Page 35 of Playing for Keeps
Caroline’s hand slid down his arm, and Justin reached for a roll of paper towels. “What was that about?”
Caroline tried to take the paper towels from him, but he held tight to it. “It’s nothing. Just some customers who aren’t a fan of my cupcakes.”
Skye stormed back inside, and the scowl on her face didn’t match the cheery ring of the bell above the door. “I’ve had it with this. Who acts like that?”
“This isn’t a one time thing?” Justin asked as he headed toward the door.
“It’s kind of a daily thing,” Caroline said.
Justin jerked to a stop. “What?”
“It’s nothing. Not everyone has great taste in baked goods.”
She said the words with a smile, but she couldn’t hide the hurt from him. He put a hand on her shoulder and jerked his head toward the checkout counter. “I’ll take care of this.”
“You don’t have to?—”
“I do.” Justin leaned down, closer to her as he whispered, “Please let me.”
Her brows lowered, and she moved her chin back and forth. “I can do this on my own.”
“I know that. I know you can do anything. But Iwant to protect this place that you love so you can be happier.”
Caroline bit her lips between her teeth and nodded. “Okay.”
It was a small win, but at least she hadn’t told him to buzz off.
Now, he just had to keep begging her to let him in until she either changed her mind or figured out that he was serious about earning a place in her life again.
13
CAROLINE
Justin was infuriatingly helpful. Caroline wasn’t one hundred percent ready to forgive and forget, but every time he did what she asked without complaint she liked herself a little less.
“He’s pretty good at this,” Skye whispered beside Caroline as she handed over a customer’s caramel macchiato.
Caroline passed the drink to the customer, ignoring Skye’s praise of their temporary help. “Have a sweet day.”
When Caroline turned around, Skye stood toe-to-toe with her. “I mean, have you seen the stock room? His organizational skills could give you a run for your money.”
Gasping, Caroline stared at her friend—or, her ex friend. “That is hurtful.”
Skye shoved Caroline’s elbow with a smile. “No, it’snice. He’s nice. It’s nice that you’re not stressing over everything alone. It’s nice to have help.”
Skye grabbed Caroline’s shoulders and turned her around to face the bakery. Three more people walked in and slowly made their way toward the register as they studied the crowd forming around Justin. Word had gotten out that he was hanging out at the bakery today, and he’d been entertaining fans since lunch.
Lunch. That was another thing. He’d delivered a meal for all of the employees, and Caroline had been too hungry to refuse it. Working the second half of the day without an empty stomach had a way of drastically upping her mood.
“He’s so good with the kids,” Skye pointed out.
Justin squatted in front of a little boy around the age of six. The kid’s smile stretched from ear to ear, and he bounced on his toes as Justin took the baseball card from him.
“You’re right. He is.”
What use was it to deny it? Justin’s reputation had been blurry when they were younger. Most people only knew him as Chuck’s son, which didn’t do him any favors. Once he was drafted into the major league, the mystery surrounding the small-town prodigy amped up. He’d earned the nickname heartbreaker because every woman who laid eyes on him wanted to be with him, but media sources rarelyfound him with women at all. He was the opposite of the playboy stereotype.
Justin opened one arm, and the boy lunged to his side. The boy’s mom took a photo and lowered her phone, smiling.
