Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27480 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27480 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
He flashed a relieved smile and stood closer. “I like that. Lead the way.”
This was good. Really good. The universe tempted me, but I resisted. I could do this.
Chapter 2
Brock
Mt. Holiday Bakery was as surprising as the woman beside me. Sela. Her name was as stunning as the woman herself. Her long blond hair was twisted into intricate braids, woven with feathers and gems like a lost Viking bride. It suited her perfectly, especially with her big blue eyes, pouty pink lips, and heart-shaped face. She was beautiful, that was an absolute fact. But her body? A total smoke show with curves for days, completely visible thanks to a lightweight sweater that gave me a long look at her firm, round ass and thick, shapely thighs. I couldn’t see the rest of her, but I’d bet she had a solid D-cup under that damn sweater.
“What do you think?” Sela’s voice cut through my thoughts, and I turned to look at her beside me in line and then around the bakery. It was well done, with exposed brick walls made less harsh by pastel colors that gave the place a welcoming feel. It was nothing like the gourmet coffee shops I frequented when I traveled to check in on my investments in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, and a half dozen other cities in the United States and another dozen around the world. “It’s not fancy, but you’ll love the coffee and the pastries.” She added nervously, misinterpreting my silence as judgment.
“It looks nice,” I said honestly. “And it smells incredible.” That much was true, but we’d already been in line for ten minutes while the woman behind the counter chatted with every single customer. I couldn’t believe I let Lee talk me into moving to this small town, and during Thanksgiving, no less. “So, what should I get?”
Sela’s blue eyes brightened as if I’d asked her favorite question. Her smile was mesmerizing, and it pulled me right in, eager to hear her thoughts. “For the coffee, you can’t go wrong with the Ethiopian or Brazilian beans. From there, it depends on how you like it. Black with sugar, I’d guess.”
My eyes widened in surprise. “How’d you guess?”
She waved at me. “You look good, well put together, I mean,” she rushed to explain, her cheeks turning pink. “The getup is nice and stylish, and the quality is top-notch. But it’s not flashy.”
She was smart and beautiful, and damn it, her disinterest only made me more intrigued. “Impressive.”
Her cheeks burned brighter. “Thanks. If only I was so insightful all the time.”
There was a story there, but I knew now wasn’t the time. “And to eat?”
She leaned in with a conspiratorial smile. “You can’t go wrong with anything. Nix and Torey are baking goddesses, but this week, you have to try the brown sugar butternut squash croissant and the pumpkin cheesecake strudel.” Her blue eyes were pale at the center and darker around the edges, which nearly drowned me.
“How about we share them?”
“Oh, you are bad, Brock.” She turned to the counter with a wide smile and ordered the strudel and a tall black coffee. “Have you met Brock yet, Torey? He’s a friend of Lee’s.” She turned to me. “Torey is dating Nix’s brother.”
“Engaged, actually.” She lifted her hand to show off a sparkler on her left ring finger.
“No way! Congratulations, Torey!” Sela bounced on her toes and rushed around the counter to hug the woman. “I’m so happy for you guys.” They squealed together and talked in hushed tones for a few minutes before Sela joined me on the other side of the counter, still smiling but with a sadness in her eyes.
I had so many questions about this intriguing woman, which was damned foolish considering I’d already been burned once by my ex-wife and then time and time again by gold diggers and ladder climbers. Maybe it was just that she wasn’t interested, or maybe I was no different than any other red-blooded man and had my head turned by a pretty face and a hot body.
With my own order paid for, I joined Sela at a booth. “You started without me.”
She froze mid-bite and looked up at me, her cheeks turning an alarming shade of pink. “I did. Sorry. But I saved you half,” she pointed to the strudel cut neatly down the middle. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be. I love a woman who isn’t afraid to love her food.”
She laughed. “The universe hates me,” she mumbled under her breath.
I bit back a smile and tasted the strudel with a loud moan. “Damn, that’s incredible.”
“Right?” Her eyes sparkled as she studied me, not in that calculated way women often did when they spotted a rich bachelor. Her look was more curious, more assessing. “So why are you moving to Holiday Grove?”
“I’ve known Lee for a long time. I invested in his company, and somehow, he roped me into being CFO.”