"What did you call me?" Ms. Loft asked as her face turned red.
"Oh no," I whispered.
Max laughed and said, "Yeah, you didn't think that in your head, darling. You said it out loud."
Looking over my shoulder to Max, I mouthed, shit. He smiled and said, "It's about time."
"You called me a bitch!" Ms. Loft exclaimed.
"I believe she called you a . . . fucking bitch."
My head snapped over to the customer sitting at a table who had filled in Ms. Loft's oversight. "I'm sorry, but this lady is rude every time she comes in. It was deserved."
I lifted my hands as I gestured for everyone to stop. "Wait. Ms. Loft, I'm sorry, it slipped, but you seriously cannot expect me to make something your husband wants on a whim."
She guffawed. "Boyfriend. Christ, do you even listen when I talk to you? Blonde bimbo."
Oh no she didn't. I'm finished with this lady. "If he wants them so bad, you could always . . . I don't know . . . bake them yourself and stop lying about it."
At first she stood there glaring at me. Then she started laughing, which made me laugh in a nervous way. Peeking over to the counter, Officer Dreamy was watching what was happening. His stare caught mine and my breath hitched. The way his eyes darkened had my insides flipping all about. I couldn't help but wonder if his thoughts about me had gone just as naughty.
Don't be ridiculous, Gabi.
"Listen, cupcake, get your ass back in that kitchen and make me my zeppoles!"
Focusing back on crazy lady, my hands went to my hips as I opened my mouth to tell this bitch off. I'd had enough of her kind of crazy. "Listen here you-"
"Excuse me, is there a problem here?"
Glancing up, he was standing there. Up close he was even more attractive. His muscles more apparent. His voice was smooth as silk and felt like a warm blanket wrapping around my body. I was instantly calmed. And then it happened. Stupid took over.
"Wha . . . ma . . . ba . . . prob . . . um . . ."
I seriously could not form a word to speak after hearing that man talk. He not only looked like a God, he talked like an angel. His hazel eyes sparkled as he tried not to smile. There was a touch of gold specks that seemed to shine a bit brighter.
Crazy lady spun around and went to lay into Officer Dreamy when she noticed he was a cop. She dropped her pointed finger and stared at him.
I know how you feel, lady.
He glared at her before speaking again. "Vivian Loft."
Huh?
He knows her?
"Um, I was just leaving."
My eyes darted back and forth between crazy lady and Officer Dreamy.
"I'm sure you were. And I bet you were telling this nice young lady that you won't be coming back. Ever."
Her eyes turned black. "You're a real asshole, Nic Drivas! Ass! Hole! I hate you and I hope you get shot!"
All that could be heard were gasps across the bakery. I was pretty sure my eyes were about to pop out of my head from sheer shock. Not to mention I'd have to scrape my jaw off the floor. How could she say that?
What. A. Bitch.
He laughed as everyone watched Ms. Loft storm out of the bakery. The second the door shut, the entire bakery erupted in cheers. Turning to me, Officer Dreamy smiled.
Lord. I'm for sure going to have to change my panties.
Closing my eyes, I got a grip on myself. This was what happened when you didn't have sex in forever. I took a deep breath and got my thoughts back in order.
Clean. Thoughts. Only.
My eyes snapped opened as I tried to shake away my wandering thoughts. I smiled as I looked up at the tall, dark, and handsome man standing before me. "I take it you know her?"
Officer Dreamy's smile faltered a bit as he narrowed his eyes at me and stared at my mouth. When his eyes slowly moved up and caught mine, I held my breath and prayed he didn't recognize me. There would really be no reason why he would, unless he lived in New Jersey six years ago.
Then his smile grew bigger and my stomach dropped fast and hard.
Lord help me. The man could probably make a woman orgasm simply by smiling at her.
"I wish I could say I didn't, but unfortunately I do."
Huh. Interesting. Old girlfriend? Old lover? Either way . . . lucky bitch.
"She's an old . . . family friend."
Yep. Old girlfriend.
"That is a roundabout way of not saying she's an old girlfriend."
I thought he was going to fall over laughing. "Now that made my day, agapiméni. Vivian and me? No. Not a chance in hell. She's honestly an old family friend who wanted more with me than I wanted with her."
Agapee what? I had no idea what he called me, but it made my insides melt and I was pretty sure if he told me to drop to the ground and get ready for him, I'd do it willingly.
Nodding, I lifted my brows. "Ah. I gotcha. Anyway, thank you for stepping in. Dessert is on me. Pick anything you want."