Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

Penn

I thought being back in Jasper Springs would be a good thing, but as I looked around the Paradise, I wondered if perhaps I’d been out of the Jasper Springs loop for far too long.

Four years was a long time when you came from a small town like Jasper Springs.

Where everyone knew everyone, and everything was always picture perfect.

Take the bride of this wedding, for example, Giselle.

Her family was one of the most well known in Jasper Springs, and her husband also came from another well known, wealthy family in the area. Their families were involved in everything, just like the Rhodes, and loved by nearly all of Jasper Springs for their philanthropy, their parties and soirees.

Even Giselle’s brother, Grayson—who was the talk of the town years ago for his scandalous tryst with his sister’s ex, of all things—seemed to have the perfect life with his new boyfriend.

I wished I could have that.

The ease of self, the happy ever after.

I thought the change of scenery was what I needed, when I left for pastry school, but sadly, my life was not a Jasper Springs success story.

Aside from a few one night stands that ended awkwardly with the girls leaving me to stew in mortification, a couple girlfriends, and my too close parents constantly trying to play matchmaker, I’d practically given up on dating.

Maybe I was just meant to be alone.

So, instead of going out and meeting people like my mother suggested, like a normal twenty-three year old, I turned to the one thing I knew I could do well.

Bake.

My parents had owned Penn’s Bakery—affectionately named after their only child, me—since I was in middle school. While they weren’t the only bakery in Jasper Springs, they were pretty well known in the county. My mother’s macaroons are to die for. I swore she could compete on Great British Bake Off with those things.

Who cares if she hasn’t been home to London in twenty years.

No, as usual, instead of socializing like a normal twenty-three year old, I locked myself in my parent’s bakery—my birthright as my father would say—and took out my perpetual singledom and emo woes on the giant five tier spectacle Giselle had ordered for her wedding. I got lost in the flowers, brushing and smoothing the buttercream on each individual tier. Every little detail was a welcome relief as I strategically placed each flower and accent.

I’d always loved weddings, and had fond memories of my mom baking for weddings and parties growing up. Our small house was overtaken by mom’s cake and cookie orders, since in those early days before they opened the shop she’d work from home.

And when I’d ultimately ended up at home on a Friday night, because I was the awkward kid who didn’t fit in anywhere, she’d always let me help.

Though now, I was doing more than helping. Now that I had my certifications, my degree, I could finally take on more responsibility with the shop.

My dad wouldn’t admit it, and I knew my mom would say otherwise, but I was no fool. I knew that they were looking at retirement, just waiting for the right moment. Waiting for me to graduate, move home, and take over the family business. I knew what my future looked like.

But I also knew I wanted to love more than just my job.

I wanted to share my life with someone the way my mom and dad did.

But no matter how many women they set me up with, or how many times someone swiped right on me...

Nothing ever felt right.

And then I came to the Paradise, on a job, and I saw him.

Over in the corner by my masterpiece.

He was tall, dark, and handsome like the men in the fairytales always were. A little rogue-ish looking, which told me he was definitely not a guest. The wedding was a black-tie affair, but my mom assured me my button down and slacks would be enough. After all, I came home a week earlier, due to a glitch in the computer system regarding my train ticket, so it wasn’t like I was planning on going to a fancy wedding.

Not to mention the closest suit shop was in the city, and I hated going into the city. All those people, the traffic...

Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome leaned against the table, looking like he was bored to tears.

I swallowed harshly, feeling strangely hot, like I was going to get caught with my hand in the cookie jar or something.

Which was an odd way to feel about some stranger, some man who looked like something right out of a romance novel or something.

A part of me felt compelled by his apathetic expression, the way he sexily leaned against the table like he was the King of the castle or something.

But I was frozen in place, scared to move, to even breathe in his vicinity.

What the hell?

My cock twitched in my pants, and a maddening blush crept up my cheeks.

Now was certainly not an appropriate time for an erection!

My brain was a bit slow to process, and that’s when I felt more embarrassed than ever. Not because of where I was, but because...

What the fuck?

I’d never been attracted to men before, like at all.

I thought surely, something must be off, maybe I got a whiff of some perfume, or maybe I too, was suffering from boredom.

Or maybe it’s because I haven’t jacked off since I came home.

I shoved the weird and inappropriate thoughts out of my mind though, because my mother, of all people, broke my concentration.

“Penn, sweetheart, I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

“Huh?” I shook my head, dispelling the strange moment. I turned back to look in the direction of the hot stranger, noticing he was gone. Maybe I’d imagined it. Maybe he was some sort of sex-deprived mirage.

Could dry spells cause hallucinations?

I wasn’t sure.

“Our work here is done,” she said, taking in the sea of people as the bride and groom made their way around the tables to socialize.

I scanned the crowd once more for my mirage, but he truly was nowhere to be seen.

That’s it, I’m definitely losing my marbles.

“Penn...” she said, snapping her fingers, pulling my attention back to her once more.

“Okay,” I said, swatting at her hand, her perfectly manicured nails smacking my palm.

“We’re heading out, come on,” she said, looping her arm in my mine, leading me out of the Paradise Hotel.