We Never Kissed

Chapter 25

Ava

Cass came out of the back, holding a tray full of double chocolate chip muffins and refilled the case to my right.

“How are you doing, girl?” she asked me with a smile. Only Cass could be genuinely happy, even though she’d been baking since three in the morning.

I gave the customer their boxed order and told her, “I’m good.” Then, I glanced over to Gunnar, who was sitting at one of the tables, eating a chocolate-filled croissant next to Dax. “How about you, Gunnar? Are you hanging in there?” I asked sarcastically.

We had both arrived around six to help with the fundraiser the bakery was having for the pediatric unit at the hospital my mom worked at.

With his mouth full, Gunnar nodded, finished chewing, and then swallowed. Gesturing to his stomach, he said, “You’ve seen these abs…all this muscle needs fuel. And if I don’t get sustenance after exerting myself, I shut down.” He handed a napkin to Dax. “Plus, I’m keeping the little guy company, right?”

Dax popped a donut hole into his mouth and nodded with a big grin that rivaled his mother’s. He was enjoying Gunnar’s company entirely too much, and I could already see that would be another reason for Alex to feel threatened by him.

Cass laughed. “Well, we appreciate any help at all.” She carried her empty tray to the back.

Sammy had just finished wiping down some tables and was coming around the counter to help me fill orders and run the cash register, when I saw Alex walk through the door.

We exchanged a secretive grin, and a little thrill of excitement shot through me. The giddy feeling was new to me, something I hadn’t experienced with other men I’d dated, not even Mark.

I tried not to stare at him, but the man had always drawn eyes from women wherever he went. I just hoped Sammy didn’t notice my behavior. Alex and I hadn’t really been around the family that much since we’d been together, and I wasn’t sure how we would be able to pull it off without drawing suspicion. We also hadn’t worried about having the hard conversations yet—even though it was starting to feel like it was time—and just wanted to enjoy every moment together we had before all the complications started.

When I took another peek, I saw that Alex had gotten in line behind three people. We made eyes at each other as I helped an older gentleman who couldn’t make up his mind. Sammy was busy chatting and ringing up customers, so he didn’t notice, I was sure.

Thankfully, by the time Alex got to the front, Gunnar had jumped up and came behind the counter. It was a bit crowded for three people, so I moved to the very end of the display case to talk with Alex.

I often saw him in a suit but typically without the jacket that he wore now, and damn his shoulders were heavenly. The suit, midnight blue with a crisp white shirt and silver-blue tie, looked like it was tailor-made for him. I almost had to shake my head to remove the image of me undressing him. His half-grin felt like he was reading my mind, the cocky bastard.

“What are you doing here?” I lifted my brows.

“I’m gonna get a dozen,” Alex said, gesturing to the donuts. “Plus, I heard there was some hot little thing working behind the counter.”

Heat rushed to my cheeks. He’d said it quietly enough, but I still shot my gaze over to Sammy to see if he had heard.

“Uh…that’s kind of you—for the fundraiser, I mean.” Yeah, I sounded formal and awkward, and I hated it. All I wanted to do was hug him and before “us,” I probably would have and now I felt like I couldn’t.

“Okay…I promised your mom, and I figured I might as well bring some donuts for my team. I’ve been riding their asses a little hard lately with this deal.”

“Oh, yeah, when is that going to be done?” I knew finishing that deal wouldn’t guarantee he never had to deal with Jessica again, but I blurted it out anyway.

“Three weeks maybe,” he said with a grin.

As Alex slowly and meticulously picked out each of his dozen donuts, our eyes kept catching each other’s and holding little conversations.

When he was done, he added, “Four of those Apple Fritters, too, please.”

I’d needed two boxes to fit everything, and once I had it packaged up, I moved to the cash register, set them in front of Sammy, then pretended to clean the area around the coffee maker while Sammy rang up Alex, and Gunnar helped someone else .

“Hey, man,” Sammy said to Alex.

“Great turnout.” He handed Sammy his card. “Are we still on for the cigar room on Friday?”

I was surprised because I didn’t know anything about that—not that he had to run his plans by me.

“About that…” Sammy said.

As Sammy ran the card, Alex said, “You’re not backing out on me, are you?”

“Not backing out, but what if we hit the cigar room next time and do a double date, me and Cass and you and Lauren?”

My mouth flew open, but thankfully, Sammy couldn’t see me behind him. Gunnar must have been listening, too, because he shot me a look. I tried not to let it affect me, but why the hell would Sammy think Lauren and Alex were dating? Then my brain shot back to that kiss at the bar. Alex must not have set him straight, and I knew why. It wasn’t a big deal… Unless they actually went on a date, and that was where I would draw the damn line with this charade.

My pulse raced as I waited for Alex’s answer; the adrenaline almost had me speaking up, claiming my man right there in front of Sammy and all these strangers.

“I think I can handle my own dating life.”

“Can you?” Gunnar said, and we all snapped our heads to him. He winced and said, “Oops,” then handed a woman her coffee and pretended everything was perfectly normal.

Alex picked up his boxes from the counter. “Thanks, man, but let’s stick with the cigar room. Should be fun and we can…catch up.” Alex’s eyes darted to me, and I hoped that meant he was thinking the same thing I was. The longer we kept us a secret the worse it would be when everyone found out.

“Yeah, sure,” Sammy said. “Talk soon…”

There was a woman behind Alex itching to order so that took Sammy’s attention as Alex moved away from the counter. I didn’t want him to go yet, but I knew he had to. Moving to the side counter, I watched him stop at the table where Dax was seated. He set his boxes down, gave Dax a hug, and the two exchanged words I couldn’t hear.

The rush had died down, but when the door opened, I took my gaze over that way on instinct. Then I almost gasped, my jaw slacking for the second time that morning.

It was Mark.