Chapter Fourteen

MARIGOLD

It's Tuesday and we're back in the bakery after having one day off. The weekend was amazing. After watching the stars and being with Maddox, well, I didn't want it to come to an end. I must be certifiable to jump into bed with someone so quickly, but everything about him felt right. He was sweet, and sensual, and made me feel comfortable, letting me set the tone. I've never had that before. My ex didn't care if I enjoyed sex or not. And by the end of things, we were barely sleeping together at all. I chalked it up to the business and me being busy. Obviously he had other ideas.

But Maddox. Maddox! He said and did everything right. He touched me, knowing what I needed before I did. With reverence he took his time and whispered sweet and dirty words. He made sex fun and that is definitely something new to me.

Now it's five in the morning and I'm feeling lighter and happier here than I have in quite some time. I sent my cousin a text before walking in the door.

Me: Girl, just wait until I tell you how hot my weekend burned.

Poppy: You're talking to the master. I already know you nailed the smoke show.

Chuckling at her text, I send her a devil face emoji, pocket my phone and spot Logan, who is already working and he does a double take when I walk in.

"Good morning, Logan."

"Good morning, Marigold." He eyes me but I move around the space readily preparing for our morning rush.

"What needs to be done?" I ask.

"You look different. Did you cut your hair?"

Shaking my head, I avoid his stare. "No. Same old me."

He makes a humming noise. "There's a lot prepped. I've already put stock in the pastry case. Coffee is going. If you want to pull the cream puffs and fill them quickly, that would be a big help." I glance at him as he continues to study me, before ducking my eyes away from him.

I pull out the cream puffs and the bowl of icing. I quickly fill my tube with icing then insert it into the puffs to fill them.

"You're doing a really good job at stuffing those, Marigold." I ignore his sense of sarcasm and continue to work.

"I'm impressed with the way you're handling those pastries. Gently but with authority. Stuffing them like a boss."

I know what this guy is doing. He can read me like an open book, and since Maddox has come into the picture, he seems a bit more astute.

I still ignore his comments until he says, "Wow look at all that cream, Goldie!"

I let out a laugh because I just can't hide from him anymore. "Since when am I Goldie to you?!" I squeeze the pastry in my hand, the icing oozing out and I slam my tube onto the counter. "Ask what you want to know, Logan."

A laugh bubbles up out of him and his eyes glow with excitement. "You got hot and heavy with the hottie fire man didn't you?"

I laugh because I just can't keep anything from this guy. Sighing I push the cream puffs to the side and drape myself over the counter. "Logan, it was so good." He squeals and runs to my side, pulling me back to standing.

"Details! I need details!"

"We went to watch the shooting stars on the beach and?—"

"Ooh! I know that tale!" He jumps up and down then covers his mouth with his hands, eyes wide. "Tell me the light swept over you! It did! I know it did! I told you the other day. Your heart and mind knows he is the one!"

"Whoa! Slow down, big guy. It was one date. One night." I furrow my brows and pause. "Fuck. I had a one night stand."

"No, you had a first night. Because girl, there ain't no way he's staying away from you."

My mind is swimming now with thought after thought. Was I just a conquest? Will he want to see me again? Do I want to see him again?

"Hey! Out of your head now. You're gorgeous, smart and funny." He pauses. "Maybe not funny, but you're a killer boss babe–"

"I'm funny!"

He shakes his head. "You're not. But it's okay because your new man is funny and he's the fun you've been missing. Now chop, chop. We have a bakery to run!"

Glancing at the clock, we're set to open in fifteen minutes. We bustle around quickly getting last minute items ready. I do my best to stay focused on the task at hand. I cannot let a man get in the way of my career. Again. I don't want to leave Love Beach. I don't want to start again.

Maybe I don't have to.

Stop it, Marigold. It was one night.

"Good morning, stud!"

I freeze in my spot when I hear Logan call out. I listen carefully but all I hear is mumblings. I take a deep breath and close my eyes, steadying myself. I knew I'd see him again, obviously. But when he left yesterday morning for his shift at the fire station we didn't say anything more. It was just, "I'm working the next twenty-four," and he was out the door.

"Mm, there she is." My eyes flip open and Maddox is walking through the kitchen door, as sexy as ever in his t-shirt that shows off his biceps and blonde hair that falls where it wants. He doesn't stop walking until he's wrapped me in his arms and kisses me on the forehead. "I missed you."

I jerk back and he laughs at what must be a look of complete shock on my face. "You what?"

"Come on, Goldie. Give me some sugar."

"Okay what is going on here?"

"I just got off shift and wanted to come see you before I go home and crash for a few hours." He hasn't let me out of his hold and my body relaxes slightly. "What's wrong?"

"I was not expecting this." I shake my head trying to make sense of how we went from zero to one hundred overnight.

He shrugs and sways with me. "Expect it. I told you, I want to know everything, Goldie. We're going to learn together."

ALARM SOUNDS

"No fucking way!" I yell out as the alarm sounds again. "Why does this keep happening? I've done the inspection! I paid the electrician! Why can't anyone fix this?!"

Just then Logan bursts through the door. "If you two would keep your clothes on, maybe you wouldn't set off the fire alarm! Stud, go pull the wire and Goldie, get your ass to the front counter. I'm drowning out here! Now move it!"

He disappears through the front door again and I go to run to help him but Maddox stills me. "We'll get it figured out. I'll help. You don't have to do it alone. Okay?" He kisses me quickly and swats me on the ass. "Now get to work and I'll wait for my crew to get here."

I do as he says, moving as I'm supposed to and make it out to the front with Logan. The line is long and no one bats an eye that the alarm is going off. Just par for the course in this place.

Within minutes the alarm is off, the customers are happily moving in and out the store and I'm left replaying Maddox's words.

‘You don't have to do it alone anymore.'

That sounds great. But I've heard that before.