“You both could use me for sex.” She slapped a hand over her mouth. Drew and Noah both burst out laughing.
Beet red, she stared at the table. Her dreams had been plagued by sensual images of these two men.
“We went to the local bakery, and Brenda had been cooking up a storm. We’ve got fresh, buttery croissants and good coffee,” Noah said.
He handed her a cup of hot coffee, placing a plate full of croissants in the centre of the table. “I figured we could have breakfast together.”
Each of them took a seat on either side of her. Their presence made her feel cherished and protected. She could all too easily fall for their charms without a care in the world. Taking the one from the top, she took a small bite moaning as the pastry melted in her mouth. She knew she should be watching her weight, but the heavenly croissant was too good to pass up.
“What do you have planned for today?” Drew asked.
“I’ve got to find a job. I can’t stay here all day.”
“Why don’t you come work for us at the shop?” Noah said.
She thought about it and decided against it. Cars and she didn’t mix well. “No thanks. The farther away from a car I am, the better.”
“Why?” Drew asked
“Why do you think I had to keep sending the car into your shop? I was a nightmare at the wheel. Yes, I can drive, but I think I’ll stick to walking.”
Drew and Noah ate their fair share.
“You know Brenda is looking for someone to help her in the bakery. Maybe you could try there,” Noah said.
“I will. Thank you.”
They cleaned away her breakfast plates taking her in their arms and leading her out the front door.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Taking you to Brenda’s and then we’ll go onto the shop. We’ve got business to attend to,” Drew said.
Noah grabbed her bag and purse from the hook by the door. Drew led her out to the truck.
“I can walk, you know?”
“We know, but we want to take you there.” Drew helped her inside the truck, getting in beside her. Noah took the wheel this time, putting the truck into gear and driving the short distance to where the bakery was in the centre of town.
Cheryl saw there was already a long queue leading down the street. The bakery was popular, and people travelled from the neighbouring towns to come and try Brenda’s baked goods. Noah found an available spot to park the truck and turned to her to give her a quick kiss.
“If it doesn’t work out come and say hi to us. We’d love for you to come and visit,” Noah said.
She nodded her head, unable to talk. Drew got out and helped her out of the truck. He gave her a fleeting kiss, jumping back into the truck. She didn’t like them pulling away. The fire was gone from their touch. Their kisses were loving but reserved.
Smiling at them, she gave them a wave, watching the truck pull away, and then she entered the shop.
A couple of customers growled at her to get to the back of the queue. She pointed at the sign, “staff wanted” showing them she wasn’t pushing in. Behind the counter she found a harassed looking Brenda serving three customers at once. The poor woman looked like she wanted to burst into tears.
The moment she saw Cheryl, she pulled her round the counter. “Please tell me you’re here to apply for the job to help me?”
“Yeah, I am.”
“Thank God. Drew and Noah said they’d try to convince you, but I didn’t think they would.” Brenda handed her an apron and then helped her into it. “You know how to work a till?”
“No.”
“Don’t worry about it. Just help me get these customers sorted. I can work the till for the both of us.”
The next four hours Cheryl was hands deep in sandwiches, bread, buns, biscuits and every other type of desert that could be baked. The work was demanding, but she enjoyed it. The customer came in, ordered what they wanted, and she picked it out or made it up into a gift basket, handed it over, took the cash and waved goodbye. Pretty simple. After the intensive care she’d given her mother, she was looking for something simple.
Once the queue went down, Brenda began to ask her questions about what she could work and when.
“I’m available full time. I can be here when you need me.”
“Well I start getting busy from seven, but I’m here at five in the morning to start the baking early. I work Monday to Friday until four in the afternoon. Could you be here from six till four, Monday to Friday?” Brenda asked.
“It sounds perfect.”
The rest of the day was spent with her preparing the cookies in gift bags and learning to use the till. Brenda got the paperwork ready for her to sign. Cheryl knew she’d have to thank Noah and Drew for bringing her. The time spent working meant she wasn’t dwelling on her own situation, and the work provided her with a chance to interact in public again.