. Rochelle?" Candy pointedly ignores us as she waits on the next customer.
Over the next several minutes, Candy works like a machine, winnowing the line down as Betty takes her time, which is fine by me. The bell over the door dings multiple times as Betty picks out her pastries in the case, and I tuck them carefully into the box.
"All right, anything else today, Betty?"
I glance at the line while she decides, and suck in a sharp breath as hazel eyes lock me in place. Max Orrington is next in line. Tall, dark, and handsome, with the broad shoulders and muscles of a defensive linebacker. He's the town flirt. He always has a smile for everyone, especially the ladies. Well, everyone except me. Case in point: when he realizes I'm staring at him, he scowls and focuses on the menu listed on the wall behind me.
Betty's voice drags my attention away from the broody grump.
"I'd like one more thing, but it's not on the regular menu." Betty glances to her left, then leans in as if to whisper but suddenly shouts, "When are we going to get you your own beefcake?"
I shake my head, letting out a sharp, surprised laugh. Inexplicably, my eyes dart quickly to Grumpy Gus, who glares and taps his foot impatiently.
"Too busy for that," I say, trying to run Betty's card as quickly as I can to avoid this conversation.
"Don't worry, Betty. I signed her up for a dating website," Candy announces.
"Excuse me?" I gape at my friend and co-worker in astonishment. "You better be joking."
"I never joke about matters of the heart," Candy says, her eyes wide. "That would be some seriously bad mojo."
Betty nods sagely as Candy hands Mrs. Watson her box of baked goods. Max is right behind her.
Candy gives him a big smile as he steps up to her register. "What can I get you today, Maximillian?"
He returns Candy's smile, his whole face lighting up.
I bite my lip.Why can't he smile at me like that?
Max nods hello to Betty, but his face clouds over when his eyes land on me. I glance away quickly.
"A bear claw. Please."
Max's deep voice coats me like warm honey, and my heart skips a beat like the blood-pumping traitor it is.
My brain understands that Max is a grouchy jerk who is not worth my time or attention, but we can't seem to get my body on board with the freakin' message. Every time he speaks, my nipples harden, my heart races, and the throbbing between my legs becomes almost unbearable.
I fiddle with my necklace, dancing from foot to foot as I wait for Betty's receipt, but the line has dwindled, and she’s still not in any hurry to be done.
"Has she gotten any matches yet?" Betty asks.
Candy nods, pulling her phone from her apron.
"What? I don't want to be on a dating site," I insist.
I can feel Max's eyes on me like the first day we met, one year ago. It was at The Reading Grounds. My friend, Piper, had just met her future husband, Emmett, and he introduced us to his best friend, Max. When we locked eyes that day, it was like little heart emojis bubbled out around him, and he didn't take his eyes off me for almost twenty minutes straight. But then he stood up so fast that he knocked his chair over and stalked out of the coffee shop without another word.
All I get from him now are glares, grunts, and growls.
I don't dare look at him. Why should I care what he thinks? I'm certainly not holding out for him.
I'mnot.
"Ooh,he'scute." Betty nods appreciatively. "And he loves to cook. That would be nice to come home to at night."
"Can I pay, please?" The sharpness of Max's voice snaps all three of our heads in his direction. He looks chagrined, at least in front of Betty. "I saidplease," he insists defensively.
