‘Women get a little wonky around Brandon. They think he resembles Ryan Gosling.’ Travis flicked a hand. ‘I don’t get the connection other than they share the last name.’
‘Well, I’ll try to control myself.’
A tow truck pulled up beside Jessie’s car.
‘Hey, Travis.’ Brandon climbed out of the truck and shook Travis’ hand. ‘Great to see you. How have you been?’
‘I’m good. You?’
‘All is well. Business is busy.’ He nodded to Jessie. ‘Who is this lovely lady?’
Travis glanced at Jessie. As expected, her gaze had locked onto Brandon. ‘This is my friend, Jessie. Her car won’t start.’
Brandon’s brow rose. ‘Hello, Travis’ friend, Jessie.’
‘I … umm … hi … my car … is dead.’
Why did women lose their minds over this guy? Travis shook his head. He especially didn’t enjoy Jessie’s full attention on Brandon.
‘Let’s see what’s going on.’ Brandon checked under the hood.
Jessie nudged Travis’ arm. ‘Wow. The resemblance is uncanny.’
‘What happened to controlling yourself?’
‘I thought you were joking. Are you sure they’re not related?’
Responding by shaking his head was pointless. She spoke to Travis, but her stare stayed glued to Brandon. An invisible punch inflicted Travis’ stomach. ‘No relation.’
Brandon closed the hood. ‘I have to tow her to the shop. The starter or solenoid may need replacing.’ He turned to Jessie. ‘We’re closed tomorrow, but since you’re a friend of Travis’, we’ll put a rush on it for Monday morning. Need a ride?’
‘Yes—’
‘No.’ Travis straightened, interrupting Jessie’s response. ‘I’ll drive her home.’
Jessie’s eyebrows rose. ‘I guess I have a ride.’ She fetched her purse from the car. ‘Thank you, Brandon. Here’s my key … and my number, if there’s any problem.’
She wore a broad smile and blushing cheeks as she returned to the bakery.
Shaking his head, Travis helped Brandon hitch the car to the tow.
‘Thanks for the help.’ Brandon wiped his hands on a cloth then tossed it in the truck. ‘She’s a beauty. Does she work at the bakery?’
Travis followed Brandon’s gaze. ‘Yes.’ He pushed his buddy into the driver’s seat of the tow truck. ‘Don’t get any ideas.’
‘You described Jessie as your friend, not girlfriend.’ Brandon closed the door then leaned an elbow on the open window. ‘What’s the deal? You’re damn protective over a co-worker.’
‘We’re not involved.’ Travis hoped his direct answer would end the conversation.
‘You should be.’ Brandon held up a hand. ‘Unless, the date with Maggie went well?’
‘How do you know about that?’ He paused, guessing the answer to his own question. Liam. The guys at the fire station gossiped more than a group of old women in a knitting gathering.
‘So, Maggie?’
Travis shook his head. ‘She’s a super lady. Just not the one for me.’
‘Because your attention lies elsewhere.’ Brandon’s gaze flew to the shop again.
‘Jessie?’ He felt his pulse stall. He couldn’t keep every man away just because he wasn’t smart enough to act on the attraction. ‘I told you. No—’
Brandon started the truck. ‘I’d try my luck, but I see the way you look at her.’
‘You’re crazy.’ Travis pushed Brandon’s elbow off the window.
‘Chemistry, man. Resistance is futile. Give me a call when you set the wedding date.’ Laughing, Brandon waved as he drove out of the parking lot.
Thinking about his buddy’s comments, Travis walked to the bakery. Was his attraction to Jessie that apparent? He thought he’d done a good job withstanding the compelling pull. Maybe not.
The date with Maggie had gone well. She was beautiful, smart, and ambitious. She had everything he looked for in a woman. Unfortunately, visions of Jessie’s alluring face manipulated his mind. Maggie had speculated his attention was elsewhere, and Travis didn’t deny her deduction. He couldn’t date one woman while thinking of another.
‘Everything okay?’ Jessie met him at the door.
‘Your car is in good hands.’ He headed to the back room. ‘I’m sure you want to get home. I’ll unload the truck of those supplies.’
‘I can help.’
The baking supplies were unloaded and packed in the cupboards in record time. Jessie then insisted he drop by the church before going to her apartment. Travis had previously explained his plan to visit the church, but didn’t expect her to join him inside and have her volunteer to help serve the meal.
‘I had so much fun,’ Jessie said when they arrived at her apartment two hours later. ‘Wait. I didn’t mean to sound uncaring.’ She tossed her purse in a closet by the door.
‘I know what you mean.’ Smiling, Travis glanced around the small space. ‘The first time is pretty overwhelming.’
‘Shock is the best way to describe how I felt about seeing people looking for shelter and something to eat. Listening to their stories made my heart break. A simple act of kindness goes a long way on both ends. I plan to volunteer more often.’ She waved a hand at the sofa. ‘Please sit. I’ll start supper.’
‘Can I help with anything?’ He should have dropped her off at the door downstairs, but he couldn’t resist her tempting smile. Her caring nature at the church convinced him to reconsider his no-dating-employees rule. She’d worn a smile that not only lured the needy, but softened Travis’ vow to protect his heart.
‘Sit.’ Jessie pointed a finger at the sofa. ‘I invited you here to thank you for everything. My car, bringing me to the church, and the drive home. Besides, my kitchen barely fits one.’
He sat on the beige faux suede sofa. ‘You have a nice place.’ Small, yet cozy.
‘Not a lot of room, but perfect for one. When Mr Moretti showed me the apartment, he sold me with the view from the balcony.’
Travis assumed living close to the waterfront cost a pretty penny. He assumed the day Jessie first walked into the bakery with no skills resulted from desperation to pay the rent.
As if she guessed his thoughts, she answered his silent questions.
‘I know Mr Moretti is only charging me half of what this apartment should rent for. He said the discounted rate was due to it being the last available unit. He wanted a responsible tenant and he claimed I fit the requirements. I needed a place to stay, and I couldn’t afford much, so I didn’t argue.’ She placed a cover over the pot on the stove then reached for a frying pan in a cupboard by the fridge. ‘Mr Moretti has a big heart, which I don’t intend to take advantage of. I’ve already told him I expect a rental increase at the end of the month.’
‘How weird is the coincidence he’s Mom’s old school friend.’ His mother had sent him a message stating she’d left the bakery early to catch up with Angelo. While cleaning up after serving at the church, Jessie filled in Travis on the missing details.
‘I know. She just told me the story only moments before, then in walks Mr Moretti.’
‘Fate works in mysterious ways.’
She glanced up from the stove. ‘Especially when Heather is involved.’
Chuckling, he inhaled the smell of chicken frying. He stood and joined her in the kitchen. ‘What’s on the menu?’ He lingered behind Jessie, peeking over her shoulder.
‘I’m not a chef, or a baker.’ She snickered. ‘But I make delicious chicken fried rice. I’ve prepared a few vegetables as a side dish.’
‘Sounds yummy—’ Figurines on the window ledge above the sink caught his attention. ‘Did you make these?’ He grazed her hip as he moved for a closer look. An electric charge surged his pulse.
‘I did.’ She placed a cover on the frying pan. ‘A gift for Mr Moretti. He loves plants. I thought he’d like to add them among the trees and flowers in the entry.’
Travis reached out then pulled away his hand. ‘Can I?’
‘Of course.’
The handcrafted clay moulds consisted of ladybugs, bumblebees, butterflies, and flowers. Each insect had lines defining facial features, body, and wings. ‘The detailing is exquisite.’
‘Thank you.’
He turned to catch a flush of pink staining her cheeks.
‘They’re not done. They have to be painted.’
‘When did you learn to sculpt?’ He set a butterfly on the ledge.
‘Years ago in school. I majored in Fine Arts.’
Travis stared into her eyes. This beautiful woman continued to amaze him. He moved his gaze to her lips then stepped forward.
The stove timer buzzed.
‘Supper … is … ready.’ She pushed him out of the tiny kitchen, muttering something under her breath.
Travis wished to read her thoughts, and to know why her shoulders suddenly went stiff.
She passed him dishes and pointed to the small dinette. He set the table, silently cursing himself for ruining the mood. ‘So, tell me more about those figurines. Is sculpting a past career or a hobby?’
Jessie’s face lit with excitement as they discussed her love of creating shapes and objects. Throughout the meal, he learned her artistic abilities were a hobby, but he saw passion in her eyes.
‘We’re getting more requests for unique cake designs.’ He set his fork on the empty plate and swallowed the last mouthful of soda. ‘My decorating skills have a limit. The characters I create aren’t anywhere near the perfection of what I’d like. I can’t get the real-life visual like my mother’s sculpting. Do you think you could carve modelling chocolate?’
She took the empty plates to the kitchen. ‘I’ve never tried, but I can’t see why not.’
Travis joined her in the kitchen to help wash the dishes. The area by the sink had limited standing space for two. He enjoyed the close proximity, breathing in the smell of her coconut hair and floral scented skin. ‘I’d love some help with a birthday cake. The mother said her son loves to play baseball.’ He dried the frying pan and placed it on the counter. ‘I designed the cake into a diamond field. I’m adding baseballs and bats and wanted to add a few players.’ He raised a brow.
‘Maybe a few boys wearing the colour of the team’s jerseys, and one of the players should have the birthday boy’s number.’
Travis tossed the dishtowel in the air. ‘Home run! You read my mind.’
Laughing, Jessie rinsed the sink and set the dishcloth over the faucet. ‘I’ve sculpted a few people. With a little practice, I could create the characters. I can’t guarantee they’ll be perfection.’ She nudged past him to get to the fridge. ‘I don’t have any beer. Will a glass of wine do?’
The caress of her bare arm against his flustered his thoughts. ‘Umm … sure.’
Travis poured the wine and followed her into the living room. To his dismay, she sat in the armchair, leaving him no choice but to sit alone on the sofa.
‘I know tomorrow is your day off, and you probably have plans. But if you have an hour or two to spare, could you drop by the bakery?’ He set his glass on the small coffee table. Not only was he anxious to check out her sculpting with modelling chocolate, he also wanted to spend more time with her.
‘Oh, tomorrow?’
A scowl cloaked her beautiful face.
He held up a hand. ‘You have plans. Don’t worry. Monday is fine.’ He wondered if she changed her mind about going on a date with the guy at the sporting-goods store. His mother had casually mentioned a good-looking guy stopped in the shop to ask Jessie to dinner but she declined. Her additional mention of the customer’s coffee order gave Travis a hint to the man’s identity. Her rejection of the date gave Travis hope … until now.
‘Nothing set in stone. I wanted to visit my parents tomorrow.’ She squeezed the pillow at her side. ‘Since I won’t have my car, I’ll have to take the bus …’
She stared through the glass balcony doors. Jessie hadn’t spoken of her parents, not even to his mother, and Travis had chosen not to pry into her private life … until now. He wanted to know more about the woman who’d made him consider putting his heart at risk.
‘I’m scared.’
Travis moved to the edge of the sofa. ‘Of what?’
Jessie’s gaze met his. She gripped the pillow in her hand.
Something or someone troubled her. He was sucker-punched in the gut by an overwhelming urge to protect her.
‘I haven’t seen my parents in years. We’re not close.’ She swiped a finger beneath her eye.
He turned to putty under a woman’s tears. Thankfully, her stare fixated on the pillow being flattened between her hands. ‘I’m a good listener if you—’
‘My parents are doctors. Surgeons. They have titles that come with their positions. A status quo had to be followed in our family at all times. Speak when spoken to. Dress like a lady. Adhere to proper etiquette. Don’t give people a reason to talk.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘Social ranking ruled my parents, and made my life a living misery.’
‘Sounds rough.’ He longed to reach across the small space separating them and hold her hands.
‘Desperate to escape the regimen at home, I actually looked forward to summer camp.’ She shrugged. ‘Thankfully, I had Marsha, our housekeeper and cook. She taught me how to ride a bike, jump rope, draw, have fun … and laugh.’
Travis didn’t know how to respond. He only had one absent parent. Not two. ‘Did you leave after high school?’
She sipped her wine. ‘I wanted to. I held on to the hope they’d see me as an adult and change their opinion. Unfortunately, the situation got worse. My surgeon parents insisted I study medicine. I rocked the roof when I enrolled in Fine Arts. They weren’t impressed. I continued to rebel. They’d say left. I’d turn right.’
He could see bits and pieces of the real Jessie, and a guarded wall cracking.
‘When they saw I had talent,’ she continued, ‘they eased off. I should have celebrated their acceptance. Instead, I left school and impulsively moved in with my boyfriend. Then, I decided I wanted more. Not caring about what I’d leave behind, I packed and moved to California.’
‘Wow.’ Upon meeting Jessie, Travis thought she’d pass as a model. The way she dressed, styled her hair, and held a professional stance.
‘I foolishly believed I could do anything.’ She pulled her legs onto the chair to sit cross-legged. ‘I mastered the polished look by wearing hand-me-downs from the models I painted make-up on. I also worked on a film set as an assistant. I fetched coffee and took messages. Fortunately, I made enough money to pay for the charade of a lifestyle. I created a manifestation of someone I didn’t recognize.’ She stopped and wiped tears from her cheeks. ‘To do the complete opposite of what my parents wanted, I lost myself in the process. I made a lot of mistakes, and I didn’t like the person I’d become. That is my fault, not my parents’.’
Travis left the sofa to sit on the floor beside Jessie’s chair. He reached for her hand and dragged her onto the carpet. Holding her tight in his arms, he rubbed her back until her sobbing lessened. ‘You’re the sweetest woman I know. You’re courteous and patient with our customers. At the church, you were caring and compassionate.’
Sniffing, she leaned away slightly. ‘I left California and moved to Toronto, working at a coffee shop to earn enough money to come home, vowing to find me again.’
‘And?’ He glanced at the woman cradled in his arms.
‘I found her, thanks to Mr Moretti, Heather, and you.’
Travis wiped a smudge of mascara from under her eye, captivated by her gaze. He lowered his face to hers and met the softest lips he’d ever kissed. Her response matched his fever. Their tongues explored and danced. Her body trembled beneath his. Travis came alive at that very moment, blood pounding through his veins. ‘You’ve captured my heart,’ he muttered against her mouth. The words fell effortlessly off his tongue. He’d fallen for the beauty in his arms. Maybe even on the first day they’d met.
‘Don’t you have a no-dating-employees rule?’
The scent of fruit, like cherries and strawberries, caressed the side of his face. ‘Rules were made to be broken.’ He placed gentle kisses along her jaw and down her neck. ‘I’m willing to take that leap, only if … I take the jump with your hand in mine.’
She stretched her fingers wide and intertwined them into his. ‘You obviously haven’t noticed. I’m smitten by you, Mr Cooper. I’m not running anymore.’
Chapter Eight
Jessie stared at her reflection in the mirror. Smiling lips and rosy cheeks stared back. I should have wished for my car solenoid to die sooner. Last night had been the best night of her life. She didn’t plan to share her story; however, exposing her troubled past had lifted a huge weight. Travis hadn’t judged. His tenderness crushed the last stone supporting her emotional wall. They went from cuddling on the floor to watching the sun set from the balcony, and then returned to snuggling on the floor. The memory of their heated kisses caused her stomach to cartwheel. With one kiss she’d fallen for her boss. All reservations were gone. She hoped seeing her parents came as easy.
The sleeveless pink blouse and white jeans she wore would be sufficient. She slipped her feet into a pair of white flats. In the past, she’d arrive at her parents’ house dressed to impress. Not today. Clothes didn’t matter. The change was in her attitude. The woman staring in the mirror stood confident and strong. She wouldn’t run or hide behind a facade.
Too much time wasted choosing an outfit, Jessie rushed to the living room and grabbed her purse. Travis was waiting. Last night, she had agreed to help at the bakery and visit her parents afterward. He’d offered to chauffeur to and from each destination.
As the elevator doors opened, she saw Travis pulling into the parking lot. She slipped onto the passenger seat. He leaned over the gearshift to place a lingering kiss on her lips. I could get used to morning kisses.
‘Perfect timing, as always.’ He winked. ‘You look beautiful, as always.’
Warmth caressed her cheeks. ‘Thank you for the drive.’
On the ride to the bakery, Travis didn’t mention her second objective of the day. He truly seemed excited to have her design the figures for the baseball birthday cake. Upon entering the shop, she began her shop-opening ritual.
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