“It wouldn’t be a random hookup.”

“You know what I mean.”

He looked frustrated and desperate and on the verge of bolting. The timer dinged.

The relief on his face was nearly comical. He hurried to the stove and pulled out the pie crust.

“Oh, look. It’s done.” He pull it on the cooling rack, then turned to her. “We can’t.”

“I know. I’m sorry. I won’t ask again.”

“Like I believe that.” He swore. “You’re killing me. You know that, right? Because saying no is the right thing and I want to and I won’t.” He groaned. “I really am a woman.”

She laughed. “You’re not. You’re wonderful. This is the best relationship I’ve ever had, too. I really am sorry.”

“That you asked or that we’re not doing it?”

“Both.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

SHELBY WALKED THROUGH the vacant property next door to the bakery. She knew nothing about construction, but she wasn’t about to let that stop her from dreaming. Assuming it was possible to break through at least part of the wall between the two storefronts, she could have easy access front and back, with the ability to close it off. So a tea shop in front and a bigger kitchen in the back.

Adding a professional kitchen would be expensive and time-consuming. She’d been doing some research online and the prices had nearly made her faint. But if she was going to go for it, now seemed like the time. The space was there. If she didn’t rent it, someone else would.

The advantage for her was that she could help design the new kitchen. She could put in extra ovens to increase her capacity on the bakery side.

She alternated between excited and terrified. Both emotions were probably normal, considering what she was doing. Talk about a huge leap into the unknown. But not doing it wasn’t an option. She didn’t want to spend the rest of her life wondering “what if?”

She carefully locked up behind her and put the key in her pocket. Josh Golden had agreed to give her forty-eight hours to make up her mind. She was going to have to let him know by this time tomorrow. Not that she would need that long. She already knew what she was going to do.

She returned to the bakery. Eddie Carberry stood by the counter.

“I’ve been waiting for you,” Eddie announced. “She wouldn’t tell me where you were.”

The clerk behind the counter smiled apologetically. “I offered to take a message.”

“You’re fine,” Shelby assured her. “What can I do for you, Eddie?”

“I want custom cookies for my bowling league. Let’s go in your office and talk about them.”

Shelby generally had those kind of meetings up front, in the small eating area. But Eddie seemed resolved. It was kind of surprising how a woman in a lime-green tracksuit could radiate determination, but Eddie did.

Shelby led the way. When Eddie was seated on the visitor side of her desk, Shelby walked to the bookshelf by the door.

“I have lots of samples of cookie designs here,” she said. “Or if you have a sketch, we can work from that.”

“Shut the door.”

Shelby looked from the old woman to the door, then shrugged. She doubted Eddie was going to rob her, or threaten her. She shut the door and then sat at her desk.

“I didn’t want anyone overhearing us,” the other woman said in a low voice. “This is private.”

Shelby couldn’t imagine what the “this” was. Maybe Eddie had fallen in love and wanted a surprise wedding cake? Or there was going to be a birthday for someone?

“I have money,” Eddie said abruptly. “Not millions, but plenty.”