Page 4 of Lemon Cake

After a bit of back and forth, they settled on a time and place.

Rider drove home that day nearly bouncing in his seat, even picking out his outfit for the next day. He hadn’t felt this way about a woman since he’d been a teenager.

The feeling only intensified overnight and through all of the next day. Most of his days consisted of practice, workouts, food prep, and more workouts. But now his mind cycled back to Gemma, and those sweet red cheeks and deep blue eyes.

After practice he took a shower and couldn’t help but double check his appearance as he walked past the mirrors. His brown hair was still damp, but he knew with the Houston heat it would dry instantly. He’d chosen a tight-fitting shirt, his broad shoulders testing the strength of the fabric.

Fuck, maybe he should have chosen something less cocky? It was too late now anyway. So, he combed hisfingers through his hair and pushed it to the side. Walking out, he tried not to look nervous in front of his teammates.

He was thirty minutes early to the coffee shop in the Hyde Park area. Butterflies tickled in his stomach as he approached the shop and chose a seat out front. Houston heat was awful this time of year, but the ceiling fans at least made it bearable.

He pulled out his phone, not wanting to look as nervous as he felt. If Gemma found him staring into the parking lot like a creep, she was sure to turn around and leave.

Moments later, a sweet voice interrupted his doom scrolling. “May I join?” Gemma’s eyes shimmered in the sun as she smiled down at him. She wore dark jeans and a billowy blue blouse, her hair up in a messy bun just like the first time he’d seen her.

“Always.” Rider cleared his throat to hide the quiver in his voice. “I see I’m not the only one who’s early.”

“I thought traffic would be much worse.” Her eyes moved to the coffee shop behind him. “I’ve never been here.”

“I googled the place too,” he admitted and stood, loving how he towered over her. He’d always been one to protect the ones closest to him, and loved that he could use his body as a human shield if needed. “If we don’t find anything we like, there’s always a Starbucks on the corner.”

That made her grin, and she followed him inside. “So you’re not usually a coffee guy?”

“Oh, definitely! I just never gooutfor coffee.”

“I’m more of the hot chocolate girl.”

“Even in the mornings?”

She nodded as she studied her options on the board above the counter.

“I wouldn’t be able to wake up without caffeine.”

“I love the smell of freshly brewed coffee, but never liked the taste.”

“Interesting.”

“I know—I’m weird.”

“I think it makes you special.”

Gemma blushed and gave her order to the barista, asking for extra cream on top. Rider made sure to store that information away for later.

He ordered his coffee and rushed to pay before she could even reach for her wallet.

Gemma looked up, giving him a genuine smile. “Thank you.”

“So, Gemma—what is it you do for a living?”

“Oh, just wrangling little monsters and wiping up their slime.” She grinned at his confused expression and quickly added, “I work at a daycare.”

“Oh…” He felt stupid for not having picked up on that.

“They aren’t really monsters, but I do wipe up slime a lot,” she laughed, accepting her hot chocolate.

“Sounds like you have your work cut out for you.”

“Some days are fun, others I dread, but isn’t that every job? I’m sure you have days like that too.”

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