Chapter Eighteen Josh

It's amazing how fast you can get used to something so totally new and different. Three days ago I was trying to convince myself that I didn't like Andy in a romantic way. Now, I couldn't think of him in any other way except as my mate. He was mine. And that filled me with more joy than I thought possible.

I'd barely left his side since that night on the beach. Each day I woke up in his bed, went to work with him, and went back to his bed when the day was done. I only stopped at the hotel once in a while to pick up clothing or something I'd forgotten. Even Sam had started to notice my absence. To his credit, he kept his lips sealed about the entire thing. I had a feeling Andy told him to zip it. But honestly, I was starting not to care.

Being perceived as gay a few days ago might've bothered me. But now I felt just as much pride about having Andy as my boyfriend as I did about my cooking skills. I didn't care if people knew and I wasn't going to waste a kiss or an affectionate touch from my mate on the off chance that someone might be rude. Besides, everyone who'd ever known me was on the other side of the state and they didn't want me, anyway. Here in Shifter Grove I could be whatever I wanted, and I wanted to be Andy's mate.

That's why, on our way to the farmer's market that morning, I let Andy know that I was okay with him sharing our relationship with Ace and Matt. I didn't want to hide it anymore, least of all from people I knew I could trust. They'd proven that more than once.

"Are you sure you're ready for this?" Andy asked as we pulled into the parking lot and up to our designated space. "Once the cat's out of the bag… it's gonna spread."

"Sam already knows anyway," I replied. "I'm sure people are gonna find out one way or another."

Andy nodded. "You're probably right. Although, he's done a halfway decent job so far. I did sort of threaten him though."

"Must've worked." I leaned across the center console, kissing Andy deeply. "And I'm ready. I promise. This is what I want." I paused for a moment. "Are you okay with it?"

He kissed me back. "I've been ready for a while."

Warmth spread through my chest as I kissed him again. My hands, seemingly of their own accord, were instantly under his shirt, my fingers dancing over his beautiful body.

"That's enough of that," he laughed, pushing me away. "We're in public! I can't sell sticky buns to our customers with a boner!"

"Fine," I said, giving him a wink. "I'll back off. But only if I get to make your buns sticky later."

Andy rolled his eyes at me. "As if you had to even ask."

With that, he gave me one last kiss and hopped out of the van before I could molest him further. I waited only a moment, rearranging my own cock before I followed after him. Andy was already chatting with Ace when I stepped out. Matt, on the other hand, was getting coffee before the van doors were hardly opened.

"Feeling a bit needy this morning, Matty?" Andy asked, scooching out of the way so a grumpy Matt could get his coffee.

He grumbled in reply.

"He was up early," Ace said. "We had to make two trips because of the pumpkins."

"Was it only the pumpkins that had him up early?"

"Shutup Andy," Matt growled, taking his first sip. "If I wanted to get fucked at five AM, I wouldn't do it on a market day. And if Ace was being that needy, he could just cut a hole in one of the pumpkins."

"I've heard it works in a pinch," I added, sneaking around the back of the van. I gave Ace a nudge. "You know, just in case Matt's not putting out for you."

Ace looked surprised, but cracked a smile. Matt on the other hand wasn't impressed.

"Who put cocaine in your coffee this morning?" he grumbled. "You're awfully perky."

"Nobody. I just feel good today."

Matt looked at Ace, then up at Andy, searching for an explanation. "What happened to this man?"

Andy let out a long sigh. "Should we tell them?"

"Go ahead. I planned on it anyway."

Matt held up a hand. "I already know. You two finally fucked."

I lifted an eyebrow at him. "How could you possibly guess that?"

"Oh please. You two have been making eyes at one another for weeks. Not to mention, you smell of each other to high heaven. And not in the ‘we-just-work-together' way." He pointed a finger at me. "I know what cum smells like. I can scent it at a hundred paces."

"That's… a weird thing to be able to do."

"So is bedding a straight man," Matt said, looking up at Andy. "But I guess we all have our talents."

"It's honest work, but someone's got to do it." Andy gave him a wink. "Plus the mate bond helps."

"Mates?" Ace looked between the pair of us. "Well… I guess that explains it then."

"Sam was right," Matt added.

"Fucking Sam!" Andy looked exasperated. "He promised me!"

"Well, when Josh stopped coming back to the hotel at night, he had a pretty good idea where things were going. And you know him… once it's obvious, he can't help himself." Matt shook his head. "That man is a menace."

Everyone nodded in unison.

"Well," Andy said breaking the silence. "Show me the pumpkins that don't have holes in them, Ace. I need a few for the bakery."

"Help me unload?" I asked, looking at Matt.

"Oh, I'm already loaded. Ace took care of that this morning." He didn't miss a fucking beat. "But don't tell Andy. I don't like letting him know he's right."

I just burst out laughing, Matt joining in with me. The other two looked at us, but wrote it off as nonsense and kept picking out pumpkins. Matt helped me unload the bakery van and setup the booth. By the time we were done, the other two had finished with their swapping and everyone sat down with a cup of coffee and some pastries before the crowds began to arrive.

But, as it always went, no sooner had we sat down to chat that the early birds rolled in. They went straight to Ace's booth to flirt with him while Andy and I tried to sell coffee and donuts to those that were waiting. Thanks to the chill in the morning air, our usual method was working better than normal.

I prepped and boxed while Andy took money from people. Our pastries had been selling at an accelerated rate since I'd joined the shop. To begin with, I hadn't really believed Andy when he said I was good. But after nearly a month of customers going absolutely banana's over my muffins, cakes, and rolls, I was starting to think he might be onto something. Obviously he'd been doing well before, but now he was more busy than ever. The point of taking on another baker was to give himself a break. In the end, we cooked for just as long, but we made twice as much product. There really was no rest for the wicked.

So, when a young woman stepped up to the booth and tugged on my shirt sleeve, I gave her the biggest smile I could muster instead of bugging Andy to take her order. He was already swamped with customers as it was. Besides, judging by the intense eye contact she was making with me, she wanted my attention, not his.

"Are you the baker that just started at Amarok Cafe?" she asked.

"That's me." I held out a hand. "My name is Josh."

"Aww," she said, shaking my hand. "That's one of my favorite names!" She batted her eyelashes a few times. "And you're so handsome."

Woof. She was laying it on thick. But, I figured I'd take a page out of Ace's book and feed it right back to her. Maybe I could get her to order a custom cake or something.

"Thank you," I replied. "And may I say, you're quite beautiful yourself."

She turned beet red, swatting the back of my hand. "Oh stop it!"

"Is there anything you wanted in particular?"

"Hmm…" She looked over the table long and hard. "It all looks so good. What's your favorite? Something you made of course!"

"How about one of these?"

I turned away to grab a box of four carrot cupcakes with little pumpkins frosted on the top. Andy was staring in my direction, his brows furrowed toward the woman that was flirting with me. I just gave him a smile and turned back to my customer.

"These are carrot cupcakes with cream cheese frosting," I said, hanging her the box. "They are incredibly delicious, moist, and absolutely sinful." I leaned even closer. "And the inside… it's cream filled."

The tiny noise of surprise she made nearly caused me to break out in laughter. But I kept my cool. We continued to flirt heavily as she paid for her cupcakes, bought another box as well, took a business card, and ordered a coffee. By the time I was done with her, she was weighed down with bags filled with pastries. I was starting to understand why Ace took his shirt off all the time. Selling to horny women was kind of a snap.

"Well," I said at last. "Thank you so much for your patronage and I hope you enjoy your cupcakes."

She blushed a deep red and started away. However, she didn't make it far before she came back to the booth. I squished my way past a busy Andy to get to her.

"Do… Do you have a pen?" she asked.

I pulled one out of my pocket and handed it to her. Without missing a beat, she grabbed my hand and began to write on my palm. I watched in amusement, seeing the phone number appear on my skin. When she was done, she handed the pen back and gave me a smile.

"Call me cutie."

With a wave she was gone and I couldn't help chuckling to myself. However, my amusement lasted only a second or two until I heard one of the crates crash to the ground behind me. I looked up and saw Andy right himself, glance back at me with tears in his eyes, and stalk off across the parking lot.

Oh fuck.