Page 25 of Sweet Spot

Chapter Seventeen

Macy

Chuck had hada slow day at the smoothie stand, and he'd been visiting me all day. He also had incredible intuition, and he'd picked up that something was going on with me. Of course, the fact that I was dropping things, messing up orders and forgetting to give back change might have had something to do with it.

He was standing in his bright blue Hawaiian shirt sipping a smoothie outside of my kiosk as I cleaned up for the day. "Well, Macy, are you going to fill me in on the details, or are you just going to let me use my vivid, overactive imagination to color in the lines?"

I lifted my chin in nonchalance. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Oh, come on. You've been distracted and an absolute butterfingers all day." He slapped his hand on the counter. "You've met someone. That's what that rosy glow floating around you is about. Who is it? I want to hear all about him."

I turned to the coffee station to hide the smile and blush that was sure to give me away. Chuck was too clever.

"Ah ha, I can see pink rising up your neck. There must be one heck of a story to tell. Dish it out and don't leave off any of the yummy stuff."

I turned back to Chuck. "It's nothing yet. Only the sparks of something, and it probably won't lead to anything because he is way out of my league. We aren't even from the same planet when I really think about it."

"Nonsense." Chuck asked me something else, but my attention was drawn away. Chase walked around the corner from the parking structure. His gaze shot straight across the plaza and crashed with mine. His bright white smile followed. I had to tamp down the rush of excitement that went through me.

"Well?" Chuck's irritated tone brought me back to the conversation.

"I'm sorry, Chuck, what did you ask?"

"I asked if he was good looking. Not that it matters, of course. It's what's inside that matters, but no one ever complains about a sweet outer package. Is he handsome?"

Chase headed my direction. I could hardly hear my own thoughts over the heartbeat pounding in my chest. "Actually, Chuck, he's beautiful. Mr. Beautiful, to be exact."

Chase walked up behind Chuck, who was standing dumbstruck with his mouth forming a perfect O.

"Afternoon," Chase said, adding in a complimentary grin.

"Aft—afternoon," Chuck stuttered and stumbled quickly away and over to George's hot dog stand.

Chase watched him hurry away and then turned back to me. "What are you doing this afternoon? I find myself with a half day off. Got finished early."

"Must be nice. I've got to clean up today's work so I can go home and start on tomorrow's work. It's sort of a never-ending cycle."

"Do you need some help?"

"Sure. How much do you know about making pastries?"

"I'm pretty good at eating them." Chase walked around to my side of the counter and took hold of my hand. He kissed the back of it and licked his lips. "Hmm, just like sugar."

"That would be the sticky glaze on the cherry tarts."

He shook his head. "Nope. I think it's just you. I'll come help. I'm a very fast learner. Especially when the baker is a hottie in an apron, working a rolling pin."

"If you sure you've got nothing better to do."

"Than spend time with you? Nothing better than that." He pushed my chin up with his fingers and kissed me on the lips. He licked his own again. "Yep, sugar. Pure sweet sugar. I'll see you at your place." He walked away.

George and Chuck scurried right over. "Oh holy shit, Macy. You landed Mr. Beautiful." Chuck's smile faded fast though. He took hold of my hand. "Be careful with that heart of yours. It's still on the mend and that man is six feet of pure heartbreak."

"I know, Chuck. I'm trying to keep my head clear, but he's making it awfully hard." The three of us watched as Mr. Beautiful, currently my Mr. Beautiful, disappeared through the tinted glass doors.

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