Page 37 of Bidding on a Second Chance
“Red velvet cheesecake brownies.” Lucy gulped and lowered her hand. “To die for.”
They did sound amazing. Piper scanned the bake sale offerings. Brownies, sugar cookies, cupcakes, and chocolate-covered pretzels were only some of the dozens of options. Positioned near the doors of the department store, hopefully their table would attract a lot of shoppers. If not, the time would drag by, and Piper’s jeans wouldn’t fit anymore.
Lucy set the plate in front of Piper, swiping a second brownie as she retracted her hand. “I paid for them, and we might as well support the sale.”
Piper sampled one. Chocolaty and smooth, this beat out any bar she could remember trying in the past. Whichever of the boys’ moms had baked this up had better be willing to share the recipe.
“All right.” Lucy settled back in her chair. She waved at a passing shopper, then glanced at Piper. “I want an update.”
“On what?” Piper’s brownie was disappearing all too quickly. She found a napkin and set the remainder down, determined to savor it.
“Graham. He’s been working in your store for weeks, and he’s coaching Bryce—successfully, from what I hear. Tell me he’s not growing on you.”
He was. Oh, how he was. And yet … “Not all things that grow are good. Mold, for example.”
“Piper Wells. If you wanted me to buy that for a minute, you shouldn’t have told me about his coaching and the things he’s said to you about fear and gratitude.”
“Okay, fine. He’s handy to have around, except when he’s talking me into going on some random date to prove a point.” Piper had enlisted Lucy’s help to find said date. Preferably some cowboy from some remote ranch whom she’d never have to face again.
Their first customer approached. They helped the woman settle on a plate of the red velvet brownies and a giant bag of caramel corn.
As the customer left, Lucy slid the cash into the money box. “You seem to have a more positive outlook. I think Graham has something to do with that, and not just because Bryce can do a free throw or layover.”
“Layup. But I’m not sure he can do one of those.”
“You get the point. I like Positive Piper. I want her to hang around. I want her to grow.”
“You sound ridiculous.”
Lucy smirked. “Positive Piper wouldn’t say things like that to me.”
Piper laughed and rolled her eyes. “I am trying to be more grateful and hopeful, but bad things still happen. Let’s say I’m more cautiously optimistic than positive.”
“So you think you and Graham might have a happily ever after?”
“Sure. Just not together. I’m staying single—except to go on the one date he backed me into, which I still need help with because …” Because she liked Graham and no one else. “It’s slim pickings around here.”
“Must not be. Seems like there’s been a wedding every couple of weeks around here lately.” Lucy broke off a piece of brownie. Was it Piper’s imagination, or was she comfort-eating?
Perhaps a change of subject was in order. She picked up the rest of her brownie. “Have you heard Alicia Carver is in town?” Piper had dismissed the first couple of whispers about the pop star visiting Redemption Ridge, but then even Graham, whose job kept him up-to-date on the community, had confirmed it. “Apparently, Jordan Taylor is back with her.”
“They’re together?”
Piper shook her head. “He’s her bodyguard.”
“Oh. Good. Last I heard, he’d lost his leg and left the Marines, but he must be doing okay for himself if he’s protecting celebrities.”
She shrugged and nodded. She’d certainly prefer working with a pop star over surviving a war zone, but then something told her Jordan had a very different skill set.
Lucy’s quiet chuckle drew her attention.
“What?”
“I was just wondering what the going rate is for a bodyguard, because if anyone could use one, it’s the woman who wanders out in front of pickup trucks.”
Piper turned the last bite of her brownie between her fingers, thinking of pitching it at her friend. But it was too good to waste, so she popped it into her mouth. Besides, who was she kidding? Her poor body could use a guard.
They helped another customer, and then she slipped the last of the red velvet brownies from their shared plate. A few more packages of these fabulous treats waited on the table. Maybe she’d buy some for herself. To take home and share with Bryce, of course. Because no reasonable adult would scarf down another plate while manning the sale … Or would they? Reasonableness was overrated.
