Chapter 10

Chapter Ten

Jess tapped her fingers on the coffee table as Calvin punched numbers into his phone, watching the crease in his forehead get bigger and bigger.

"You're killing me," she groaned. "Give me something. Anything."

"Don't worry, it's not bad."

"Your face says otherwise."

Calvin set down his phone, giving the tablet between them one more scan before looking up at her. "No really, it's not bad. Today went well."

"Of course it went well," Kevin chimed in. He was sprawled out on the couch, a plate of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies balancing on his chest. He reached for another and shoved it in his mouth. "I had all the faith in my dear Jessica."

"That makes one of us," she grumbled.

"Even after considering the percentage of your profits that will go toward inventory, taxes, salary, rent, you were in the green today," Calvin explained. "It was a successful opening."

Jess loosed a breath. "That's good to hear."

"But…"

The short-lived smile on her face fell. "But what?"

"You'll need to have days like this every day if we want to keep things afloat by the end of the summer."

"So a bustling crowd with a line out the door should be the norm?" Jess quipped. "Great. Awesome."

"You can do it," Kevin chimed in. "I believe in you."

"Believing in yourself doesn't bring in customers. Marketing does."

Kevin grunted, holding the plate of cookies steady as he sat up on the couch. "Call me Mr. Marketer then. What do you need me to do?"

"How do you feel about Speedos and spinning arrow signs that say freshly baked ?"

Kevin cackled, the plate slipping out of his hands. Jess caught it before it fell to the floor, setting it down on the table.

"Are we really resorting to objectifying my body? We can't be that desperate already."

"Social media is a better place to start," Calvin replied. He winked at Kevin. "Although a shirtless picture of you on a bike eating a muffin wouldn't hurt."

"Is this what they teach you at business school? Should I be worried for you?"

"Calvin makes everyone at Scoops wear shirts a size too small to show off certain assets," Jess added in. "Biceps, pecs, boo—"

Kevin shoved him so hard he fell to the floor. "Calvin, we are going to have a serious talk…"

The sounds of her and Calvin's laughter interrupted him from finishing.

Kevin scowled and crossed his arms, his position similar to an angry-looking puppy. "This isn't funny, guys."

"I beg to differ, you should see your face right now," Jess said, catching her breath. His expression softened as he watched her wipe away tears. He tsked and snatched a tissue, handing it to her.

Calvin sat back up and crossed his legs. "Post photos of your specials, offer discounts, repost things customers tag you in, let people know about your Haverfest booth and other events. Adding location tags also helps with getting on certain explore pages for people in the area."

Her eyes widened. Managing social media on top of everything else—keeping up with inventory, baking at wee hours of the morning, saving enough money to find her own place, the list went on and on—it all had her head spinning.

"Jessica, c'mere."

She felt an invisible tug as she obeyed, standing from the floor and plopping down on the couch next to Kevin. He gently grazed his knuckles across her knee as he spoke, his featherlight touch leaving goose bumps across her skin.

"Today was amazing, you are amazing," he said. "We take this one day at a time, yeah?"

She took a deep breath. He smelled like cinnamon and honey from the cookies he just ate. It made her want to burrow under a blanket and fall asleep.

"I'm already so tired and it's only been a day," she confessed. "How am I going to do this?"

A section of his wavy hair flopped in front of his face. He removed his hand from her knee to push it back. "Do you still want this?"

She nodded, her words caught in her throat.

He grazed his knuckles against her skin ever so gently yet again. His touch made her feel things she shouldn't be feeling.

"Then we do this," he said.

"We?"

"Yes, Jessica. We. You do not have to do this alone, because you're not alone anymore."

"We have your back," Calvin added. She felt embarrassed that Calvin was seeing her like this, but he gave her a reassuring smile that set her at ease. "And you really did have a successful day. Let yourself enjoy it."

Dakota was the only sibling she'd ever had, and Jess felt content with that. But somehow, these two men in front of her had become her brothers; two guys who cared about her enough to make an insane offer. One that would undoubtedly change the trajectory of her life—regardless of whether the business was successful.

Even if the way one of those "brothers" was touching her made her brain go fuzzy.

The three of them spent the rest of the night brainstorming specials and promos that could keep a steady flow of customers walking through the doors of Port Wheels for the rest of the summer. At some point Gram called Calvin into the kitchen, requesting his assistance with dinner.

Jess glanced down at Kevin's hand, at how close it was to her leg, his thumb sinking between the couch cushion and her outer thigh. She hitched a breath.

He followed her gaze and swiftly removed it. "I'm sorry," he rushed out. "I'm a physical touch kind of person. I have to remind myself that not everyone likes it. I don't mean to make you uncomfortable."

"It's okay," she whispered, surprising herself with how easy it was to admit that. Continuing to act on instinct, Jess reached for his hand and cupped it between her own. "Thank you."

She knew she could have been more specific with him, how thankful she was for his comforting presence, his friendship, his promise to never leave her alone. But when Kevin smiled in response and curled his fingers against her hand, his hazel eyes dancing as he looked down at her, she knew he was already well aware, and there was no need to say anything more.

"So, what's the first thing on your list?" Dakota asked.

"Technically I already achieved the first thing, which was to open a bakery."

The two of them sat outside Seabreeze Café, the sun warming her skin. She let Dakota sit on the other side under the patio umbrella with proper shade. She'd also bought her sister's coffee and pulled her chair out for her, helping her into her seat. Dakota insisted that she could have done all of those things herself, but Jess refused to listen. A few instances of over-the-top pampering was merely scratching the surface of all the lost years she needed to make up for.

Dakota took her last bite of the blueberry coffee cake in front of her, little brown sugar crumbles scattering across her dress. She wiped them off, then rubbed her belly, her engagement ring twinkling from a sliver of sunlight peeking through the umbrella. "What's number two, then?"

"I don't think the order of the list matters," Jess continued, taking a sip of her iced latte. "Kevin said we're scratching something off it today, but won't tell me what."

"Which one are you most excited to do?"

Jess tapped a finger to her cheek, then smirked. "Have a one-night stand."

Dakota choked out a laugh. "I did not expect that."

"Why? I was with Charlie for almost ten years."

"Exactly," her sister said, cocking a brow.

"Says the girl who's about to have a baby with her college sweetheart," Jess teased. "Tell me, haven't you ever thought of being with someone else?"

"Who says I haven't been?"

Jess gaped as her sister laughed.

"I was with a couple of other guys before Jasper, I will have you know. Until he blew my mind in the bedroom and I decided I was done-zo forever."

"I do not need to hear that."

"You just told me you plan on having a one-night stand, so we're even." Dakota sipped on her lemonade, tilting her head. "Although I don't think it will take you long to find someone."

Jess squinted her eyes. "What does that mean?"

"Oh, I don't know…there's this guy you know who has not only made it possible for you to open a bakery but has weaseled his way into spending every single day off with you this summer. Seems like a great contender."

Her mind drifted to the feel of his palm in hers. "We're just friends."

"You sure he knows that? Because the way he looks at you…"

"Dakota, come on. Let's not talk about boys. They ruin everything."

Her sister's shoulders fell. "Yeah. They kind of do."

The hidden meaning in her words hung heavy between them. Jess hunched back in her chair as she took another sip of her latte. Her skin felt too tight, the sun beating down on her making her break a sweat.

"I know…I know there's a lot to be said here, and I want to get us there, I do," Dakota started. "Just not today, maybe? We could just…enjoy this?"

The tension in her chest melted, the feel of the sun soft on her skin again. "Yeah, I'd like that."

Dakota lifted a hand in Jess's direction, reaching for her. But her belly bumped against the table, limiting her movement. She huffed and strained for a reach anyway, then gave up. Jess laughed at her sad little attempt to hold hands, and her sister kicked her under the table like old times.

"So, tell me everything about this little one. Was the first trimester really as awful as people say? Do you know the gender? What's been your weirdest pregnancy craving?"

"Yes. No. Chocolate-covered bacon."

"Chocolate-covered bacon ?! You're a pescatarian!"

"This baby isn't," she grumbled. "I've eaten so much pork, I'm afraid I'm about to give birth to Piglet."

Jess grinned, scooting her chair forward so she could reach Dakota's hand, the gesture making her sister beam with happiness. "But it will be such a cute little Piglet."

Kevin wasn't kidding; physical touch was his thing. Telling him it's okay the other day was like opening up the floodgates, granting him access to touch her in ways that surprised her. When she was hunched over receipts calculating expenses, he came up behind her and ghosted a hand across her back. When she couldn't reach her recipe book on the top shelf, he grabbed it for her with one hand, the other brushing her shoulder. When she handed him his daily kanelbullar on a paisley-patterned plate, his thumb swiped across her pulse before slipping the plate from her fingers.

The old Jess would have screamed at him to back off, to keep his hands to himself. But this Jess…? She didn't hate it. His warm hands and the bump of his hip against hers felt like that small comfort during a chaotic first week. Even if the way he looked at her made her think comfort wasn't the only thing on his mind.

Dakota was right, he was looking at her. Tiny little lines crinkled at the corners of his hazel eyes every time he glanced at her from across the shop, the hint of a smile always on his lips.

But she was freshly single and he was very much off-limits. The last thing she wanted was to hop into another relationship and share a bed with someone again, let alone her boss (even though she used that term lightly). She slept so well now. She enjoyed star-fishing in the guest bed at the Balls' every night.

Kevin never pushed or asked anything of her, though. His touches were sweet and nothing more. They were safe. He was safe. So she let it happen, even let herself lean into it.

Kevin swung an arm around her shoulders as they walked down Main Street.

"You're not even going to give me a hint?" she grumbled.

"Think about it a little bit, Jessica, and I'll bet you can figure it out."

She scrolled through the list again in her head. "No one in town offers a professional baking class, so that's out."

"Very perceptive. You're so smart."

She pinched his side. He screeched and staggered back, feigning being hurt. But it only took him a few seconds to reach her again, fingers brushing back and forth on her tricep. "What else?"

"Haverport is too cute for a grungy underground concert, and we're not near a TV to watch Frodo for twelve hours, so those are out. I can't afford Lacey's, so I doubt we're going jeans shopping right now."

"You'll be able to afford Lacey's soon. We'll manifest that."

"Spoken like a true hippie."

"It is my roots."

"We don't have gear to camp and it's daytime, so no skinny dipping…"

Or hooking up with a stranger , she was going to add, but that look Kevin had given her on Calvin's couch the other night crossed her mind. She brushed past it.

"So that leaves…"

The sounds of yipping and heavy, open-mouth breathing and jingling tags interrupted her train of thought. They rounded the corner and halted at the entrance to the town square. The lawn was flooded with gleeful couples and families, their noses peering down at tiny fur balls with wagging tails safely tucked into small fenced-in zones across the green.

"Oh my god," Jess breathed. "Today?"

"Yes, my dear Jessica. We become dog parents. Today ."

She whipped her head toward him. His hold on her shoulder remained firm, like he was preventing her from bolting. Smart man. "We can't afford a dog yet. We only just opened."

"Money is required for everything on our list," Kevin bantered.

"Then I want to rewrite the list. Only free things, from here on out."

"No, you're deflecting. We're doing this."

She growled. "How are we going to afford this, Kev?"

He shrugged, releasing his arm from her shoulders as he stepped into the square. "I'll put it on my credit card."

Jess froze. Kevin kept walking, oblivious to her still rooted on the spot as he drifted to a gaggle of Frenchies, his squeaky voice of delight ringing through the square.

Her hands curled into fists and she dug her fingernails into her palm. He's not Charlie. He's not Charlie. No amount of chanting could make her move from that spot, the words credit card pinging around in her head.

Kevin looked up from the dogs, mouth open to say something, and she watched his face fall. He made his way back to where she lingered by the entrance to the square.

"Jessica, what's wrong?" He brushed a hand up and down her arm.

"Do you do that a lot?" she asked abruptly. "Put things on your card?"

A whoosh rushed out of Kevin's mouth. He tightened his bandana at the nape of his neck. "Jess…"

"Do you have a lot of debt?"

His face flushed. "This seems a little pointed right now."

She turned on her heel and walked away from him.

"Jess, hold on…Jess, stop. "

He grabbed her wrist and pulled. She stumbled back, her body all but crashing into his. He caught her, and the two of them were left standing chest-to-chest.

"While it's not really any of your business—"

"It is my business," she said, cutting him off. "We're about to get a dog together."

"Fine, fine. I sold my car to pay off my debt. Are you happy?"

Her eyes widened. "I thought you sold it for the shop."

"I was too embarrassed to tell you the truth. You're careful with your money and I didn't want to seem like this big screw up. I want you to respect me as a friend. As a business partner."

"So you lied."

He stepped back, rubbing a hand down his face. "Yes. I've regretted it every day. I really, really want you to trust me."

"I do," she confessed, her words surprising her. "As long as you promise me two things."

He stepped into her, closing the distance between them. "Anything. Literally anything, Jessica."

"One, do not lie to me again."

"Done. From this point on, you know everything. I'll even text you when I poop."

"That's too much information, you sicko."

"Never too much information. We're about to become dog parents and deal with a lot of poop. What's the second thing?"

"Promise me that you will be responsible with your money. No more going into debt. If there's something on this list we can't afford, we can't afford it. Like getting a dog."

"That's the thing, I can afford to get a dog right now."

She cocked a brow. "You can?"

"After paying off my debt, I actually started putting money in my savings ."

Jess smirked. "Look at you. An actual adult."

"I mean, I am about to blow it on a dog, but yeah. I've got the money."

She studied his face, thinking it through. She was about to adopt a dog with a man who had money habits that made her uncomfortable. But…she already made the choice to go into business with him. Would sharing a dog be any different?

Feeling reckless, she nodded. "Sure, yeah, okay. Let's get a dog."

He grabbed her hand and hauled her back to the town green. They shuffled through the different stations, booping wet noses and scratching little ears. Even if the puppies they passed were fuzzy and adorable and Kevin claimed he wanted to take them all home, she hadn't made a connection with one yet. She hoped to find a kindred spirit. She wondered if it was ridiculous to even hope for that.

They hit a collection of mutts toward the back, and Kevin about lost his mind. He hopped the fence and sat down in the middle, laughing as puppies climbed all over him and licked his face.

"Jessica, get in here. This is magic."

"I'm good out here, thanks."

Kevin held out a hand, curling his fingers and motioning for her to get in. She sighed and carefully climbed over the thin fence, then took a seat next to him. Puppies sniffed her shorts and her shoes and her hands. She smiled and scratched underneath little snouts, stroking the fur from their heads down to their wagging tails.

One brave golden pup climbed into her lap and took a seat on her thighs. The puppy stuck out its little tongue and panted, tail thumping back and forth.

"You're glowing."

"Stop, you're being weird."

"At this point you should know that's pretty much my motto," he said. "This little one likes you, I think."

Jess cupped the puppy's face and rubbed her thumbs against the fur on its nose. Its tail wiggled faster and faster.

"She's a mix, golden retriever and a lab," the rescue worker explained from beyond the fence.

Jess ruffled her floppy ears. "Does she have a name?"

"No name. I call her Honey but it doesn't matter. She can't really hear me."

Kevin frowned. "Is she deaf?"

"Partially. She was neglected, then got really sick. Her hearing hasn't fully recovered because she didn't get the right treatment."

"You poor baby angel," Jess said, petting her fur.

"I've had her for a little while now. Not many people want a dog that can't hear them. Makes training difficult."

Jess knew what that felt like, being abandoned. Her family let her walk out without a second thought, no matter how bruised or damaged she got during the process.

Kindred spirits.

"How much is she?"

The rescue worker's eyes widened. "You…want her?"

She smiled. "Yes. I want her."

Kevin shimmied his body closer to hers, reaching out to pet the pup in her lap.

"Honestly? Sign the papers and she's yours. She needs a good home, and I can't give that to her."

Jess grinned at the worker, then turned to Kevin. "Is that okay?"

A warm chuckle escaped his chest, that look on his face. "More than okay, Jessica. Let's take our girl home."