Chapter 4

 

Bex walked down Main Street, taking in all the cute little shops. The town was nothing like she was used to. It was quaint and inviting. She wanted to stop at every store window and walk through every shop door.

She passed a place called The Happy Apple, wondering if their food was as good as she imagined, then continued past a glass blowing studio and bicycle shop. There were several pieces she could see in the studio that she wanted to get a closer look at. She made a mental note to stop by later.

Sweet Dreams Bakery came into view, and Bex smiled at the thought of eating a cupcake, even if it would be just a taste. After all, she was on vacation.

She opened the door and instantly smiled at the delicious scents wafting out and the pink overload that greeted her. The place was a bright blend of pinks and whites that made Bex want to move in and never leave. There was a sassiness about it that spoke to her.

“Bex,” Sarah said, waving from a table in the corner. Sarah looked beautiful with her long black hair falling over her shoulders. She had on a navy blue blazer pulled over a white t-shirt. Bex had only known Sarah for a couple of years now after stumbling across her website and falling in love with her repurposed vintage jewelry. What started out as a business transaction turned into a great friendship. Sarah was a good, honest person, sweet to a fault and incredibly reliable—all qualities that Bex had a hard time finding in anyone lately.

Sarah stood and gave her a hug. “It’s good to see you. I’m assuming you found the place okay?”

Bex pulled back and nodded, but before she could answer further her eyes caught on the beautiful necklace Sarah was wearing. “Oh my god,” she said, putting her hand under the bottom broach and holding it up to admire. “This is beautiful.”

“Thank you. I decided to make myself a little something.”

“As you should, but if you ever want to lend it out, I’d be more than happy to borrow it.”

“Whenever you want.”

“Really?”

“Of course. I don’t even know if I’d have a career if it wasn’t for you.”

After Bex had worn one of Sarah’s necklaces on a red carpet the internet frenzy around the piece went instantly viral. Everybody wanted to know where they could get their own. Sarah had been forever grateful, but Bex just shrugged it off. The girl was talented; all Bex did was display that talent.

“Let’s sit,” Sarah said. “My soon-to-be sister-in-law owns this place, and she’s insisting on making us a tasting plate.” Sarah held her hand up. “And don’t even argue because I wouldn’t put it past her to force feed you.”

Bex laughed. “She takes her baked goods rather seriously, I presume.”

A smile filled with amusement curved Sarah’s lips. “You have no idea.”

“Girl after my own heart.” Bex loved sweets, but she gave them up at seventeen when a casting director told her she was too fat. At five-two and a hundred and six pounds, she assumed he was speaking to someone else, but his eyes had been glued on hers. Since then, she’d barely touched any sort of dessert. Only when she was in between films and desperate for something other than kale chips and celery sticks.

“How’s the house?” Sarah asked. “I know it’s small and not what you’re used to, but it’s all I could think of on such short notice. We don’t really have many hotels around here.”

“It’s perfect,” Bex said. Sarah raised her eyebrow. “No, really it is. It’s very cozy.”

“Cozy is one way to put it. And what about Willy? How is he? Did you get him down from the tree?”

Bex thought about Chase and how she assumed he was another jerk with too much authority. All tall and brooding with a set jaw that looked like it could break glass. To think it was all because he hated cats. She stifled a laugh and nodded.

“I did. Thanks for making the call for me. I never would’ve been able to get him down myself.”

“Who did they send? I know cat rescue isn’t their favorite thing in the world.”

“Chase,” Bex said, and unexpected heat filled her cheeks.

“Oh really now?” Sarah said, crossing her arms over her chest and leaning back in her chair. “Care to elaborate?”

“There’s nothing to elaborate on.”

“Then why did you suddenly just turn as pink as these walls?”

“He asked me to dinner.”

“Chase? Did you say yes?”

She shrugged. “I didn’t say no.”

“Well, that’s rather unexpected. But if you’re wondering, he’s a good guy.”

“Actually, I was. Our first encounter wasn’t all that pleasant.” Bex continued to tell Sarah about everything that transpired the night before and then that morning. When she was done Sarah laughed.

“I never knew he had such a strong dislike for cats.”

“I believe the word was ‘hate.’”

A very pregnant brunette came out of the back, holding a silver tray filled with all sorts of pastries. Her hair was braided down one side and rested over her shoulder. She had a bright, friendly smile that was warm and inviting.

“Here we are!” she announced as she placed the tray of goodies on the table. Bex stared down at the variety of cupcakes, scones, and cookies all cut into individual bite size pieces and laid out on their own doilies. It was a work of art.

“Wow,” Bex said. “This looks amazing.”

“I like you already.”

“This is Shay,” Sarah said. “She’s married to Cooper’s brother Matt.”

Bex shook her hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“You as well.”

“Shay you should sit,” Sarah said and Shay shot a glare in her direction.

“You sound like my husband.”

Sarah held her hands up. “I’m guessing he’s still driving you nuts?”

Shay’s hazel eyes rolled up as she rested a hand on the back of an empty chair. “I’m about to ship him off to your house until I have this baby. It’s that or kill him and I wouldn’t leave Matthew without a father so unfortunately that’s out of the question.”

“You only have another month to go.”

“It feels like an eternity.” Shay rested her hand on her stomach and turned back to Bex. “You looking for a husband?” Shay asked. “He can be overbearing and a royal pain in the butt but he’s nice to look at.”

Bex laughed. “Not really in the market for one but thanks for the offer.”

“It was worth a shot. So how are you liking our little town?” Shay asked.

“It’s different. Quiet.”

Shay laughed. “You get used to it. I’m from New York City, but this place has a way of taking hold of you. Be careful or you’ll never want to leave.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” Bex appreciated that Shay spoke to her like she was just anyone else. For so long when she met people, they stared at her with wide eyes and opened mouths. They treated her like she was some exhibit at a museum instead of a human being. Just like with Chase, she appreciated the sense of normalcy—something she hadn’t known in a very long time.

“I’ll leave you two to it then,” Shay said. “Holler at me if you need anything. Oh! And try the lemon blueberry cupcake first, it’s divine. Unless you’re a chocolate girl then definitely go for the chocolate chip Frappuccino one.”

The bell above the door rang, and Shay walked over to the register, greeting the customer by name.

“She’s sweet,” Bex said.

“Wait until you try her cupcakes. You’ll not only love her but hate her.”

“I have no doubt. I can already feel my pants getting tighter, and I haven’t even had a taste yet.”

“I used to treat myself once a week to her scone because it’s the best thing I’ve ever tasted. But now that we’re family, my control has been completely lost especially since she shows up to every dinner and family function with a box of something amazing. I’m still trying to lose the last ten pounds of my baby weight and Theo is almost a year old.”

“Oh stop. You look amazing.”

Bex looked at the tray, her eyes gliding over all the choices, and settled on the chocolate chip Frappuccino. She picked up the fork and took a generous piece onto her plate before bringing it to her mouth.

If heaven could be a food, it would be this cupcake. Bex closed her eyes savoring the rich chocolate goodness. “Oh my god, this should be illegal,” Bex finally said.

“Cooper’s grandmother once referred to it as a chocolate orgasm.”

Bex practically choked on the last bit of cupcake. “She sounds hilarious.”

“She is, but enough about that. I want to know more about Chase and your date.”

“We haven’t made plans yet. He has to call me first.”

“Okay,” Sarah said, but there was something in her eyes that made Bex think she had more to say.

“What is it?” she asked. “I feel like you’re not telling me something.”

Sarah put her fork down and smiled, but it didn’t fully form. “Like I said, Chase is a good guy. He just hasn’t always had it easy.

“And you don’t want me to hurt him.”

Sarah shrugged. “We take care of our own in this town, and I might be stepping over my boundaries, but I just…I don’t want to see either of you hurt.”

“It’s just dinner,” Bex said. “It’s not like I’m going to marry the guy.”

“If I had a dollar for every time someone said that.” Her smile spread wide. “I’d be able to afford all these weddings I have coming up.”

“Speaking of weddings… when are you getting married?”

Sarah and Cooper had been together for a while now with two kids. As far as Bex knew, they had every intention of getting married, but Cooper had never actually proposed.

Sarah just smiled, taking a big bite of the lemon blueberry cupcake. “It’s a mystery,” she said, but by the happy spark that ignited in her dark eyes Bex assumed it wasn’t a mystery at all.