Chapter 13

CHAPTER 13

Mitch

When I finally arrived at Penn’s Bakery at six oh three in the morning, I was feeling much more relaxed.

I’d stopped at the Starbucks on the way, fully intent to grab myself a coffee, but decided to on a whim grab Penn one too.

After all, what was a day spent with baked goods without a proper cup of coffee?

I didn’t know the guy all that well, but given he worked with sugar, and considered himself a cream puff man, I’d opted to get him a Cinnamon Dolce Latte. Then, because I’m not a complete asshole, I tossed on a Chai Tea Latte for Archie. I remembered him going on about how he was obsessed with them the other night at M’s Place.

It seemed like a good idea.

I walked across the street, nodding at the daylight warriors who were also leaving their cars and the others who were starting to filter in on the street to park and head to their jobs.

I opened the door to see Archie stocking the case, Penn behind the counter, wiping everything down.

“Good Morning!” I called out, catching his attention.

Penn looked up, his eyes widening in shock as if it was Groundhog Day or something.

I approached him, carrying the carrier of drinks in one hand, dragging my suitcase with my tripod strapped to my back. I’d taken to wearing the camera around my neck for the moment.

I’m sure I looked every bit the weary traveler at that time of morning.

“Here, let me help you with that,” Penn said as he threw down his rag, exiting from behind the counter to come around to my aid.

I couldn’t help but smile at his actions. He truly was just as sweet as the delicacies he carried in his shop.

“I come bearing gifts,” I said as he grabbed the suitcase.

“Gifts?” he said, raising an eyebrow.

With my spare hand, I checked the labels, before handing him his drink.

“Cinnamon Dolce Latte for the Cream Puff, Chai Tea Latte for the pain in the ass, and Tuxedo Mocha with an extra shot of espresso for the photographer,” I said, flashing a grin.

Archie came around to receive his drink, smiling. “Thanks, man.” he said as I nodded.

“Yeah, don’t get to used it. I needed the caffeine and my mama didn’t raise an asshole.”

Penn chuckled as he took a sip of his drink, his eyelashes fluttering as he moaned in satisfaction.

The sound went straight to my cock, and the memory of my fantasy this morning resurfaced.

Not now!

“God, I swear these things will fix anything,” Penn said as Archie nonchalantly grabbed the suitcase, whistling as he pulled it back behind the counter to put it in the office no doubt, like he had yesterday.

Which left Penn and I alone for the moment.

“It’s like six am, Penn. What do you need to fix already? The day hasn’t even started.”

Penn sighed, running his fingers along the heated cardboard.

“If you only knew...” His voice was wistful, yet sarcastic.

Clearly whatever was bothering him was stressing him out.

“Try me.”

Penn sipped his drink again, twisting his lips as he gazed up at me as if contemplating what to say.

Or rather, how to say it. But he thought better of it.

He sighed, shaking his head as he murmured. “Stupid fucking porn.”

The adult in me knew I should probably leave it alone, whatever it was clearly was none of my business.

But the immature asshole in me could not very well leave well enough alone, and of course, I steamrolled through that admission like I was scoring a touchdown.

“Really, Cream Puff? Your panties all in a bunch because the WiFi cut you off too early or something?” I teased.

“Oh my God! I didn’t just say that out loud! Oh my God!” His cheeks turned pink, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

I reached out, setting my free hand on his shoulder. “It’s okay, sweetheart, it happens to the best of us,” I taunted him, flashing him a wink.

His cheeks reddened as he groaned. “I am so fucking bad at this!” he said, turning around, and practically running the other way.

“Bad at what?” I called out, as he huffed, scampering behind the counter.

I swung my tripod off my shoulders, setting my coffee down on one of the tables in front of the big bakery window. The sun had started to peek up and I knew I didn’t have much time to get the shot I wanted.

“Nothing!” he called out from behind the counter, and I couldn’t help but smile, hearing the embarrassment in his voice .

He looked so damn cute when he blushed like that.

I unzipped the tripod, hurrying to set it up to get my shot. I’d just gotten everything set up when the light hit the window, like a firework. I knew once I got the photos downloaded for the day, seeing those bright blue letters amidst the sparkling sunrise, it would be stunning.

And just like most things in life, it was over in a literal flash. I’d stopped the moment, even if only for a fraction, embedded in photography forever.

As I disassembled the camera from the tripod stand, I had to wonder if that wasn’t some weird metaphor for my life.

I was always waiting for the right moment to capture, but in doing so what had slipped through my fingers?

I turned to look at Archie and Penn, working in unison to one another as the first customer came through the door.

“Good Morning!” Penn said cheerily, his smile stretching from ear to ear.

“Oh, Penn, you’re home!” The woman squealed as she ran up to the counter to give him a hug.

I knew most people in town, and she did look familiar, but that was also the rough part of this job. Everyone looked familiar, but rarely anyone stood out.

Not like Penn does, with his bright eyes and pretty smile, and his golden boy aura.

I instinctively framed them in my viewfinder, zooming in as she hugged him tightly. The smile on his face was genuine, soft, and caring.

This woman wasn’t just a customer to him.

She was family.

Click, snap, click.

His gaze flashed up at me a second later, noticing my observation.

And for a moment, I thought he smiled at me too, but that would be crazy, right?

I lowered my camera as he held out his arms, sliding his right one around her back.

“Got in last week, Miss Reynolds, and I’ve just been playing catch up. You know how it is.”

I watched as he helped her to the counter and Archie popping in with a, “Hey, Miss R!”

“Archibald, it is always a pleasure,” she said with a chuckle.

“What can I get you this morning, ma’am?” Penn drawled, the saccharine sound of his voice like something out a romance movie.

He really was prince fucking charming.

“Oh, I’ll just have an order of those amazing cinnamon rolls for the boys at the office. You know how men love their sweets! Can’t get ‘em to work without a little food motivation,” she said, flashing a grin.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at her words as I continued to watch the event unfold through my camera. This was going to be gold for his campaign, no doubt.

An idea shot through me, and I decided to file it away, with the hope that it may help later, after I’d gotten things edited, and after I finished the wedding of the century.