Chapter 8
Lesley sucked in a deep breath and pushed the door open. A bell chimed above her head as she and John walked into the prettiest bakeshop she’d ever seen.
The walls were painted a pale gray and three crystal-looking chandeliers hung from the ceiling. A marble countertop and bar made an S shape around the shop. Tall, wicker bar stools lined one curve of the counter, and a glass case filled with cookies and other pastries sat on top of the other side of the bar. A basket of muffins and an espresso machine rested on a counter behind the island, along with a coffee pot.
“Did you do all of this?” She stared at the beautiful wooden shelving behind the counter. Floor to ceiling white wood shelves covered the back wall. Stacks of white dishes along with white cake platters sat on every open surface of the shelving.
“My own sister has to use me as her contractor.” He shrugged.
“I guess you’re right.” Her heart beat a little faster. John’s work did speak for itself. If he could bring this same type of beauty and charm back to Rosalyn…she would be in good shape.
If. A big if, considering she didn’t have proper means.
“Ems? You back there?” John called toward the open door behind the counter.
Lesley caught herself tapping the marble countertop. Did he really expect her to ask a woman she had never met to help rebuild her home?
He glanced at her fingers and gave her a half-smile. “She doesn’t bite, you know?”
As if on cue, a tall, thin brunette walked from the back into the bakeshop. Her smile met her eyes. She had the same cobalt blue eyes and strong jawline as her brother.
“Hey, big brother.”
“Big brother?” Lesley asked. “You two could be twins.”
“We are.” The baker chuckled. “He’s two minutes older than me.” She pointed a long, thin finger toward an edible creation. “You like the cake I made for Rachel’s birthday tomorrow?” A pink confection decorated with roses topped with a crown and scepter sat on the countertop. A bright purple, glittered number six stuck to the side of the cake, the icing acting as an adhesive.
“Yeah, baby girl’s going to love it. Thanks for taking care of that for me.”
“No problem.”
“Emma, this is Lesley DeLoach. Lesley, this is my sister, Emma Hambrice.”
His twin held out her hand. “Pleasure to meet you.”
“You as well.” Lesley shook the baker’s outstretched hand; her own palm was clammy, and she prayed Emma didn’t mind.
“I heard you inherited your aunt’s property. I’m sorry for your loss.” Emma pulled her hand back and thankfully didn’t wipe it on the side of her jeans.
“Thank you.”
John was right; Emma Hambrice didn’t bite. She’d only known the woman for about two minutes, but already the sister seemed a world nicer than the brother. However, he was starting to have his moments.
“The cake really is beautiful.” Lesley motioned to the pastries in the shop. “You do great work.”
“Flattery won’t get you anywhere with her.” John leaned on the counter top.
“Thank you. Now, tell me. Why must I be flattered?”
“John wants…he wants me to ask you a favor.” Nervousness stuttered her thoughts.
“Yeah?” Emma turned toward the espresso machine. “First, before you tell me your favor, would you two like a muffin or a cup of coffee?”
This woman really was nice.
“A cup of coffee would be great, but that’s not why we’re here.” John placed an elbow on the counter.
“You’re always here for my coffee.” She held up the carafe. “Would you like a cup, Lesley?”
“That would be wonderful, thanks.” The busier Emma kept herself, the longer Lesley could figure out what to say. She’d never asked a stranger to do something so huge. The baker was going to laugh in her face.
Emma poured the coffee into two take out cups, and John grabbed the drinks and handed her one with a pointed nod.
“Now, what’s this favor?” She sat another full cup down in front of herself.
“John had this idea…” Lesley reached for the sugar packet he handed her and glanced at him, silently begging him to finish the statement for her.
He nudged her with his elbow. “Go on.”
“Yes, tell me. What’s his great idea?” Emma’s eyes opened wide as she glanced from her to John and back again.
“You see.” Lesley ripped open the sugar packet, granules flying over the countertop. “Oh, sorry about that.”
“It’s okay.” Emma grabbed a napkin to wipe up the mess.
Heat flushed her cheeks. “Well, I plan for Rosalyn Manor to be a bed and breakfast when all the repairs are finished. The problem is…” She poured the remaining sugar in her coffee and stirred, stalling for time. “I’m…well…I’m short on funds to hire the crew that a house that size needs and…” She glanced back at John.
He nodded. “You’re doing good. Go on. Finish.”
Lesley shook her head and let out a deep breath. “No. This is too much. I can’t ask this of your sister.”
“Ask me what?” Emma bounced in apparent anticipation behind the counter.
John peered down at her then turned toward his twin. “Would you be willing to lend a hand from time to time in building the manor back to its former glory? Maybe we can ask a few others in the town to help, too. Once the B&B is up and running, Lesley promises to promote the bakeshop. Don’t you?” He nudged her again.
Coffee sloshed over the counter, and she reached for some more napkins. “Oh, yes. Of course.”
Emma grabbed the wipes from her hand and cleaned the spot for her. “I’d love to. And you know, John.” His sister wafted the dirty towels at him. “Tom’s nephew, Lance, wants to learn the tricks of the contracting trade. I’m sure he would work for free, too, as long as you let him tag along after school some.”
“Come on, Emma. I’ve got two kids of my own. I don’t want to have to babysit your employee’s nephew.” John reached to stick a finger in his daughter’s cake.
His twin smacked his hand away. “You help Lance, or you get no help from me. Take your pick.”
“Damn.” He gave Lesley a sidelong glance.
“Please?” she begged. She couldn’t believe she begged this man, a man she had only met yesterday, but she didn’t see any other option. At least one as easy. Not that John being nice seemed all that easy for him.
“Fine, I’ll teach the kid. But the minute he stops listening to me and does something stupid or dangerous, he’s gone.”
“Thank you.” Emma smiled and tossed a subtle wink at her. “I’ll pass the message along.”
“Yeah, well, you’d better. Come on, princess. We’ve got a mattress to pick up.”
“There you go with that word again,” Lesley ground out.
John shrugged. “Term of endearment.”
“Endearment, huh?” She had only been in town for a day, and she’d started to talk like them.
And why, for some deranged reason, did she believe him? His tone was softer than the day before. Perhaps it was his sister that brought out his good mood. She could only wish, but still, why the attitude to begin with?
“Come on. Let’s go.” He stuck a quick finger in the pink cake.
“John Hambrice, you jerk.” Emma spun the platter around to see what damage he’d done.
“That wasn’t very nice,” Lesley scolded him.
He licked his finger. “Yeah, but it tastes good.”
She ignored the flutters his goofy grin caused inside her. “It was nice meeting you,” she called to Emma.
His sister pulled a piping bag from under the counter and began repairs on the cake. “You, too. Will I see you at the birthday party tomorrow afternoon?”
“Oh, I don’t think so.” She’d never been to a child’s birthday party before. “I haven’t been invited.”
His sister glared at him. “John, that’s rude. Invite our new friend.”
“She doesn’t want to go.” He pushed the door open.
“How would you know? You haven’t asked,” Emma argued.
His assumption she didn’t want to go made Lesley want to go even more. Since when did John Hambrice make decisions on her behalf?
He rolled his eyes at his sister. “Lesley, would you like to come to the park tomorrow afternoon to celebrate my daughter’s sixth birthday?”
“I would love to.”
He whipped his head back to her. “Really? I thought you said you didn’t like children?”
“I never said I didn’t like children. I said I wasn’t much of a kid person.”
“Same difference.”
“No, it’s not.” She walked out the door he held open for her. “Like I told you, I’ve just never had much of a chance to be around children.”
He fell in step beside her. “Get ready.”
What does that mean? “You’re starting to scare me. What am I getting ready for?”
He opened the passenger side door and waited until she got in. “You’ll be around more kids than you’ll know what to do with. We’re having the party at the local park that hosts the only public pool in town. All the children are out for the summer, and parents are always looking for a place to take them. I hope you brought your swimsuit, princess.” He closed the truck door behind her and ran to his side of the vehicle.
Swimsuit?
A pool party?
Not exactly what she had in mind.
Lesley glanced over at John now sitting in the driver’s seat, his hands on the wheel. His long arms housed toned biceps, and the line of his body flowed to a nice and firm stomach and what had to be muscular legs under his jeans. An image of him in swim shorts flashed in her mind. Spending the day splashing in a pool wasn’t what she should do. She needed to finish cleaning the manor, but the image she had conjured was too luxurious to pass up. She would be at that pool party tomorrow, towel and sunscreen at the ready. If she were lucky, maybe he could help her put that sunscreen to use.
Where had that thought come from? Still, her whole body wriggled at the image.
“You okay?” He eyed her.
Good Lord. He had caught her wriggling.
“Ugh…yeah.” Her cheeks flamed. What was wrong with her? Barely divorced, and now, she lusted over her moody contractor. She needed air.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Huh?” She faced him. “What do you mean?”
“Your face looks like a tomato plant.”
Crud.
“Is the coffee too hot or something?”
“What? Yeah.” She placed her mug in the cup holder. “It is a little warm, and it’s so hot outside, I guess the two aren’t a good combination.” She fanned her face.
He reached over her to open his glove box. “Here.”
The back of his arm grazed her left breast and her nipple tightened. Double Crud. Barely divorced or not, she was in trouble.
“Sorry, about that.” A red tone grew on his cheeks.
Weren’t they a blushing pair?
“Here’s a water.” He grabbed the bottle and placed it in the extra cup holder without looking back at her then he pulled out of the parking lot and headed toward Hank’s Furniture without saying another word.
Can this day get any more embarrassing?