Page 10 of Blood Sugar

Dammit!

Rowen’s gaze wandered over the mess on the floor, to the misshapen scones waiting to go into the oven, which had somehow jammed. My fingers throbbed where I’d burned them fighting with it.

The kitchen was a total disaster—a fair reflection of the Hot Mess Express that was my life.

What was I thinking? Making cookies at my grandma’s house on school holidays did not make me qualified to bake in a commercial kitchen.

I was definitely getting fired. My stomach churned, sending waves of nausea through me. My new boss gaped at me, and finally opened his mouth. I couldn’t help my flinch as he cursed.

“I’m sorry!” I blurted. Choking back my tears, I set the tray down and took a step toward him.

The coffee cup in his hand exploded and hot bean water splattered the floor, quickly soaking into the layer of spilled flour. I winced. That would be a bitch to clean up. Rowen didn’t even seem to notice.

“What happened?” he asked stiffly.

“I was shaping the scones, and then they kept sticking,” I tried to explain. “And then I couldn’t get the trays in the oven, and I knocked over that bin of flour, and everything just fell apart!” My voice thickened with tears as I lost my battle and another droplet trailed down my cheek.

His jaw ticked. “Sadie, have you ever worked in a bakery before?”

A headache stung behind my eyes and my fangs ached as my entire body tightened. It was a fight-or-flight response, and I badly wanted to flee, but I couldn’t. I had to face the mess I made—figuratively and literally.

“No.”

“Figures,” he said, crossing his arms. The paper he was holding crumbled in his fist.

Yeah, he was totally firing me. But that meant I had nothing to lose, and it was time to sacrifice my dignity.

“Rowen, I’m really sorry. I thought I could do it. I still think I could if I had a little training. I’m a fast learner, I swear. I’ll work so hard, I’ll even work for free to replace these ingredients and make up for the time it takes to train me!”

I’d go hungry if I didn’t have any pay or any time to get blood, but it would be worth it in the long run.

His throat bobbed as he swallowed, his expression tense. His eyes stayed resolutely on the ground.

“I don’t know if I can trust you,” he said quietly.

My heart dropped.

“Please.” Taking another step toward him, I clutched my hands together, begging. “I can’t find another job at night. I just moved here and I’m almost out of money. I need this job. I promise I’ll do right by you.”

His thick ruby brows furrowed, a line forming between them. Those brown eyes, warm like honey, narrowed as they rose up my body and finally reached my eyes.

“Please,” I mouthed, pushing my lip out in a pout and fluttering my lashes.

The tendons in his forearm flexed as his fist tightened and released. The delicious scent that was uniquely Rowen thickened in the air as he fought with himself.

I wasn’t above dropping to my knees, but considering our recent makeout session, it would probably come off wrong. Instead, I squeezed my hands together at my waist, my nails digging into my skin as I waited for him to pass judgement.

Rowen let his breath out in a long, low huff. One of his big hands scrubbed over his face.

“We can give it a try.”

I suppressed a squeal of joy.

“The Pumpkin Festival is coming up soon. By this time next week, I need you to be able to help, and I won’t be able to give up any extra time teaching. Otherwise we won’t be ready for the event in time.”

“So I have five days or so,” I summarized. “And then I have to be ready to rock and roll.”

“Yeah, I guess so,” he muttered, pushing his fingers into his hair. “This is probably a mistake.”