Page 21 of Working For Her Sweet Treats

The corner of her mouth curves. “Look at you, learning about permission.”

“I have occasional breakthroughs.”

She walks around the display again, testing each shelf with her palm and examining the brackets. I wait for her to find something wrong. Ava appears to believe perfection can be achieved if a person is willing to inspect something long enough.

Instead, she turns toward me with the expression I have been hoping to see for two days.

“This is better than I imagined.”

“You really like it?”

“I love it.”

Ava throws her arms around me. The movement is so unexpected that I stand there for half a second before placing my hands carefully against her back. She fits against me with distracting softness, her cheek near my chest and her hair brushing my jaw. She smells like apples and cinnamon. Then she seems to realize what she has done.

Ava steps back quickly, smoothing both hands over her sweater. “That was an expression of professional gratitude.”

“Of course.”

“Not an invitation to become unbearable.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

Cole clears his throat loudly. “I’ll be in the truck.”

He is through the door before I can stop him. Ava’s cheeks turn pink. She looks toward the display rather than at me.

“I have something for you.”

She walks behind the counter and returns with a muffin on a small plate. The top is covered with cinnamon streusel, thin apple slices, and a cream cheese drizzle.

“Apple crisp cheesecake,” she says. “I’m testing it for the celebration.”

I take a bite. The inside is soft, warm with cinnamon, and richer than the caramel apple muffin. A layer of cream cheese runs through the center.

Ava watches me closely. “Well?”

I take another bite.

“You can put this one on the top shelf.”

Her shoulders relax. “That good?”

“Better.”

She smiles again and I already know I will spend more time than I should trying to make her look at me that way again.

Ava picks up an envelope from the counter. “Receipts for the materials?”

“In my truck.”

“I want them tomorrow.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Her eyes narrow, but the smile remains. I finish the muffin and glance toward the front door. The loose hinge is worse again. Really needed more time and screws put into the repair. Ava notices where I am looking and immediately points toward the exit.

“Don’t.”