Chapter Eleven

MARIGOLD

"Girl. I need a day off."

"No."

"You can't tell me no! I have rights, you know."

I snicker to myself. "Find me another employee as good as you to cover some shifts and you can have a day off."

Logan leans back in his chair. "That won't happen. You've got the best of the best. Guess I'll just die here."

We've just had the busiest day to date since opening and I am exhausted. It never dawned on me that I couldn't do this day in and day out. I needed to bury myself in work, keep busy and not think about how my life shattered in mere days.

"You are so dramatic." I laugh at his nonsense. "I can't wait for you to meet Poppy."

With eyes wide, he turns to me. "Poppy? Who is this Poppy you speak of?" He speaks in a weird accent and it makes me laugh.

"Poppy is my cousin and she's a riot just like you. I bet you guys would be fast friends."

"Just like me? So, she's a superstar? Is she coming to visit anytime soon?"

"I hope so. I really miss her."

Poppy was my saving grace when I found out my ex was cheating on me. After I told her what he had done, she went and keyed his car. Then she set fire to the bushes in front of his house. It was kind of funny watching them burn like a Christmas tree.

My ex loved to tell me what to do. In the beginning I was grateful. I didn't know how to run my own business so I appreciated his input. After all, we were going to get married so why wouldn't I trust all his decisions and ideas? But that input slowly became orders. So on top of cheating, he was dictating and keeping me dependent on him. Maybe he thought by barking orders, I wouldn't realize all that he was doing to destroy our relationship.

So when Maddox dropped a line of ‘do you like to be told what to do?' my guard went up. And yeah, it was in a flirty way. And I did open the door by saying I wanted a night off from decisions. But those words took me right back to a place I don't ever want to be in again.

Poppy taught me never to fall for a smooth line. "Us James' girls don't fall for pick up lines, we fall for pickup trucks. You'll know a good one when he shows up in an oversized truck with a heart to match."

"So, what's next boss?"

I let out a huge sigh. "I honestly haven't a clue. I don't know how I'm going to sustain running this place every day by myself." I quickly put my hand up. "I know you're right here with me, but the two of us cannot make this our life."

I freeze. Did I really just say that?

Logan's eyes get wider and his one eyebrow just about touches his hairline. "Did you really just say that?"

I mimic his face then laugh. "I think I did. Believe me, it surprised me as much as it did you!"

A naughty smile spreads across his face. "Your subconscious is already telling you what's going to happen. Your mind and your heart are preparing you for it."

"What the hell are you going on about now?"

"Your hottie fireman. You want him. He wants you. And your mind is already putting in for vacation days."

I do want him.

Fuck! I really do.

But I can't.

Fuck! I really can't.

"Don't lie to me either. I see it every time that hunk of burning love shows up here. Which, if you haven't noticed, is not just when that alarm goes off anymore."

"Logan." I shake my head. How do I explain this? "You know a bit about what I left behind. I can't just jump into a new thing because it's just that. New. Everything is sugared donuts and sweet icing in the beginning."

"I wouldn't mind seeing that man covered in sweet icing."

My eyes close as I pull up the picture in my mind of Maddox shirtless standing right in the kitchen with me just two nights ago. "He's so hot," I whisper.

"I knew it!" Logan yells it so loud I jump from my chair. "Did something happen? Girl! You better tell me!" He leans right into my face, studying me.

"Will you stop it!" I laugh at his theatrics. "Nothing happened. Not really." Logan screeches but I talk over him. "Him and Reece were supposed to come taste test the cake for the party but Reece never showed. I'm sure she thought she was setting us up. Anyway, he was being flirty Maddox and it got a little… heavy."

"How heavy?"

"We didn't kiss so calm yourself. But the air was thick, he had his shirt off, there was icing involved." I tease him with my words.

Logan squeals again. "Oh, this is good! So good! Quick! Pull the fire alarm again. I'll leave and you two can have the place all to yourself."

Standing from my chair I bump his shoulder. "Stop it! That's illegal. Just ten days ago I didn't even like the guy. Now I'm sitting here fantasizing about him. It clearly shows my mind is not processing anything and I'm jumping ahead to a place I shouldn't be."

He narrows his eyes at me. "I'm going to let you off the hook for now, young lady. But I think this is good for you. You deserve fun."

"Funny. He said the same thing," I muse.

"So then obviously the guy is not just good looking but smart, too. And has good taste." He blows on his hand and shines his shirt.

"Yes, I saw the little bromance you two have going on."

"Girl. That man is hot, but since he's taken now, I'll just live vicariously through you. You better give me all the dirty details though."

Taken. I don't want to be taken. I want my next relationship to be equal footing.

His career. My career.

His fire station.

My bakery.

Oh, Marigold, I hope you know what you're doing.