Page 78 of Clap Back (Carter Brothers)

I got out of my truck and jogged up to the door, nodding my head at the man as his eyes turned to take me in.

“Auden!” she breathed as she rushed to me, throwing her arms around my shoulders. “Why aren’t you at work?”

Her eyes went comically wide, and then she whispered, “You weren’t fired, were you?”

I grinned down at her. “Not fired, no. You like the place?”

She pulled back, but only far enough to grab my hand in between her two, and started showing me around.

“This place is awesome,” she said. “It’s new construction. The people who were going to move in had an unexpected death in the family and had to move back to Indiana. So, all of this is brand new. Everything. Not a single carton of milk has been left in this fridge.”

The fridge was very nice.

It was about four times the size of mine at home.

“Shit,” I said. “That’s huge.”

“It’s my dream fridge,” she breathed. “And I’m in love.”

“It’s awesome,” I admitted, taking in the rest of the shiny place.

Stainless steel countertops. Stainless steel walls up to about six feet.

“This looks pretty perfect,” I admitted. “Not that I really know what I’m looking for when it comes to things like bakeries.”

She snickered and pointed at something. “This is the walk-in freezer/cooler. This is the bathroom and breakroom area. You already saw the front with all the display cases.”

“It’s rent to own as well,” the man who I assumed was the realtor said. “The owners agreed to allow a test out period of three months. If she wants to buy it, her three months’ rent for this place will go toward purchase price.”

I nodded, thinking that was a fantastic idea.

“They’ll also lend me a box truck they had planned to use for deliveries,” Maven continued, floating around like she was on cloud nine.

Grinning at her excitement, I went through the rest of the space with her, loving her bright smile.

“Oh!” she cried. “And the best part!”

She squeezed my hand and tugged, leading me out of the break room and up to a set of stairs that had been hidden by what I thought was a closet.

It was not.

The stairs led up to a loft apartment that had me inwardly scowling.

“I have a space to stay here!” she cried. “But no garden. I’m going to get this guy to list my house, though.”

I pasted on a happy smile, even though I wanted her to stay at my place with me.

That really was too soon, though.

At least for her.

“This is great, honey,” I said resolutely. “It’ll get you out of Dallas, away from him. And you’ll be close.”

To me.

Her smile was warm as she said, “My thoughts exactly.”

I am in my own little world. You need a wrist band to get in here.

---