Page 8 of Baking for His Omega (Omegas of Oliver Creek #13)
Kelly
The day after the party, I woke with Gideon on my mind. He’d been so kind the day before. Not only had he delivered that star-of-the-show cake to my door personally, but he’d stayed. He held my son, put up the pinata. He cleaned up beside me as though my house were his.
He hung out while I bathed Wyatt for the third time that day and put him to bed.
He listened as if he was actually interested in what I had to say.
It had been a long time since someone took such care with me. If ever.
I wanted to see him again. It wouldn’t be weird for me to go into his shop for a treat. People did that all the time. It didn’t mean I was scoping him out or trying to see him again, which I was.
Damn it, this was hard. On one hand, I shouldn’t be looking or pursuing any kind of romantic relationship. I was still cold and scarred inside by Judson. It hadn’t been that long since we split up. I had Wyatt as my priority.
I had to put him first.
Still, I wanted to do something to thank the big bear for all his help, and the only way I could think of doing that was by giving him some business.
After I fed Wyatt breakfast and we went to the park for a while, I made my way to the bakery. My stomach fluttered with nerves as I approached the place and giggled to myself. This felt like I was going to see my crush.
Not crush. Mate. For life. Our alpha.
That wasn’t the only thing my deer was communicating. He’d sent me visions of Gideon that were anything but PG. He had it bad. My deer didn’t understand my hang-ups about it. In his mind, Gideon was our fated mate, and everything I had in my mind against it was petty details that could be worked out.
He thought the bear would be the perfect second father to our fawn. Someone to care for us—protect us. Give us all the love and time we’d needed from Judson but never received.
I stopped just shy of the shop’s windows to get control of myself. In the reflection of the glass from the adjacent shop, I could see myself blushing and smiling like a fool. I didn’t want to walk in and greet Gideon that way.
I didn’t want him to get the wrong idea.
And yet, I really wanted to be right smack dab in the middle of that bad idea.
Ugh. I had to stop thinking that way.
“Wyatt, do you want a treat? I bet they have bear claws. Those are my favorite.” The irony wasn’t lost on me.
We walked in and got in line. The place was busy with customers. The clean, crisp atmosphere was inviting. Pristine, but not in a cold way. Inviting. I wanted to pull up a chair and enjoy my treat here.
And, of course, before the pastries and cakes, my eyes landed on the man behind the counter. Gideon was certainly in his element. His apron was the absolute end of me. This was where he belonged. In this niche. Telling people the delicious details of his treats. Selling them with his smile and his zeal over his pastries. The woman at the counter was ready to hand over all her money. She was swooning.
I stayed in line, patiently waiting my turn. The bear was so focused on each customer that he didn’t even realize I was there until I was face-to-face with him.
“Hi,” I said. Yep, the blush was back.
“Kelly, it’s good to see you again. What can I get for you?”
I was the last in line and everyone else had gone out, happy, with their treats in hand. “I was hoping there were some bear claws? What else do you recommend?”
“One second.” Gideon rushed to the back and returned with a tray of bear claws. “I had just put the icing and almonds on these before the rush. They are still warm.”
“That’s great. Thank you.”
He nodded. “I have a peach cobbler danish too. It’s a new item today. Would you like to try one?”
“It’s new?” I asked.
“Yes. I was inspired this morning.” He pulled out a danish from the case. It had baked, fresh peaches on top and a sprinkling of cinnamon and crystal sugar. “Here. On the house. I’d love to hear what you think about it.”
Wyatt was in his stroller and, while I took a bite of the danish, Gideon came around and crouched in front of my fawn and spoke to him and me.
“Oh, it’s delicious, Gideon,” I said, moaning. Goddess, how embarrassing.
“I’m so pleased you like it. What about Wyatt? What would he like?”
I scanned the case. I wanted to get Wyatt something, but he hit his threshold of sugar for the month the day before. “I don’t know.”
“How about a fruit cup? I make them up daily in case someone wants a healthier choice. There are some cubes of angel food cake, but that’s it.”
“That would be great but…” I hated this part. I should be able to provide a small treat for my child. “I am on a bit of a budget.”
Gideon rose up to his full height. “It’s on the house. I’m glad you two came. How about we sit together and enjoy a break?”
“Are you sure? There might be another rush.”
“I’m sure.”
We sat at a table, and Gideon brought over another danish for himself and my bear claw, along with a fruit cup and spoon for Wyatt. “Thank you. And thank you for all your help yesterday.”
“You’re welcome. I’m happy you came today. I was actually planning on calling you tonight.”
That took me by surprise. My heart fluttered. “You were?”
“Yes. But since you’re here, I can ask you in person. Would you like to go out on a date with me, omega?”
Omega. The word fell from his mouth like warm honey. Sweet. Inviting. Dangerously sexy.
I said nothing for a moment. I wanted to say yes, and my deer was already celebrating inside me.
No. I couldn’t be hurt again. And I wouldn’t bring another male into my life who would bond with Wyatt only to leave us again.
“I can’t,” I said and got up so fast I knocked the chair over and almost fell down.
Gideon shot out of his chair and caught my arm, stopping me from making an even bigger idiot of myself. “I see,” he said, and my heart broke. He sounded so disappointed.
“I have to go.”
Wyatt and I were out of there in seconds, and almost instantly the regret sank in. I told myself the decision was the right one for me and my son but, that night, as I lay awake in bed, alone, I wondered if that was true.