Hired Hottie - Kelsie Rae Page 0,7
attempt to get her attention.
Her trance makes me smile. I might be an avid runner and a softball junkie, but I’m also a sucker for sweets, so I can totally understand her fixation with the fresh-baked bread in baskets along the back counter.
After high school, I spent a few months at a fancy restaurant uptown, then another six months working the batting cages, then a few odd jobs here and there before I finally found Get Baked.
I started working here when I saw a Help Wanted sign in their window on one of my morning runs. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
When the customer realizes her kids are starting to whine, she finally pulls her gaze away from the bread behind me and murmurs, “Faith. Hope. So help me, if you guys don’t calm down, I’m going to eat your eclairs for you, and you’ll be left with nothing.” Rolling her eyes, she looks back at me. “Sorry. I swear they’re better behaved when we’re at home.”
With a light laugh, I wave her off. “No worries at all. I’d be whining too if I hadn’t had my sugar fix yet.”
“Right? And coffee. A mama needs her coffee.”
“Amen to that.”
Ringing in the order, I give her the total then she hands me her credit card as a familiar face enters through the doorway.
After giving him a subtle head nod, I tell the customer, “Let me get those for you. One second.” I grab a pink cardboard box with the logo of a cupcake on the top then fill it with two eclairs and a cronut. Once everything is boxed up, I hand it to the customer along with a receipt and a steaming cup of coffee.
“Thank you so much!” she gushes as the kids reach for the box. “Guys. Stop. We’ll dig in when we get home.”
Satisfied with their mother’s promise, the two six-year-olds practically skip behind her before the mom skids to a halt. “Levi?”
“Alexandra?” my best friend returns, just as surprised. “What are you doing here?”
“Grabbing breakfast and growing gray hairs thanks to these two monsters.”
With a laugh, he offers his hand to the two little girls for them to shake. “You must be Faith and Hope. I’ve heard a lot about you.” Their eyes are the size of saucers as they stare at Levi’s extended hand as if it were an octopus’ tentacle. The reaction only encourages Levi’s amusement.
“How ‘bout a high five?” I interject, watching the train wreck in front of me that’s destined for failure with a giant grin.
In response to my suggestion, the kids slap Levi’s hand one after the other like they were born to do it.
“Is this your first time trying Get Baked?” he asks Alexandra.
“It is! The cute cupcake sign grabbed Faith’s attention, and the name made me laugh, so we decided to stop by. What brings you here?”
“My best friend works here.” He lifts his head at me, his eyes crinkling in the corners when they connect with mine. “I hope she took good care of you.”
Stepping forward, Levi’s friend shifts the pink box from one hand to the other before offering her hand for me to shake. When I take it, she says, “She did great. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Alexandra. I work with Levi at Montague Enterprises.”
“It’s nice to meet you too,” I reply. “I’m Charlie. I hope Levi’s been pulling his weight at work,” I add with a teasing smirk.
She returns it with one of her own. “He’s been doing really well. Although, I might be offended that he hasn’t bribed the partners with a box of pastries yet. Or maybe he has, and I didn’t get one.” Eyes narrowing, she turns to Levi.
“Well, apparently, I have some brownnosing to do,” he returns with a wink. “I’d purchase an extra for you, but it looks like you have your hands full today.”
“You have no idea,” she groans, though it’s quickly followed by a light laugh that’s contagious.
We all join in before Levi mentions, “If you need any help with anything, let me know. I know the grand opening of the Jelani Okiro Arts and Cultural Center has been a lot to deal with.”
“That’s kind of you to offer. Especially when I know how hard they push the interns, but I think we’ve got it under control. If that changes, I’ll definitely reach out. We should probably get going, though. It was nice to meet you, Charlie. Have a good day!” With that,