“I’m thinking how sexy you are.” I stared at her and smiled. “I’m thinking that you’re one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever met in my life.”
“Really?” she whispered. She grinned at me then yawned.
“Really,” I said and kissed her on the forehead. “Sleep, dear Betsy, you’re tired.”
“I wanted to ask you more questions.” She yawned again, her eyes flickering.
“You can ask me more questions tomorrow.” I watched as she closed her eyes fully and settled into my arms.
“Night, Jeff,” she said softly and within seconds she was fast asleep. I watched her sleeping and realized I enjoyed the warmth of her body curled up next to me. I sniffed her hair and realized that it smelled like honeysuckle. It was a warm, sweet smell, and I breathed her in. I felt myself yawning, and I realized that I didn’t want to leave. Normally, when I was in bed with a woman, the only thing on my mind was how soon I could make my departure. I didn’t want to be anywhere but here right now, with Betsy. She felt so small and delicate in my arms, and I didn’t even care that my balls were aching from need for her. I closed my eyes and tried to ignore the thoughts running through my head. I’d lied before when she asked me if I’d ever been in love. How could I possibly tell her the truth? How could I tell her that I didn’t crave intimacy with other women because the only woman who truly made me feel alive was her? I didn’t dare tell her that. Not now and not ever. I could never give her what she wanted. I could never give her my heart for a lifetime. I could never give her a real relationship.
The incessant ringing of my phone woke me up. Betsy was still fast asleep in my arms. I lifted her up gently and placed her on the other side of the bed before reaching down and grabbing my phone from the pocket of my pants. I groaned when I saw Nolan’s name on the screen.
“Wassup?” I said into the phone as I answered, trying to sound as innocent as possible.
“Hey, I need you to drop by Betsy’s place and see if she’s okay.” Nolan sounded worried. “Jules and I dropped by the cupcake store on the way to the paper this morning, and it’s closed.”
“Oh?” I muttered and cursed inwardly as I noticed the time. How had we both slept so late? “She’s not there?”
“No.” He sighed. “This is so unlike her. I would drop by myself, but Jules and I have a meeting with Malcolm about coverage for the Bachelor Auction.”
“Don’t worry about it,” I said. “I can go over there right now and make sure she’s okay.”
“Call me as soon as you get there, okay?”
“Who’s that?” Betsy’s eyes opened and she gave me a lazy smile. I quickly put my finger on her lips and she frowned.
“What did you say, Jeff?” Nolan sounded confused.
“Nothing.”
“Are you with someone?”
“No, why would you ask that?”
“Sounded like a feminine voice.”
“Yeah, right.” I chuckled. “Look I gotta go, I’ll let you know if I find Betsy at home.”
“Okay, and if you do, tell her to buy a new alarm clock or something.”
“Will do,” I said and quickly hung up. “You’re late for work,” I said as Betsy reached up to pull me down for a kiss. “Did you hear me?”
“Yeah.” She shrugged. “The people of Canyon Beach will live one day without some cupcakes and coffee.”
“Nolan called me to figure out what happened.”
“Jeff to the rescue.” She stretched, and I tried not to look down at her breasts as the sheet rode down. She sat up then and pulled the sheet up to her neck and smiled at me demurely. “I’m surprised you’re still here.”
“Why?” I sat up as well. I didn’t bother pulling the sheet up to cover my body, and I grinned as her eyes fell to my cock.
“After what you said yesterday.” She shrugged. “I thought you wouldn’t want to spend the night.”
“What? And miss your cute little snores?”
“I don’t snore.” She hit me on the shoulder.
“You do.” I grabbed her hands and pulled her to me. “You snore like a cute little pig.”
“Are you calling me a pig?”
“Would I ever?”
“Jefferson Evian.”
“Betsy-Lou Montgomery,” I replied, and we both started laughing. “I’m late for work.”
“Do you have to go in?”
“Why, do you have something better planned?” I reached down and pulled a flyaway hair from in front of her eyes and pushed it behind her ear. I grinned down at her lasciviously, and she licked her lips quickly.
“Well, perhaps,” she said with a small smile and then she groaned. “Shit, I need to call Nanna. She was going to come over to the shop today with an accountant to go over the books.”
“Everything okay?” I asked, noticing the look of worry on her face.
“Not really.” She shook her head and sighed. “We’re not doing as well as I’d hoped. We’re not making a profit at all.”
“What?” I frowned. “But your cupcakes are amazing.”
“Yeah, I guess,” she mumbled and a wave of sadness crossed her face. “Not amazing enough, I suppose.”
“You should head into work,” I said as she reached over to grab her phone. “If you have a meeting with Nanna and an accountant, that’s important. We can hang out some other time.” I jumped out of the bed and started to put my clothes back on. “I’ll text Nolan now and tell him you overslept and that you’ll be opening up the store soon.” I stared at the bed and noticed that Betsy was staring at her phone screen with her mouth slightly ajar and I frowned.
“Earth to Betsy? What’s going on?”
“Sorry what?” She looked up at me with wide non-blinking eyes and I walked over to her side of the bed.
“What’s going on, Betsy?”
“I just got a text from Jules.
