Quinn’s heart felt like it might not stay in the confines of herchest. “I got you a little something. A bakery warming of sorts.”
Amanda dropped her head to the side. “You didn’t have to dothat.”
“But I wanted to.” She went over to where she’d tucked thepackage behind a table and pulled it out. “It’s nothing fancy.”
Amanda accepted the gift and gently tore the paper away. “Arethese the plans?”
She didn’t usually frame project plans. It always seemed a bitegotistical. But these, complete with pencil marks and eraser smudges andAmanda’s handwritten notes, felt special. “You don’t have to hang them, but Iloved how the design evolved and I thought you’d appreciate remembering theprocess.”
“Oh, I’m hanging it all right. I just have to decide whether toput it out here where the customers can enjoy it or in the decorating room so Ican.”
Quinn’s heart melted at the statement. “I’m so glad I got to workon this with you. It’s been one of my favorite projects in a long time.”
“I’m glad, too. But I feel like I should confess something.”
“What’s that?” She tried to ignore the tiny hitch in her chest.
“The bakery isn’t my favorite part of this.” Amanda moved herhand back and forth to indicate the two of them.
“No?” She knew what Amanda meant, but like before, she wanted tohear her say it.
“No.” Amanda closed the distance between them. “You are myfavorite part.”
She cleared her throat and reminded herself to keep things light.“Well, yeah, but I was afraid saying so would have been unprofessional.”
Amanda laughed. “I wouldn’t have minded.”
“Oh, good. Then you are absolutely my favorite part. Well, you,us, this whole thing.” She mimicked Amanda’s gesture.
“I’m glad we’re in agreement.”
“Total agreement.”
Amanda’s mouth came to hers. The kiss started playful but quicklyturned into anything but.
“Are we running that kind of establishment now?” Tanya’s voicecut through the haze of Quinn’s thoughts.
Amanda took her time pulling away. “If you mean blissfully happy,then yes. That’s exactly the kind of establishment we’re running.”
She would have expected Amanda to be a bit more of a prude. Maybeshe and Tanya were closer friends than she’d realized.
Amanda offered her a sheepish smile. “Sorry. I forgot I toldTanya to come by.”
Quinn chuckled. “It’s fine. It’s your bakery after all.”
Amanda beamed. “It is. And it’s perfect.” She turned to Tanya.“What do you think?”
Tanya nodded slowly as she looked around, apparently unfazed bywalking in on her boss making out with someone. “It’s so perfect. Like a wholenew space, but with the same personality.”
“Yes, that’s exactly what I was going for.”
Tanya lifted her chin in Quinn’s direction. “Nice work.”
She got the feeling that was high praise in Tanya’s book. Even ifit wasn’t, it was good enough for her. “I should probably leave you two. I hearthere’s a party in a couple of days.”
Amanda winced. “We’re not going to regret that, right?”
Tanya shrugged. “When do supplies arrive?”
“Tomorrow.”
Tanya waved a hand dismissively. “We got this.”
“If there’s anything I can do to help, let me know.” Since they’dalready been caught making out, Quinn braved giving Amanda a kiss on the cheekbefore taking her leave. “Anything that doesn’t involve baking, of course.”
Tanya laughed. Quinn offered them a parting wave and let herselfout. She was looking forward to the party, and to the bakery coming back tolife. Even if it meant Amanda would be a hell of a lot busier. As fun as it hadbeen to spend so much time together, she was in it for the long haul. And thatmeant making it work along with both their careers, family obligations, thewhole nine yards. It might be weird to admit, but she was looking forward tothe realness of that.
No, it wasn’t weird. It meant she was in love. And the realnessmanaged to be both exhilarating and calming. And maybe just a tiny bitterrifying.
Chapter Twenty-seven
Quinn arrived at the party early, so she headed for the backdoor of the bakery and let herself in. Music wafted through the kitchen, alongwith the aromas of chocolate, butter, and vanilla. Her stomach rumbled in amixture of appreciation and longing.
Amanda’s back was to her, so she took a moment to appreciate theview. The dress Amanda wore hugged her curves, but then flowed to her knees.The gray fabric, complete with pale pink polka dots, didn’t match the bakeryexactly, but complemented it. Quinn couldn’t help but smile at the choice. “Youlook as beautiful as one of your cakes.”
Amanda turned. She had a pink Bake My Day apron on over her partydress and a piping bag of frosting in her hand. “Hi.”
Quinn’s breath caught in her throat. “What can I do? I’m at yourdisposal.”
“Um.”
She pointed at the frosting. “Except that. You do not want to seewhat happens when frosting and I mix.”
Amanda gestured with the tip of the bag. “Is it as cute aspowdered sugar on your nose?”
She flashed back to their first meeting, the one where she’d beencaught mid-donut. “Well, I might look adorable covered in frosting, but sadly,I’d probably wind up wearing more of it than the cupcakes would.”
Amanda’s gaze traveled down her body and back up. “There areworse things.”
Quinn tipped her head. “Noted.”
“I wouldn’t want to ruin that gorgeous suit you’re wearing, butperhaps we should experiment later.”
The comment—silly and playful but laced with innuendo—sent a stabof lust through her. It still struck her how immediately and intensely Amandacould have that effect on her. “You should save some frosting.”
Amanda licked her lips and she seriously considered tossing thepastry bag aside, pushing her up against the table, and kissing her, despiteher declared intention of helping. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, Tanyapushed through the swinging door before she had the chance.
Tanya lifted a chin in her direction. “Aren’t you looking sharp?”
She gave the hem of the jacket a tug and angled her head towardAmanda. “I can’t look like some two-bit chump next to my date here.”
Amanda gave
