Page 47 of Playing for Keeps
Alicia stormed into the bakery wearing a red velvet sweater and dangling white frosted ornament earrings.
She started talking before she reached Caroline. “Hey! What did you think about the date?”
Caroline rolled her eyes but couldn’t contain a smile. She was still reliving her evening with Justin. The twinkling lights, the music, the dance.
The way he’d held her and reminded her of the old times when they’d been so in love they couldn’t think straight.
Resting the carafe on the coffee bar, Caroline smoothed the front of her apron and wiped sugar granules off the counter. “You were there. You know.”
Alicia was hot on Caroline’s trail as she headed back toward the checkout counter. “Yeah, but what did you think about it? First, did I do a good job? I did a great job, didn’t I?”
Caroline bit her lips between her teeth. “It was amazing. But it was also a little over the top,” Caroline confessed.
Alicia’s hand slapped to her chest, showcasing her bright-red fingernail polish. “Me, over the top?”
Caroline pulled out a carrot cake cupcake from the display—the sugar-free ones she always kept on hand for Alicia or any other diabetic. “I know you have access to pretty much anything and everything, but I’m a simple gal.”
Alicia chuckled, raising her arms and twirling them around her head. “You’re a simple gal? Look at this place.”
Most surfaces were baby pink with white trim. Vintage photos of cupcakes and strawberry-topped angel food cake scattered over the walls, and a small chandelier filled with crystal drops hung from the ceiling. It might have looked extravagant, but she’d bought it at a craft fair from a local woman who had basically let her walk out of the place with it. The tabletops were a mosaic of pink, white, and rosegold, and the metal chairs were painted gold with pink cushions Caroline had added herself. Floating bookshelves hung on the back wall near a cozy reading nook that she’d added when Mr. Burrows hurt his knee two years ago.
Caroline shrugged. “I make no apologies for the state of my bakery.”
Alicia took the offered cupcake and wrapped her arm around Caroline’s neck, pulling her in for a warm, sisterly hug that had her bones melting like fresh royal icing.
“It’s perfect. Now, back to the date. You two looked kind of cozy.” Alicia’s eyebrows bounced as she bit her bottom lip, desperate for any juicy news.
Caroline still hadn’t reconciled the old, secret relationship she had with Justin years ago with the new, very public,thingthat was being scrutinized by everyone she knew today. It was all so fresh, and she’d never been a fan of being the center of attention. She liked to create things people looked at, but putting herself under the microscope was never her intention.
“It was great actually.” Caroline picked at a loose hem on the side of her apron. “I’m glad he’s back, but I’m still so scared to give this a chance.”
Nothing like the truth to kill the excitement. Caroline deflated like a sinking cake.
Alicia stopped peeling the wrapper off her cupcake and studied Caroline’s face like only a sisterwould. “I’ve talked to him, Caroline. He’s in this. Are you?”
Was she? Justin was trying, that was obvious, and actions did speak louder than words. “I want to be.”
Alicia bounced on her toes and let out a small squeal, almost losing her grip on the cupcake. “I think he’s a really good guy. Jordan likes him too.”
That got Caroline’s full attention. “What?”
“Yeah. They’ve been talking ever since Jordan went to the police department and did the whole, ‘What are your intentions with my sister’ thing.”
Caroline slapped a hand on her forehead. “He did what?”
“Keep up. They’re BFFs now.”
Two women entered the bakery, looking around instead of approaching the display by the register as usual.
And Caroline’s throat had decided to close up. Skye gave the customers the usual welcome, and they made their way to the register.
Alicia turned around and wiped the crumbs off her mouth. “They’re here for me!” she shouted to Skye. “Hi, I’m Alicia,” she said to the women as she held out her hand.
A brunette with dark eyes and a shy smile extended her shaking hand to Alicia. “You have no idea how amazing this is. Cade is going to be absolutely thrilled on Christmas morning.”
Alicia held up the hand that wasn’t holding thecupcake. “Don’t thank me. This was Justin McKinnon’s idea. I’m just the delivery woman.” She shook the other woman’s hand and introduced herself.
“Can we get a photo with you?” the second woman asked.
