Page 17 of Approved

When I got up, I was in a good mood, and pie for breakfast sounded like a perfect way to start the day. Without looking through the choices, I blindly grabbed one, finding cherry pie in the container. I ate the pastry while I thought about all thedifferent pies we had last night and how he gave me a bite of each of his. We had a good time.

I went to make a cup of coffee, turning around, Earl had helped himself to some of the pie. “Earl, for fucks sake.” He looked at me, blinking slowly, his face covered with cherry filling. Between his face and the spots on his chest, he looked like he had murdered someone. “Come here.” I picked him up and took him to the sink, where I cleaned him off. “You like your sweets a little too much, my sweet child.”

I kissed his head and placed him on the counter. Larry jumped up and started to meow loudly like he was starving. “You’ll get your food when I get home.” I walked over and shook his dry food bowl to remind him that he did have food. I would swear the cat had huffed, but then went over and took a few bites.

TYLER

Cherry pie for breakfast.

Maybe we should do it again sometime.

It was only 8:30 a.m., I knew the bar closed late, so he would probably be asleep, but the messages would be there when he started his day, making me feel fluttery in my chest.

Jamie pulled into the parking spot next to me at the shop as I got out of my car. “Good morning,” I called over the roof of my car.

“Good morning. Did I see your car at Hash House last evening?” Jamie pulled no punches, clearly jumping right into it. I knew I blushed.

“Yeah, I was there.” I desperately hoped that she didn’t say anything further.

“The pie there is to die for.” She said with a snort.

All the flavors West and I shared last night came to mind, but what struck me was his smile and his laugh. I had also noticed the way his lips wrapped around the fork, and needless to say, all of my body was interested.

“It really is. I only tried ten flavors, but I guess there are another twenty every night.” As I finished the sentence, her eyebrows raised to her hairline, and she walked toward the front door.

“Oh, Tyler, we have so much to talk about,” she said as we entered. Well, so much for keeping my non-date secret.

Chapter seven

TYLER

Jamie kept an eye on the door and helped me get the vases loaded for deliveries. She had been quiet since we talked in the parking lot, which was suspicious. Jamie was a lot of things, but quiet wasn’t one of them. I waited her out because I knew it was coming. She broke the silence as we put the last delivery in the truck. “So, how did you find yourself having ten types of pie in a diner across town from your house?”

I couldn’t stop the smile. “I met a friend.”

She practically jumped up and down, then yelled. “You had a date!!”

“It most certainly wasn’t a date. I made that very clear when we met.”

She rolled her eyes, “Okay, Tyler, it wasn’t a date. Was this not a date with the very handsome bar owner?”

“It was. He invited me for pie, and I accepted.” I sighed, “It was really good, Jamie. I think I like him.”

“Someone actually wore down those walls? You might let someone in?” She smiled. The woman knew me too well, but she wasn’t wrong. He had chipped little holes in my armor.

“It’s possible. I’ll talk to you more about it when I get back. I need to do these deliveries.” While I delivered flowers, I had plenty of time to think about West and how I felt about him. Of course, there were quite a few things I wouldn’t mind doing with him as well. My lust for him was quite prevalent. It was the other parts that made me nervous.

It was lunch time when I returned to Flower Power, my butt dragged and the pie I had this morning was long gone. Jamie helped a customer as I walked in. The smile she gave me was something between happy and deadly. She used her head to point toward the table where we put together bouquets. A rather large gift basket sat there, and since it wasn’t opened, I assumed it was for me. Even before I grabbed the card, I knew who it was from.

Thanks for the non-date. I enjoyed it very much. —West

God, he was sweet, and it was now obvious even to me that he was interested in me. Even though I continued not to commit to going out, he continued steadfastly, which made him more attractive. In the basket were a handful of gift cards for Hash House, a pie pan, pie filling, a cookbook, and other items necessary to make pies. There was a linen envelope tucked in front of the cookbook. It was monogrammed with W.P., which had to be for West Parker. A monogrammed piece of stationery meant he didn’t just order something; he had put this basket together and wrote a note.

We should make pies together sometime and give Irene a run for her money.

Doing anything with West would be fun, and our cooking together appealed to me. There were other little things in the basket: fruit, chocolates, and a gift card for a very expensive restaurant in town with a note attached.

Take Jamie out for dinner on me. She is a good friend, I can tell.

---