Page 16 of Just A Chance

I place an arm on both of his to force him out, but the short length of my left arm just means I’ve plastered myself to his chest. “How about you measure the distance from my shop to your own home.”

He smiles down at me, not moving a muscle under my sheer force. “Already did. It’s 13.3 miles.”

That shouldn’t cause goosebumps to break out along my skin, but it does. “Then measure something,anythingelse.”

“I measured the kitchen cabinets as well. Some of those are barely holding.”

“I know. But this place was already a bakery before I got here, which was the only way I could afford it.”

“Don’t worry darling, I can fix it.”

“Don’t call me darling,” I glare at him.

“Sunny, then?”

“No.” He doesn’t get to use that nickname again after all this time.

The doorbell chimes, and I stomp away from him. Clearly, he's not leaving anytime soon.

A pretty redhead is at the counter when I get there.

“Hi, I’m Rachel. I’m here for my interview,” she says.

Is it noon already? “Right! Hi! Sorry, we’ve been a bit busy today.” I don’t know why I said we; it’s only me here and that weirdo in the back.

“Should we take a seat?” I point to one of the five chairs I own out front just as Sean emerges.

“Sean Bentley?” Rachel says, her eyes narrowing to little slits. “What are you doing here?”

Of course, this beautiful woman would know Sean.

He twirls a hammer expertly around his hand. “Working.”

Rachel shakes her head. “Uh uh. No way. I will not workanywherenear that man.” She spins and walks straight out the door.

Andof course, that beautiful woman would hate him.

I scowl at Sean. “Thanks a lot. You just cost me an employee.”

He has the audacity to laugh. “She has a pet snake named Noodles.”

“And?”

“And she tends to lose it.” He crosses his arms, drawing my attention to his bulging biceps. “Trust me, I did you a favor.”

“You haven’t done me any favors since you showed up breaking things yesterday.” He flinches. But I don’t stop. “Please, Sean. Just leave.”

“Okay.” He purses his lips and slips the hammer back into the tool belt hanging loosely around his waist. “But…”

I throw my arms in the air. “But what?”

“I still have eighteen more desserts to try.”

I’m starting to understand why the witches were after him.

Chapter 8

Sean