eyes. “Don’t start flirting again, Moser. I’m a nun, remember?”
Dean holds his hands up. “Sorry, sorry. I didn’t mean it. Actually, I empathize with everything you’re saying. You and I have very similar views on business, and I, too, have zero desire to ever settle down.”
My brows lift curiously. “What’s your damage?”
Dean shakes his head dismissively. “No damage. It’s just not for me. Kate and Lynsey are on those paths full steam ahead right now, and I am doing everything I can to hop off their train. And apparently, I’m doing too good of a job because they’re pissed I’m not dating more serious girls. Girls they can have an actual conversation with. But let me tell you, Norah, they don’t have to be bright to be good at…” Dean gestures to his groin, and I cringe with disgust.
“God, you’re a pig.” I turn away, wondering what the hell is wrong with me for confiding in a terminal bachelor. I glance at him over my shoulder. “You look so put together and professional, and then you open your mouth and ruin everything.”
Dean’s smile grows. “Some people find it charming.”
“You were so normal when I first met you.” I shake my head.
“That’s because there are two sides to me. Business Dean and Dark Passenger Dean. Now that we’re friends, I let my true self come out.”
“Lucky me,” I grumble and drop down onto the bench by the door. I hunch over and run my hands through my hair. “What am I going to do, Dean? Seriously. My mother won’t let this Nate thing go. She’s going to involve my dad, and my dad is going to make me feel guilty like he always does.”
Dean takes the seat next to me. “Maybe you could take a different date to their party.”
I jerk my head to look over at him. “How does that help me? I just told you I don’t want to date anyone. I have too much going on.”
“I mean not a real date—just someone who’ll get your mother off your back. A fake date.”
“What, like hire a male hooker?” My mouth goes dry at the thought.
“Jesus, not a hooker!” Dean laughs with genuine amusement that I feel in my belly. “I can’t even picture you with a hooker. Your OCD would kick into overdrive around a man who has sex for money.”
My face falls. “What makes you think I have OCD?”
Dean flinches like he’s revealed too much. “I’ve seen you in the bakery for years now, Norah. You have these tics.”
“Tics?” I ask, feeling exposed. “At what point did you become a level ten stalker?”
“Are you saying you’ve never noticed me?” He pins me with a challenging look that gives me a jolt of energy. “I come to Rise and Shine a lot…I’m certain you at least know how I take my coffee.”
I roll my eyes defensively while inside saying cream and two sugars. But I know several of my other regulars’ coffee preferences too. It doesn’t mean anything.
Dean sighs and tilts his head, his eyes roaming deliberately over my face like he’s reading my mind. His close inspection causes my cheeks to flush, and suddenly, it’s a lot warmer in this alley than it was a few seconds ago.
Dean licks his lips with determination. “I’m not too shy to admit that I’ve noticed you measuring everything three times.”
“That’s just to be precise. Any good baker measures multiple times. I have that included in my franchise manual.”
“I didn’t first notice it in your manual. I noticed it by watching you. You’re a perfectionist, Norah. Your bakery is impeccable, and your business model for the franchise is a great example of that high level of care—your brand story alone is a work of art.”
My body flushes from his praise. Who knew having a stalker could be so…flattering? “Well, I want Rise and Shine to be successful. I came up with this idea when I was a teenager, and it still surprises me that I’m taking this next step.”
“I know. God, I wish you could understand that I’m complimenting you. Seriously, I’ve reviewed franchise folders from different restaurants and bakeries, and none have come close to being as marketable as yours. You were the easiest investment I’ve ever made, and that’s coming from someone who’s spent his entire adult life investing in the stock market.”
My lips part as Dean showers me with all the affirmations I could ever want in life. It’s overwhelming, actually, and I hate that I have to quickly