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“Okay fine…then want to fuck me?”

“Kevin!”

He laughed, clicking Honey’s leash back on her collar and bounding up the sand, sliding an arm around her waist and tucking her close to him. He kissed her temple. “Thank you for telling me all of that, sweetheart.”

She beamed at him. “You’re the only person I trust right now.”

He hesitated before he gave her that golden smile and squeezed her hip.

Jess swung the door open with her hip, balancing a large tray of peach streusel muffins in her hands.

Zach handed a customer a light green matcha latte, a new menu offering he’d insisted on. Jess had been skeptical when he suggested it a few weeks back, but it seemed everyone loved matcha—hot, iced, even in their baked goods. She attempted a batch of matcha latte cookies last week and they sold out in a matter of minutes.

He waved as the customer left, then held out a piece of paper to Jess. “You got a call about a cake order.”

She cocked her head as she placed the tray of muffins down on the counter, then reached for the note. “We don’t make cakes.”

“This customer said they used to get them from you at Post Road. I think they’re hoping you’ll make an exception.”

“They could go to Scoops?”

“If they want an ice cream cake, yes…but they were insistent on a regular cake. From you.”

She looked down at the slip in her hand, not recognizing the name. But the order was simple enough—red velvet, cream cheese frosting, red frosted trim, happy birthday written on the top. “I haven’t baked a cake in a while. I kind of miss it, to be honest.”

Zach gave her a genuine smile. “Then it looks like you made your decision.”

The bell at the front door jingled as Blake stepped in, nose pink from the blazing August sun. He walked up to the counter and leaned against it. Zach curled a hand around his neck and gave him a kiss. Blake’s freckled cheeks flushed at the gesture.

Jess smiled as she placed the baked muffins into the display case.

Zach pinched Blake’s chin, pulling his face up to meet his gaze. “Hey, want to see a magic trick?

“Mmmm.”

Zach chuckled, then cocked his head to the side. “Hey, Kevin, come here for a second?” he called.

Jess stood up, then glared at Zach. Blake’s brows pinched together in confusion as Kevin jumped up from where he was crouched in front of a bike. Kevin wiped his hands clean with the rag hanging from his back pocket as he approached, toeing his way around the counter.

Immediately his hands were on Jess, one tugging the belt loop of her jeans, the other at the nape of her neck, drawing circles on her skin.

Blake’s eyes widened.

“Did our shipment of cups come in yet?” Zach asked casually, his eyes dancing with mischief.

Jess continued to glare at Zach, who looked mighty proud of himself.

“Not that I know of, but I think Jess can track it down? She places all the orders.”

Zach gave her a devilish grin, a dimple tucked into his left cheek. “Right, my bad. I forgot.”

Kevin chuckled, then tightened his grip on her neck and twisted her head up to face him. The tension in her shoulders melted away as she scanned the smile across his lips.

“Hi,” he whispered.

“Hi back. Want a muffin?”

“Me and the muffins are currently not on speaking terms.”