Page 50 of Just A Chance

She taps her pencil on her notebook. “Then why are you always here?”

“My thoughts exactly.” London walks into the front of the shop with a smirk on those delicious lips. And just like that, there’s sunshine in my heart again.

She looks beautiful today in a bright yellow skirt under her apron, and her hair twisted back into a low bun.

“To, uh, fix the toilet.” I wink and slide by her.

I hear her tell Cassie and Grady goodbye before she finds me in the bathroom with my hand down the tank of the toilet.

“I thought we had a deal.” She leans against the doorframe.

I purse my lips. “Remind me.”

“You said you’d stop coming to fix things if I went on a date with you.” She rubs her arm. “And I did.”

That's my cue. I got the date; she’s done with me. But maybe I’m not ready to be done.

“Technically, we never got to finish.”

She lifts a shoulder. “A date doesn’t have requirements. We got together, we talked, we had fun. Date.”

I pull my hand out of the toilet and to my relief and slight amazement, the thing flushes. I wash my hands.

“Did you?”

I need to know what she thought of our date and where we are now.

She chews on her bottom lip. “I did.”

I walk to her then stop in the doorway and turn, planting my hand above her on the door frame. “What did you most enjoy?”

“Um…” She swallows, her eyes darting to my arm over her head. “The uh, tree. Everyone’s been talking about it.”

“I noticed the new donuts. And the creme puffs were a cute addition.”

She swallows again. “I’m surprised you didn’t steal them off the tree and eat them.”

My serious expression cracks. “Are you insinuating something?”

“Yes. You could eat me out of business.”

“I like an honest woman.” I pump my brows. “I have a question then.” I lower my voice, and my gaze finds those lips once more.

Her eyes drop to my mouth. “Hmm?”

“Are all those donuts making my butt look big?”

Her cheeks turn the most adorable shade of pink I’ve ever seen.

“You’re ridiculous.” She ducks out from under my arm and goes to the front of the shop. She grabs the cleaner and starts spraying the glass surfaces.

“You didn’t answer my question.” I plop my hand on the counter where she hasn’t cleaned yet. She sprays cleaner on my hand.

“I don’t want to hurt your fragile ego.”

“It’s cute you think it’s fragile.”

She rolls her eyes, and I continue to follow her like a shadow.