“So, you took my suggestion seriously, huh? I’m glad to see I’m slowly rubbing off on you after all these years,” Gabby said. “Now he’s finally out of your system and you don’t feel anything for him, right?
“As long as he’s seeing someone else in Miami, I won’t be with him,” Cassie said, fixing the hairnet wrapped around her bun. “You know me—I don’t do casual flings. I don’t even know why I would let you put the idea into my head. It was so stupid to think it might actually work.”
“In most circumstances, it probably would have worked,” Gabby twirled a strand of her straight black hair around her index finger, “but you’re not like most people. You don’t really know the meaning of something insignificant or off-the-cuff, especially with Jordan, whom you’ve got a complicated history with. Just keep telling yourself how much better you are by not being with him. And okay, so you don’t want to have a random, hot, sweaty night with a total stranger, but what about a date? I know of plenty eligible men who would love to go out on a proper date with you. Besides, when was the last time you actually went out on one?”
“I date,” Cassie protested.
Gabby pointed a finger at her while picking at a piece of muffin and stuffing it into her mouth. “Nick, Jake, and I don’t count.”
“For your information, Jake and I happen to love our mother-son dates to the movies. I’m making the most of them before he realizes how uncool I really am and chooses not to hang out with me.”
“That’s unfortunate for you. For me, I will always be cool. But you at least need to consider going out on an actual date at some point. Maybe not right now, but later. You can do it for me; make it my birthday present. I will be eternally appreciative.” Gabby flashed a wink in her direction. “And speaking of dates, I saw Nick having a great time last night.”
Gabby’s spoken words made Cassie stop what she was mixing in a bowl and turn to her best friend.
“Do I sense some envy there, Gabby?”
Gabby was ultimately perplexed by Cassie’s question.
“Why would I be jealous? I was the one who turned Nick down. I just assumed he would take a little longer than a couple of days to actually get over me. I am irresistible, after all.”
Gabby struck a pose that made Cassie laugh, and then she turned serious, giving Gabby a straight face. “Are you sure you’re not a little bit jealous at the fact Nick has seemingly moved on from you so quickly?” Cassie asked her.
Gabby shook her head, her black hair swaying about. “I can honestly say I’m not jealous over Nick at all. He’s one of my best friends, which is part of the reason why I rejected him in the first place. I don’t want to risk the strong friendship we have for something that might not even go anywhere. Besides, I doubt anything will even happen between him and the woman. I’m sure she will want something to happen, but he won’t let it. He’s not a relationship kind of guy.” Gabby frowned. “I’m sad because our male counterparts are seeing more action than we are, and that’s not right. We’re two incredibly gorgeous women. We should be able to score a date as often as we like. More than Nick and Jordan for sure.”
“You can. I don’t date, remember?” Cassie corrected Gabby.
“You could if you wanted to,” Gabby pointed out. “By choice, you don’t date. It doesn’t have to be this way. I happen to know that Jesse—the builder guy who works for Nick’s company—likes you. He’s got a thing for you, and you know it. Lord knows, it wouldn’t be the first time he’s asked you out on a date.”
“I know, I know. I actually feel bad that he’s asked me out so many times and I keep turning him down.”
“Well, if you feel bad for him, maybe you should just say yes and go out on one date with the guy. It wouldn’t be a bad thing; he’s an incredibly good-looking man. And you never know, you might end up enjoying yourself, and he might help you get over your uncontrollable feelings for Jordan.”
“You would think he would have gotten the message loud and clear the first time I told him no. I have no idea why he insists on asking me out repetitively.”
“I guess he really likes you and won’t take no for an answer. I think you really should consider taking him up on his offer and just go out with the guy.”
Cassie didn’t say anything other than, “We’ll see.”
The bell above the door of the bakery jingled, indicating someone was coming inside.
Both Cassie and Gabby turned their attention toward the door when a sultry woman with medium-length, dark brown hair and caramel-colored skin entered the shop, and they could instantly see she wasn’t from town. No one from Yellow Valley wore three-inch stilettos during the day, or on any given night out either. This town just wasn’t made for women to wear those kinds of shoes, unless you were going to a wedding.