Page 17 of Alleged Husband

I’d almost forgotten about having that “I helped save your life” card in my pocket.

“Fine. She’s going to need a ride home tonight, and probably for the foreseeable future since she doesn’t have a car. Consider yourself on taxi duty.”

I turned to Jade with a grin. “I’m going to need to hang on to Brian’s truck for a little while longer.”

Jade mirrored my grin. “I’m sure he won’t mind.”

Just then the beeping of a smoke alarm went off and Lainey hopped off the stool she’d been sitting on behind the counter with an, “Oh shit!” before racing toward the kitchen.

Chapter Eleven

Jessica

I clicked on the side-table lamp in Lainey’s office, picked Ruthie up out of the crib, and got comfortable on the small sofa. After she latched to my breast, I popped my earbuds in and turned on my audiobook,The Simple Path to Wealth.

I’d started listening to financial help books when I’d realized I was going to be raising Ruth by myself. I’d thought I’d have a college degree to help me get where I wanted to go, but that had been derailed.

Temporarily.

In the meantime, I needed to keep trying to educate myself, so when I did have extra money, I’d know what to do with it.

Unfortunately, the words were lost on me as my mind was occupied elsewhere.

Namely the hot guy—whose name I didn’t even know—and his wrecked Henley.

I felt horrible about his shirt, but I felt even worse about the ruined cinnamon rolls. I’d cost the bakery money and that bothered me.

I wanted to do a good job for Lainey. She’d taken a chance on me, and I hadn’t wanted to let her down—especially on my first day.

Yet, that’s exactly what I’d done.

And I’d made a fool of myself in front of Lainey, Jade, and Gorgeous Guy in the process.

I could feel the vibrations of Ruthie’s cooing as she continued breastfeeding, and I looked down at her with a smile.

It was moments like this that I needed to remember to treasure. My sweet girl was happy and content—that’s what mattered.

Maybe I wasn’t a total fuckup.

Then the sound of the smoke alarm going off made both me and Ruthie jump.

~~~~

I came out of the office to the smell of burning bread and Lainey pulling the charred cinnamon rolls out of the oven.

Shit.

“I’m so sorry!” I exclaimed as I moved Ruthie to my shoulder and patted her back.

“Why are you sorry? I’m the one who forgot.”

“I know, but I shouldn’t have put that on you—I was the one who put them in the oven. And now another batch is ruined, which I know costs you money, plus customers who come in for a to-go box won’t have them, and—”

Lainey set the baking pan on the counter and touched my arm. “Take a breath. This is not the end of the world. Things happen—it’s the cost of doing business. And it’s good to run out every now and then; it makes customers want them even more.”

Ruthie’s belly wasn’t full, so she began to cry.

My boss gestured toward her office. “Go finish nursing her, I’ll take care of this.”