Page 10 of Her Power Play

“Pictures of her and me,” she murmurs.

Nodding a couple of times, I slide my attention back to meet hers. I’m not sure how to respond to that. I want to ask her for more details about her grandmother, but at the same time, I don’t want to kill the little buzz between us by talking about sad shit.

“When she died, she left me enough money in her estate to buy this building and start my business.”

Lifting my gaze to meet hers, I suck in a breath and let it out slowly. I start to tell her that it’s sweet and that I’m sorry for her loss at the same time, but before I can actually say anything, she clears her throat.

“So, one of everything?” she quips.

I let out a bark of laughter. Well, the conversation changed, and I’m glad for it. Welcome it, even.

ELEVEN

RUBY

“How about six of your favorites?” I ask with a chuckle.

“I can do that.”

Moving around the case, I don’t even look up at him as I begin to grab things and place them in the light-green box—a cupcake, a cinnamon roll, a frosting-filled chocolate chip cookie sandwich, a muffin, an éclair, and a chocolate-chip-cookie-dough brownie.

Closing the box, I walk over to the back counter and tie a white ribbon around it before I make my way back to Liam, who is watching me intently, almost as if he can’t take his eyes off me.

If I had a free hand and my hair were down, I would tuck some behind my ear because I am supremely uncomfortable with the way he’s watching me. It’s as if I’m the only person in the world. He looked at me this way last night, and I felt the same way.

I’m not used to anyone noticing me, let alone someone who appears to have been chiseled out of marble. Reaching for the cash register, I feel his fingers curl around my wrist.

“Don’t ring me up, babe.”

I open my mouth to ask him what he’s doing when I watch his other hand lift and then gently press against the counter. When he picks his hand up from the counter, my eyes widen at the sight of the money he’s left there.

“Ring it up or don’t, but I don’t want any change.”

He takes the box from me, and I watch as he takes a few steps backward. His eyes connect to mine, and I can’t look away from him. Frozen in place, all I can do is stare at him, my breathing coming out in heavy pants as I attempt to calm myself. It doesn’t really work, at least not while he’s watching me this way.

“Liam?”

Before he answers me, a bell rings above the door, and I shift my attention over his shoulder and to the person walking into the bakery. It’s a client here to pick up an order. I greet them before shifting my focus back to Liam, but he’s taken a few steps backward.

I watch with fascination as he gives me a wink, then turns and walks out of the bakery like he hasn’t rocked my whole world.

The rest of the day goes by in a blur, not only because I’m swamped with orders and customers but also because all I can do is think about Liam. He was right here in the shop, his eyes locked on mine. He was beautiful—and I wanted him to kiss me… to touch me.

I wanted it all, but he turned around and walked away without a second glance back. That’s for the best.

He’s way too hot for me.

Too cocky and confident, too.

He’s so far out of my league it’s not even funny. I don’t know why I even thought something could happen. I was living in a dreamland. I need to keep my feet on the ground and my head out of the clouds.

TWELVE

LIAM

Standing outside the bakery, I lean my hip against my pickup truck as I watch the door. The bakery has been closed for an hour, and I’ve been standing here for almost two waiting for her.

My phone buzzes in my pocket, but I ignore it. I’ve got one thing on my mind and one thing only: Cupcake Girl.