Lord of Rain (The Dragon Demigods #5) - Charlene Hartnady Page 0,21

a face. “She gets terrible morning sickness. Only, she gets it at any time of the day. If this pregnancy is like the others, it will be a few weeks before she starts to feel better.”

“Oh no, that’s horrible. How are you feeling about it? Five kids.” I widen my eyes. “I bet you’re hoping for a girl.” They have four boys.

“Nope.” He shakes his head. “I’m not sure about a girl.” He looks worried. “I wouldn’t know the first thing about raising a daughter.” He looks slightly green. “This is just so unexpected. Helen was on birth control.”

“As you know, it’s not foolproof.”

“Don’t I know it. We were so sure we were done after Josh that we gave away all of our baby things.”

“Everything?” Oh no!

“Every last thing. From the crib to the stroller. All the clothes and toys… All of it. I’m trying to save, and we’re keeping an eye out for second-hand items. Please let me know if you hear of any for sale.”

I force a smile, feeling worse than ever. Simon doesn’t know yet that his job might be on the line. I told my parents to wait before telling him. I told them I have an idea about how to fix things. I haven’t told them what that idea is. I’m not sure how my dad will take it. My fake smile gets wider as panic sets in.

“If I hear of anything, I’ll let you know.” This is worse than I thought. Simon needs this job more than I do. I might even move back home and work at Buns for free. I have a small amount of savings. I need to think of something and fast.

I wish I hadn’t been so adamant about Mr. Steven Bolt not hiring me. I ultimately said that he would regret hiring me and he answered with:

Job Offer: Personal Assistant to the CEO

From: Bolt

No, I wouldn’t.

Stupid me sent back a reply.

Job Offer: Personal Assistant to the CEO

From: A. Shaw

I type with two fingers. Did I mention that I’m clumsy? My best friend calls me butterfingers, and it has nothing to do with me being a pastry chef. You really would regret it.

That was it. The last I heard from him. Now I’m regretting warning him off. I should have at least tried to make it work. Maybe I could have worked for him. Maybe my attraction was fleeting. I’ve just inserted the nozzle into the first choux to start filling them with the vanilla pastry cream, when my mom sticks her head around the door.

“How you doing there, hon’?”

“All good,” I say. “Give me fifteen minutes and the eclairs will be ready to go. Is Mrs. Thomas here already?” She’s one of our regulars. Always buys a freshly baked eclair on a Tuesday at eight, and a Saturday morning at ten. I check the clock and see that I still have half an hour to get these done.

I frown, and my mother gives me this strange look. “Um…no…it’s not Mrs. Thomas. There is someone here to see you.”

“Oh?” Why me specifically? Our regulars know my mom really well, on account of her running the counter most days. “Who is it?”

She frowns. “I’m not sure. He says he wants cupcakes but wouldn’t let me help him. He specifically wanted your cupcakes and wants you to sell them to him.” Her cheeks go red, and she gets a strange expression. “He’s not bad looking.” She wipes her hands on her apron. “I didn’t know you were seeing someone.” She smiles.

“I’m not!” I haven’t so much as dated since Sean and I broke up almost a year ago. I guess my confidence took a knock. We’d been together for three years. Lived together for two and a half of those. I thought he was ‘the one’. The break-up came out of nowhere. It is time to get back in the game…I guess. I wonder who it could be, since it isn’t someone I’m dating.

The first thing that comes to mind is that it might be… No…it can’t be him. Maybe someone I served when my parents were on vacation two months ago. I wrack my brain and come up blank. “I’ll be right there,” I tell my mom.

“Thanks, hon’.” She visibly relaxes.

I set the piping bag down and walk to a wash area at the front of the bakery. I wash my hands with soap and dry them. Then I take off my chef’s coat and hairnet, hanging them up on a