Page 63 of Frosting and Flames

That knowing look is back, as if we’re in on a secret together. “Oh, come on. It’s obvious you’re into her. Even if she willfully refuses to see it. And I haven’t got her to admit it yet, but I swear she’s into you, too.”

Okay, Jae hasn’t been kept up to date with the latest info. “Rachel’s not interested in dating me.”

She rolls her eyes. “Oh, you too? I promise she’s—”

“No, she told me,” I interrupt her. I rub at the back of my neck, involuntary heat crawling up my face. “She’s not ready for anything with anyone.”

That takes her aback. “She said that?”

I rock back on my heels, wishing I’d never stopped in here, bulletin board be damned. “Verbatim.”

It seems I’ve dashed all her dreams based on her crestfallen expression. Why does she care so much? Then again, Rachel said it was Jae’s idea for the pretend dating prank to begin with.

“I’m sorry,” she says, at a loss for words. “I really thought…” She doesn’t finish her sentence.

I shrug because I can’t think of anything to say either, and offer her one of the flyers still in my hand. “Want to come to the chili cookoff?”

“Yes, absolutely.” She grabs the paper like it’s a lifeline. “Do you need any help? Josh and I will do whatever you want.”

I wonder if her husband is okay with being volunteered, too. “Actually, we need a face painter.” That was one of the ideas Chief liked. “Any experience with that?”

“I’ll learn,” she says, committing to the job. “And I can talk to Rachel about—”

“Please don’t.” The last thing I want is Rachel feeling obligated to me in any way. “She doesn’t owe me anything. I just… never mind.”

“No, what is it?”

“I guess I don’t understand why she’s still hung up on Kyle, is all. Anyway, I’ll let you keep shopping. See you at the cookoff.”

I leave before she can drag me into any other awkward conversations or clumsy sympathy.

There’s only so much a man can take in one day.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

RACHEL

Ihave an hour reprieve between unexpectedly seeing Nick at the bakery and Jae showing up, guns blazing.

She pushes open the double doors to the back area like she’s a gunslinger ready for a showdown at high noon. At this point, I’m sure Hailey didn’t even bother trying to stop her.

“Why does Nick think you’re still in love with Kyle?” Jae demands, the doors barely shut behind her. Please let there not be any customers out there.

I gape at her, aware of Sydney’s identical shocked face across the way.

I’m still too stunned to respond when Sydney says, “Is that why it was so weird earlier with Nick? More than your usual weirdness, I mean.”

I set down the rag I’m scrubbing the workstation with and rub my temples, a headache already forming. “I don’t want to talk about Nick,” I mumble through clenched teeth.

“Yeah, well, I do,” Jae declares, making herself comfortable on a stool. “Because you like him.”

My fingers twitch against the countertop. “Just because we kissed—”

“You kissed?!” Jae and Sydney scream in unison, loud enough that Hailey half-opens the door and peeks her head back here.

“Who kissed?” she asks, and I shoo her away.

I point at Hailey. “You get back to the register.” I point next at Sydney. “You keep working on the graduation cake for the Richardson twins.” Last, I grab Jae’s arm. “You, come with me.” I pull her into the office, the small space even more cramped with two of us in here, and shut the door behind us for minimal eavesdropping.

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