Page 43 of Beaches, Bagels & Babes
Chorizo & Cotija
And,
Peanut Butter & Jelly
Daisy stared at that last label. The flavor was not one she made often. Maybe once every few months, if that. Having it prepared when Candace first came to town had been pure coincidence. But, since then, Daisy had found herself making them a part of her regular batch bakes.
It was not because the flavor was Candace’s favorite. Consistently, the peanut butter bombs that did not end up in the woman’s mouth sold out. She just happened to have good taste, and Daisy would make whatever sold well.
That’s all there was to it.
Daisy tossed her marker aside with a curse. Candacealwaysgot her way. How had she known where Daisy lived, anyway? Even when Candace was being helpful, she barreled through obstacles as if they meant nothing to her lofty self. It would be impressive, if not for the frustration.
What a steamroller of a woman.
Daisy looked up to see the object of her thoughts emerge from the bathroom. And she kept looking becausegoddamn.
It was just a Bagel Bombs!tank top and loose athletic shorts. The type of outfit Daisy threw on each day with little to no thought. She’d worn this particular combination hundreds of times. Daisy was certain, however, that the clothes did not look likethatwhen she wore them.
It was rare to come across another woman as tall as Daisy, but, in her kitten heels, Candace came close. Her long, toned legs filled out the Under Armour shortstoowell; with their flared and slight side part, it looked almost like a black mini skirt. The tank top, meanwhile, was too small. Daisy did not need much to cover up her petite bust, while Candace and her hourglass proportions demanded the next size up. Herchest practically popped under the tight neckline, and the hem lifted, exposing a pale sliver of midriff.
The irony was not lost on Daisy that their roles were reversed from earlier. Unlike the naked, obvious lust Candace showed, Daisy thought she did a good job of keeping her outward display neutral… in spite of actual, annoying arousal that spiked inside.
“See?” Candace mumbled, “This is why I don’t wear this sort of thing. It looks so trashy on me.”
Daisy gaped.
“You think you looktrashy?”
Candace crossed her arms as if she were trying to hide her shame, gaze trained on the linoleum. As she curled the lock of hair framing her face behind her ear, Daisy saw the deep pink flush that scored the other woman’s cheeks.
“I can never get casual clothes to fit me right. It looks like I’m just trying to get attention by showing skin.”
A frown replaced Daisy’s open-mouthed disbelief.
She flipped the logic, clarifying, “You think I’m trying to get attention when I wear my everyday clothes? You thinkIlook trashy?”
“NO!”Candace met Daisy’s gaze with her shout, but broke as she went on. “I don’t think that at all. You always look socool. It’s just… that’s what my uncle used to say whenever he saw me in these sorts of clothes. He once told me that hoodies and sweatpants were for poor people.”
“That’s the dumbest bunk I’ve ever heard. Don’t you do yoga? What do you wear, a business suit?”
Daisy could not help picturing what Candace might wear to one of her classes. How she might bend, twist, and…
NOPE.
Daisy gave herself a mental slap and turned back to the ridiculous conversation at hand.
“That’s different,” Candace countered. “You wouldn’t understand.”
“No, I think I’ve got things figured out.”
They were separated by the length of the table. Crossing her arms, not to hide but to project strength, Daisy closed the distance between them.
She explained, “Your asshole uncle is weird about how you dress, so now you’re weird about it. And it pisses me off, becausewhat the fuck?It’s a tank top and shorts, they’re totally normal clothes. What kind of chode gets worked up about that?”
A ghost of a smile flickered on Candace’s face at Daisy’s choice of insult. Her reply was a sober, long-considered conclusion.
“The kind of person who views you as an extension of themself, subject to their morals and standards. In his eyes, I’m supposed to draw attention, but only therightkind of attention. He’s fine with dressing me up in a bikini to promote the pier, but if I wore something like this around the house, his comments would be less than kind.”
