by Jae
This was starting to resemble one of Ash’s nightmares.
She squared her shoulders and kept her gaze on Sasha, watching her nimble fingers as she slid donuts and cupcakes into boxes.
“Morning, Ashley.” Mr. Beasley stopped next to her on his way out the door, a bakery box in his hands. “The flowers looked wonderful.”
“Oh, you mean Mr. Kamp’s funeral on Wednesday.”
“No. I meant the wedding.” Mr. Beasley pointed over his shoulder. “Sasha just showed me some photos on her phone. The centerpieces looked wonderful, and so did the bouquet she caught. Looks like our Sasha is going to be the next to marry.”
Heat rushed up Ash’s neck until even her ears burned.
Mr. Beasley patted her arm and lifted the bakery box. “I’d better get these home.” The bell jangled as the door closed behind him.
Ash stared after him. Did he know about Sasha and her? No, impossible. If he had known, he wouldn’t have commented on Sasha being the next to marry so casually, would he? But at the very least, he didn’t seem to hold it against her that she’d done the flowers for a same-sex wedding, and that was encouraging.
Breathing a little more freely, she waited her turn to step up to the counter.
“Hi.” She looked up into Sasha’s warm brown eyes, and the tenderness in them made her forget what she’d been about to order.
Luckily, Sasha’s aunt waved the two people in line behind Ash over to her side of the counter so that they could talk for a minute.
“Let me guess,” Sasha said. “Two espresso chocolate chip cookies, one Beagle Bite, and one vanilla cupcake with strawberry buttercream frosting. You’re in luck.”
Ash smiled. “I know. I’m a lucky woman.”
They stared into each other’s eyes.
Sasha cleared her throat. “Um, I meant because I made the vanilla cupcakes the daily special, so you get fifty cents off.” She gestured up to the blackboard above the counter.
“Hmm, too bad, because I don’t want one.”
“You don’t?”
“No,” Ash said. “Not today.”
“Wow. Ashley Gaines is finally trying one of my non-vanilla cupcakes.” Sasha pressed a hand to her chest. The expression on her face was comical for the sake of the other customers, but her eyes revealed that it had a deeper meaning for her too. “So, which one do you want?”
“I thought I’d get a Sweet Kiss.”
“I thought you already did,” Sasha whispered so softly that only Ash could hear.
Ash’s cheeks grew warm again. She’d gotten all kinds of kisses this morning, from sweet to hot. “Yeah, but I need one more.”
Sasha flashed her a smile that made Ash’s belly tumble. “Just one?”
“For starters.”
Chuckling, Sasha slid a chocolate cupcake with salted caramel frosting into the box with Brooke’s cookies and pressed another one into Ash’s hand. “Eat one right here. I want to see the look on your face when you take the first bite.”
Ash peeled back the paper liner and took a bite. Chocolate and caramel burst on her taste buds, making her moan.
Heat flickered in Sasha’s eyes. “Good?” she asked, her voice husky.
“Oh yeah,” Ash replied around a mouthful of cupcake. She chewed and swallowed. “I think it’s love at first bite.”
“Is it?”
“Mm-hmm.”
Ash wanted to put money on the counter, but Sasha waved her away. “It’s on the house.”
“Hey, Ash.” Travis walked up to the counter behind her, interrupting their eye contact. “Are you done flirting? Because there are other people who want to get some Sweet Kisses before work too, you know?”
Then get your own baker, Ash nearly answered. She put the rest of the cupcake into the box with the other treats and then hesitated, knowing she wouldn’t get another chance to talk to Sasha all day. With Mother’s Day coming up, it would be a busy week for both of them.
Her gaze darted to Sasha’s eyes, then her lips. Should she…?
Do whatever feels right at any given moment, Sasha had said. And this felt right, so Ash ignored the prickle of unease that told her people were watching, leaned across the counter, and placed the shortest, softest of kisses on Sasha’s lips.
Then, cheeks flaming, she turned and walked out, not stopping to see if anyone was staring at her in disgust.
“Wow,” she heard Travis mumble behind her, “guess my Sweet Kiss isn’t going to resemble hers.”
“Nope,” Sasha replied. Her tone was stunned, yet elated. “That kind of Sweet Kiss is reserved for Ashley from now on.”
Then the door closed behind Ash, and she dared to turn around for one last glance back.
Her gaze met Sasha’s, and when Sasha smiled at her, Ash no longer cared how anyone else was looking at her.
If you enjoyed Not the Marrying Kind, check out Jae’s romance novel Perfect Rhythm, the book in which Holly and Leo met and fell in love.
About Jae
Jae grew up amidst the vineyards of southern Germany. She spent her childhood with her nose buried in a book, earning her the nickname “professor.” The writing bug bit her at the age of eleven. Since 2006, she has been writing mostly in English.
She used to work as a psychologist but gave up her day job in December 2013 to become a full-time writer and a part-time editor. As far as she’s concerned, it’s the best job in the world.
When she’s not writing, she likes to spend her time reading, indulging her ice cream and office supply addictions, and watching way too many crime shows.
CONNECT WITH JAE
Website: www.jae-fiction.com
E-Mail: [email protected]
Other Books from Ylva Publishing
www.ylva-publishing.com
Perfect Rhythm
(Fair Oaks Series – Book 1)
Jae
ISBN: 978-3-95533-863-3 (mobi), 978-3-95533-864-0 (epub)
Length: 107,000 words (298 pages)
Pop star Leontyne Blake might sing about love, but she stopped believing in it a long time ago. What women want is her image, not the real her. When her father has a stroke, she flees the spotlight and returns to her tiny Missouri hometown.
In her childhood home, she meets small-town nurse Holly Drummond, who isn’t impressed by Leo’s fame at all. That isn’t the only thing that makes Holly different from other women. She’s also asexual. For her, dating is a minefield of expectations that she has decided to avoid.
Can the tentative friendship between a burned-out pop star and a woman not interested in sex develop into something more despite their diverse expectations?
A lesbian romance about seeking the perfect rhythm between two very different people—and finding happiness where they least expect it.
A Curious Woman
Jess Lea
ISBN: 978-3-96324-161-1 (mobi), 978-3-96324-162-8 (epub)
Length: 100,000 words (283 pages)
Bess Campbell has escaped to the windswept Australian coastal town of Port Bannir, determined to begin her life again. She is loving her fresh start, thanks to her fun job running a hip gallery, her territorial chickens, and a lot of self-help books to find her new, better self.
Port Bannir local Margaret Gale runs an austere maritime museum, and rules her staff with an iron fist. She has no time for that crazy modern gallery or upbeat, earnest Bess sweeping around town on her hipster bicycle.
After a heated dispute over an antique collectible dildo, there’s little hope Margaret and Bess will ever see eye to eye.
But when Port Bannir is rocked by a senseless murder, both women find themselves implicated. Can they work together to expose the truth––or will the truth prove far too dangerous?
A funny, fabulous, cozy mystery filled with quirkiness and a sweet serve
of lesbian romance.
Major Surgery
Lola Keeley
ISBN: 978-3-96324-146-8 (mobi), 978-3-96324-147-5 (epub)
Length: 69,000 words (198 pages)
Skilled surgeon Veronica Mallick runs her London hospital department like she runs her surgeries: with hawkish efficiency. Then her perfect world is turned upside down by the arrival of a new Head of Trauma.
Cassie Taylor is a brash, no-nonsense army surgeon, fresh from the front lines, and trying to find her way in civilian life. She’s all action and sharp edges, not too interested in rules. She’s even less interested in bureaucracy, or playing nice with her uptight, paper-pushing colleague, Veronica.
While they’re circling each other warily at St. Sophia’s hospital, Cassie becomes entangled in some shady financial dealings.
Their shared search for the truth draws them closer together, sparking heated moments as they try to see justice done. But in exposing a scandal, can they also find some common ground? How will they both deal with being attracted to a woman they don’t even like?
An enemies-to-lovers lesbian romance about sexy, smart doctors cutting to the heart of what matters.
Hooked on You
Jenn Matthews
ISBN: 978-3-96324-134-5 (mobi), 978-3-96324-135-2 (epub)
Length: 98,000 pages (281 pages)
Anna’s life’s in a bit of a rut. As a teacher with two great kids and a boyfriend, she seems to have it all. Except…she’s bored as hell. Perhaps a new hobby’s in order? Something…crafty?
Divorced mother and veteran Ollie has been through the wars, emotionally and physically. To relax, she runs a quirky crochet class in her English craft shop. She can’t help but notice the attractive, feisty new student. A shame Anna’s straight as an arrow.
But somewhere between the chain stitches, doubles and trebles, Ollie and Anna form a powerful connection they never expected.
A quirky lesbian romance about love never being quite where you expect.
Not the Marrying Kind
© 2019 by Jae
ISBN (mobi): 978-3-96324-195-6
ISBN (epub): 978-3-96324-196-3
Also available as paperback.
Published by Ylva Publishing, legal entity of Ylva Verlag, e.Kfr.
Ylva Verlag, e.Kfr.
Owner: Astrid Ohletz
Am Kirschgarten 2
65830 Kriftel
Germany
www.ylva-publishing.com
First edition: 2019
No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to locales, events, business establishments, or actual persons—living or dead—is entirely coincidental.
Credits
Edited by Amber Williams
Cover Design and Print Layout by Streetlight Graphics