Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 32454 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 162(@200wpm)___ 130(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32454 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 162(@200wpm)___ 130(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
“I won’t let anything happen.”
“You can’t guarantee the future,” she said. “If a shiny new place opens up, I’m screwed.”
“Everyone adores you, and I’m here. I’ll help you figure it out.” He had every intention of marrying her. Keeping her.
“Thank you,” she said. “You know, you have a lovely place. It is amazing out here.”
“You like it?” he asked.
“Not just like, I love it.” She sighed and he watched as she took a deep breath, and he realized for the first time she was relaxed. “I mean, it is a little cold, but other than that, it’s perfect.”
“Come on, let’s head inside,” he said.
They made their way inside his home, and William was busy at the moment, so it was up to Shae to feed himself and Peyton.
He took hold of her hand, as they made their way into his home and went straight to the kitchen. It was a classic ranching kitchen. Three large ovens, plenty of stoves, lots of kitchen counters to work on, and a massive sink for all the dishes. There was a lot here. His mother had redesigned the whole kitchen to make it more efficient.
“Have a seat.”
“You’re going to cook for me?” she asked.
“It’s only right seeing as you’ve been my helper all morning,” he said.
This made her chuckle. “Go on then, show me how it is done.”
He opened up the fridge, and he wanted to get her real excited so he pulled out a large packet of sliced ham, lots of cheese, and then to top it off, some pickles, and as he winked at her, she started to laugh.
“A ham and cheese pickle sandwich. It sounds like a delight.”
He smirked, and he got to work making her a sandwich. He loved having her eyes on him at all times.
Chapter Eight
Leah let out a sigh, drawing Peyton’s attention from where she had already cleaned up every baking item she had used that day. All the goods were sealed and ready for the main shop.
These moments were always peaceful. She loved when everything was baked, the equipment was clean and put away, and all she had to do was serve customers.
“Is everything okay?” she asked.
“Yeah, I’m just thinking about Hank and Lucy. They are so in love and I know he comes in and offers you a proposal and so does his wife, but when you see them together, they are so in love.” She let out another sigh. “I mean, that kind of love is precious, right?”
“I think it is, yeah.”
“Man, I would love to have something like that. Kind of like what you’ve got with Shae.”
Peyton paused and turned to Leah. “I don’t have anything with Shae.” She then wanted the ground to open up and swallow her whole. No one had outright asked her what her deal was with Shae. Most people assumed they were dating, and for a little while, she could pretend that was exactly what they were doing. Dating. Only, they were not dating.
Her sister had legs because of her. Lily-May was no longer around, also because of her. It was messed up, but she dealt with it. What sucked was the fact she didn’t care. Her sister did nothing but cause her so much trouble.
Leah snorted. “Yeah, you don’t have anything with Shae, and the clouds aren’t white in the freaking blue sky. Please, I have eyes, and I know there is something going on with you and him.”
“We’re ... friends.”
“That man is in love with you,” Leah said.
Now, she was frozen to the spot.
Leah turned to look behind her. “Seriously? You cannot see it?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. We’re friends.” It felt like a lie to even say that.
Leah shook her head. “You’re not friends. Okay, you might be putting him in the friend zone, but he is not putting you in any kind of zone. That man is one hundred percent in love with you, and trust me, he has been for a long time.”
They stopped talking to each other as a customer walked in. It was Mrs. Reynolds. She was a much older woman, but she always came through at Halloween with a large decorated cupcake order.
“I’ve got them in the back,” Peyton said.
She got Mrs. Reynolds to park around the back, where she then placed the order for over a hundred cupcakes.
Peyton was aware that the trick-or-treaters absolutely loved going to her house. Not only did she have the entire yard decorated and terrifying, she gave out candy as well as cupcakes.
“The same order tomorrow?” she asked.
“You got it. I’ve already had a lot of trick-or-treaters this year.” Mrs. Reynolds never minded the kids starting early. She had a feeling Mrs. Reynolds’s house was the only one they went to.
Going back into the shop, she saw Leah was busy serving customers. Peyton took a quick inventory check and restocked the front display cases..