Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

Mitch

The cafe was always bustling at lunchtime, but honestly, I preferred the crowd. It provided me with a multitude of entertainment. I always noticed the little things no one else did. The barista behind the counter who couldn’t stop staring at the dishwasher’s ass, the teacher running late to his class because he was deep in doomscrolling TikTok, the feuding couple in the corner who were practically vibrating with sexual tension as they drank their coffees in silence .

I leaned back in my chair, my gaze sweeping over the room, watching to see what small town excitement was afoot today, when the door jingled. I turned to see Penn, carrying a pink box, dressed like he was going to the fucking Science Fair. He wore pale khakis and a deep blue button down with pale blue dots all over it, his golden-brown hair swept to the side like Justin Bieber in his Baby Baby era.

Which should have been off-putting, but for some reason it wasn’t.

My cock twitched as my stomach growled.

Delectable, indeed.

“Well, I’ll be damned, if those are really cream puffs in there, I might kiss you,” I teased as he took a seat, setting down the package.

I didn’t miss the blush spreading across his fair cheeks, and my cock twitched again, my mind immediately thinking about other parts of Pretty Boy’s body that would look so nice with a little pink tint.

“Well, a deal is a deal, right?” he said, tucking some stray hair behind his ear as he pushed the box toward me .

I smirked as I pushed the lid open, my eyes widening when I saw about a dozen cream puffs stuffed to the brim, their thick pastry cream seeping out of their tiny holes. The scent of vanilla cream and strawberries made my stomach growl again, and my mouth was practically salivating as I took in the sight of the cupcake in the center. The icing was whipped, sprinkled with bits of strawberries and red syrupy sauce that dripped down the sides. Even though it was in a cardboard box, the presentation was still gorgeous.

I glanced up at Penn, who was watching me intently. I pulled out a cream puff, plopping it into my mouth, if only to quiet my stomach and my damn erection.

It was fucking amazing.

“Mmmmm,” I groaned as the sweetness of the pastry cream hit my tongue.

“Glad to see I can please your sweet tooth,” he said with a shy smile.

I went for another cream puff, because sue me, they were delicious.

“Too bad I left my camera at home, your little tableau is quite creative. ”

I watched as his smile spread wide from the praise, and that didn’t help the matter of my unruly erection one bit.

It would appear my little Cream Puff likes praise. Well noted.

“Oh, I, uh, the cupcake was a last minute thing. I wasn’t sure if you were a vanilla guy, or?—”

“Oh, I assure you, Penn, I am not vanilla in any shape of the word,” I said with a smirk, wiping some stray cream off of my lips.

I watched with interest as Penn’s entire face turned a shade of red I’d only ever seen on fire hydrants, and he physically squirmed in his seat.

He cleared his throat, and I couldn’t help but grin.

Oh, this is going to be fun.

“Penn? Penn Baker, is that you?” a saccharine voice disturbed our bubble.

I watched as the color drained from Penn’s face and his eyes widened in fear.

“A... Amy... Hi...” he said as he crossed his legs, his entire body tensing at the sight of her. He looked up at her, swallowing harshly.

She was average height with short blonde hair, a round face, and deep brown eyes. She was also dressed in a tight, low-cut red dress and black boots, and looked like she could pass as Penn’s Disney Channel co-star.

She looked familiar, but I couldn’t place her. Then again, in my line of work, sometimes people just blended together.

Amy tucked her hair behind her ear as she coyly made eyes at my Cream Puff, and a spark of jealousy fired inside of me.

Which was irrational, right?

I barely even knew the guy...

“Amy, this is...”

“Mitchell DeVille, I know who you are,” she said with a giggle.

I leaned back casually in my seat, catching her gaze.

“And you would be...” I drawled.

“Penn and I dated for a semester in college.”

I looked from her to him, watching as he chewed his lip.

Oh.

Oh... shit.

Was I wrong?

Was Pretty Boy not who I thought he was ?

At that exact moment as I questioned my gaydar, I saw him steal a glance at me.

And it was enough for me to understand, that this... This was uncharted territory for my little Cream Puff.

That should have been enough to deter me. I’d been in the game long enough, and I was open about my sexuality.

But Penn clearly was not.

Though I wasn’t sure if it was just a case of being in the closet, or if I genuinely had a bi or gay awakening on my hands.

I knew I should have walked away then. Said thanks for the cream puffs and called it a day, and given him a license to use the photos from the wedding for his promotional needs.

But I liked a challenge . Both in my work, and in my personal life.

I smiled, nodding at Penn, if only to try and quell his panic.

Don’t worry, baby, I won’t spill your secrets.

“Penn and I are colleagues, isn’t that right, Penn?” I said, giving him the floor, the chance to control the narrative.

I knew firsthand how important that was when you were trying to figure it all out. When you didn’t have the answers yet.

Penn’s shoulders loosened as he looked at me with a soft smile, and I knew.

The man was going to ruin me.

But maybe I like a little destruction.

“Yeah, colleagues. Mitch is uh, doing some work for me. For the bakery.”

Amy teetered back and forth as she looked between us.

“Oh, of course, duh! Mitchell is like the best photographer. I’m sure whatever he’s doing for you, will be so worth it.”

Penn smiled, but it wasn’t genuine. Beneath the sparkle in his eyes, I could still see the panic.

“Totally,” he said, running his hand through his hair.

“I thought you were still up north,” she said.

Penn shook his head, tapping his fingers on the table. His gaze fixed on her face, never once venturing below to her prominent cleavage or the way she twirled her hair .

Watching her flirt with him made me angry, jealous, even though I knew that was insane.

I watched intently as he settled his hands in his lap.

“I was... but I graduated, so I’m home now.”

“Oh that’s awesome! Congratulations!” she said as she clasped her hands together in front of her bountiful cleavage.

I raised my eyebrow in disgust.

Oh honey, you are barking up the wrong tree, clearly.

“Thanks,” he said sheepishly.

“I hate to interrupt this little High School Reunion, but we are kind of in the middle of a meeting, Amy, ” I said.

The tone of command and possession in my voice was not missed, even to me.

Penn eased in his seat as Amy focused on me instead.

“Oh, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to be rude, I just wanted to say hey !” she said, waving. “I’ll leave you two to talk business, but Penn...” She sighed, chewing her lip.

“Hmmm?” he asked, looking up, his expression pained .

“We should hang out sometime.”

Yeah, I bet her idea of hanging out is Netflix and Chill. Sans the Netflix.

Penn nodded. “Mhmm. Totally,” he said hurriedly.

I watched as she teetered off out the door, turning my attention back to Penn.

“She’s... cute,” I said, deadpan.

Penn slid down in his chair, running his hand through his golden locks.

“I mean, I guess,” he said softly.

“Seems like a nice girl.”

Penn sighed, his voice full of disappointment. “She is.”

“But?” I asked calmly.

“I mean, you know how it is... I just didn’t see us going anywhere,” he murmured.

I bet you didn’t, Cream Puff.

I popped another cream puff into my mouth.

“And where is it you want to go, Penn?” I asked.

I was only busting his balls, to try and lighten the mood, but a part of me wanted to know the answer.

What did Penn Baker want, really?

Penn sighed, sitting up straighter.

“It doesn’t matter. You’re a busy guy, and so am I, so I won’t take up too much more of your time with my personal drama,” he said, his shoulders falling as he pursed his lips.

“Ah, yes... this is the part where you sell your soul to me,” I said, flashing him with a smirk.

I watched as the corner of Penn’s mouth started to rise, the hint of a smile fighting its way out from the frown on his adorable, sweet face.

“One week in general should be sufficient, I think. You can come to the bakery, see how we operate, take some candids as well as still life shots.”

I raised my brow. “Still life, huh? You minor in art up north ?” I asked.

Penn shook his head.

“No. Pastry, but... my dad paints in his spare time.”

“Usually, I charge by the hour, but?—”

“I’ll pay you whatever it is you want,” he blurted out, and I couldn’t help but smile at his desperation.

He was so cute, I couldn’t stand it. I just wanted him to ease up, to feel better.

“I was going to say… but, for you, I can do a flat rate of six hundred for the we ek, and this next part is the most important part of the negotiation,” I said, leaning closer.

Penn leaned in without hesitation, putting his face inches away from mine. He smelled like sugar, spice, and untapped desire.

I gently pulled the box of goodies toward me as I whispered, “I’m going to need another box of cream puffs, and maybe a sweet, spicy, cinnamon roll. As terms of the payment, of course,” I said, flashing him a grin.

Penn’s gaze fell to my lips, and I watched him swallow harshly, his Adam’s apple bobbing as a soft sigh escaped him.

This is a bad idea.

Penn looked up at me with glassy, turquoise eyes, biting his bottom lip, and my cock twitched once more from the sight.

“Deal,” he said.

My gaze dropped to his lips. Pink, pouty, and perfect.

Fuck.

If he had been any other man, I would’ve just gone for it. I would’ve closed the gap and kissed him, but somehow I knew I needed to take my time with Penn.

I knew kissing him like this, now, would only push him away. So, for the moment, I stowed my desire, my sudden attraction, in favor of being professional and giving my Cream Puff the space he needed to process everything that had just happened.

“I’ll start Monday,” I said, pulling back.