Page 14 of Dessert Flirt Repeat
I think of his videos, how he embodies this very same self-assuredness in the way he moves, the way he looks at the camera…
I press my eyes shut for a second and shake my head. I really, really shouldn’t be thinking of his videos right now.
I almost say “sorry” but catch myself. “I guess it’s a habit. I just don’t want to offend anyone.”
That scrumptious half-smile makes a reappearance. There’s a flash in those gorgeous brown eyes. “Becca, you don’t have to worry. I don’t offend easily.”
He leans back in his chair and sets his palm on the table. “So sexy videos?”
I clear my throat. “Yes. Sexy videos.” I pull out a small notepad from the back pocket of my jean shorts along with a pen. “I jotted down some objectives.”
“Objectives?” Gage asks with a lift of his eyebrow.
I nod. “Goals I want to accomplish.” I flip to the first page.
“Okay, hold on a second. I want to make sure you know what you’re getting into.”
“What do you mean?”
“I watched most of your TikTok videos, and they’re really cute. Wholesome, sweet, all that. You say you have a lot of kid customers too, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Are you sure you want to transition to full-on sexy stuff? That could deter your current customer base.”
“I’m positive. Look, I love all of my customers. But focusing on the wholesome stuff hasn’t really been working out for me. I need to make more money—lots more money. And I know how cliché it sounds, but sex sells. At least it seems to.”
Gage looks at me for a long second, like he’s trying to process what I’ve said. “Nah, you’re right. It does.”
“Right now Sweet Cheeks is sitting at a few thousand followers. I’d love to hit half a million before the end of the summer, which is a month and a half away. I’m thinking if I upload three to four sexy videos a week, that could get us there.”
I brace myself for Gage’s scoff, for him to say that’s a lofty goal for a tiny ice cream shop that’s just over a year old.
But he doesn’t. That focused stare remains on his beautifully chiseled features. “Seems doable.”
“Really?”
He chuckles at the hitch in my voice. “Yeah, really. What about your goal of having your ice cream in stores and restaurants?”
I’m confused at what he’s said, but then I remember my drunken DM.
I huff an embarrassed laugh. “Oh, that. That’s more of a long-term goal. We can just focus on TikTok for now.”
“Cool. Now what did you have in mind for sexy videos?”
I stammer, “Well, um, that’s just it. I don’t know. That’s where you come in. I was hoping you could tell me what to do, I’d film it, then upload, and…”
“And ta-da, a half-million followers?” he says with a taunting smirk that makes me want to shrink in my chair.
“Well, um, yeah. But clearly you think that’s ridiculous, so never mind.”
I flip my notebook shut, but Gage reaches forward and gently stops me. “Hey. I didn’t mean it like that.” I look up at him and take in the shy look in his eyes. “I’m sorry. That was shitty of me to say it like that.”
I glance down at his hand, taking in the spread of his thick fingers, how his hand could cover mine. He pulls away.
I look up at him. “Soyoucan say sorry?”
There’s that half-smile again. God, it’s hot.
