Page 27 of Hometown Hottie

A sheepish smile spread on my lips, and I handed my notepad over to Cassidy to take care of the patrons remaining in the coffee shop. Without a word, she took it, understanding what I meant and leaving me alone with Carson.

“So, uh, I’ve been a bit of a witch to you lately, haven’t I?”

Carson lifted the apron over his head and shrugged. “You had your reasons.”

I held his eyes with my own and tried to remember what those reasons had been. “Maybe, but thank you for all your help today. Really. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it. We were drowning before you arrived.”

“You managed just fine for years before I got here, Nova. I’m happy to help, though. Any time.” He folded the apron over his arm before handing it back. “Just, uh, if I’m going to be doing this again, do you think you can find me one of those in blue? I’m not sure dusky pink is a good color on me.”

I laughed softly, taking the apron and hugging it to my chest. “Any color is a good color on you, but sure. We’ll make sure to keep a more manly one just in case you get bored at the market again and decide to come help out.”

“Like I said, any time. I’m available.” He looked at me like he meant it as more than just an offer to man the counter in the bakery. “My schedule is pretty wide open these days, so put me to work. I’d be happy to do it.”

He sounded like he really meant it. He wanted to help. He wasn’t just full of hot air and he wasn’t trying to pull anything. Carson Drake, who had been my brother’s friend since they’d been four years old, was back in town. Sure, he’d made his mark on the world and he’d built a real name for himself, but he’d always been a good guy with a good heart.

Good arm and instincts on the field aside, he was just him again now. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I really knew him as I stared into those eyes.

Emotion threatened to choke me, so I darted my gaze toward the tip jar instead. “I don’t know how much we made, but help yourself. You deserve to be paid for what you did here today.”

He scoffed. “Murphy, I’ve been so bored since I got home, I’d have paid you to let me do that. I’m not taking your money.”

I glanced back at him, chuckling as I shook my head. “Fine, but it’s your loss. You could’ve used it to buy your mom some flowers on the way home.”

“Thanks, but she’s got enough flowers. She doesn’t need any inside as well. I swear, that woman is going to break a hip one of these days with her vigorous gardening style.”

“Vigorous gardening?” Laughter thickened my voice as I frowned at him. “What on earth is that?”

“Drive by my house any day of the week and you’ll see for yourself,” he said easily. “Seriously, though, thanks for letting me help you. It was nice.”

“Nice, huh? Well, there’s always plenty to do around here, so if you ever get bored again, just come by and we’ll be happy to work you to the bone.”

“I’ve been trying to get you to do that, but it’s good to know the message is finally sinking in.” Glancing around, he lowered his voice, the humor fading from his eyes. “How’s everything going with the ranch? Has Ryan gone topless yet?”

I laughed despite how dire the situation was. “Please don’t describe it that way around him or he’ll never agree.”

He smiled. “I told you I’d do it. I’ll pop my shirt off right now if you want. Get your phone out.”

His cheery demeanor was a ray of sunlight breaking through the dark clouds surrounding me. He grabbed the hem of his T-shirt like he was about to yank it off.

I giggled and clamped my hands over his thick wrists. “No, you crazy fool. Keep your shirt on.”

“Are you sure? We can put beefcake on the bakery menu.”

I groaned and rolled my eyes. “Leave the beefcake under wraps, please.”

He nodded and let go of his shirt. “Fine, I’ll save it for another day, but you have to get a drink with me later to celebrate a great day of sales. Deal?”

“The bakery is sold out, but the market is still going on. I don’t know when I’ll be done.”

He motioned toward the vendors outside. “It looks like everyone is nearly sold out. I’ve been seeing the number of people out there dwindling for a while now and some people have even started packing up their stalls.”

I glanced where he was pointing. He was right. While I’d been so wrapped up in what had been happening here, it seemed the market really had wound down.

“A drink?” I looked back at him, and against my better judgment, I nodded. “Sure, Carson. Let’s grab a drink. We definitely have something to celebrate. The newest employee at my bakery.”

“I’ll drink to that.”