Semi-Sweet On You (Hot Cakes #4) - Erin Nicholas Page 0,45

Katherine just made Didi do some things she didn’t like but that were important. Their daily walk for instance. And eating something other than cereal. And not spending the day watching Golden Girls reruns.

Okay, so Didi wanted a replacement for Katherine. But Cam?

“How, exactly, did that come up and why in the world would you agree to that?”

He took a step closer and Whitney had to fight the urge to back up. She didn’t actually want to get away from him. On the contrary, she wanted to get a lot closer. But she couldn’t. That would complicate things enormously.

A lot like having him hanging out here every day and being sweet to her grandmother.

Not to mention him moving in.

“It came up in our conversation,” he said with a shrug as if he didn’t remember exactly how. “And she and I have a common goal, and me being here a lot helps us toward that goal.”

Whitney narrowed her eyes. “What’s the goal?”

“Making you happy.”

That wasn’t exactly what she’d been expecting him to say so it took her a second to really process it.

“You think you being here with my grandma is going to make me happy?”

He nodded. “You want to focus on Hot Cakes and being a part of the team and showing your new bosses that you’re dedicated and valuable. But your grandma being here and needing company is distracting and causes you to need to leave work in the middle of projects sometimes. Like when she sets things on fire.” The corner of his mouth curled again as if Didi starting things on fire was amusing. “If I’m here, Didi is happy and you’re free to concentrate on work.”

Whitney swallowed. She really did need someone to help with Didi if she was going to put in the time and concentration she needed at work. Her father’s departure and the guys coming in and taking over had been a blessing in a lot of ways. Whitney was starting fresh with the guys. Even slightly ahead. They valued her experience with the company over the past ten years.

But the changes and increased demands on Whitney’s time and attention were coinciding with a crucial time with Didi. It was another month before Didi could move into Sunny Orchard where she would have more activities and supervision. Her meals would be provided—and would include vegetables—and she wouldn’t have to use a stove at all.

Whitney had really been hoping that Didi could tolerate Katherine for another thirty days. Surely it wasn’t that bad with Katherine.

“Why would you do this? Really?” she asked. “Why do you care if Didi is happy with Katherine?”

He took a moment to answer. He took another step closer and tucked his hands into his pockets. The movement drew her attention to his arms. He’d always been muscular and solid, but he definitely had the arms—and shoulders and chest and abs—of a man now. The last time his arms had been around her, making her feel comforted and loved and sexy, he’d been a boy. She couldn’t help but wonder how they would feel around her now.

She shook that off quickly though. That was even more complicated than having him getting along with her grandmother. It was one thing for them to see each other regularly and to have something in common with Hot Cakes. It would be a lot more convoluted between them if he was a part of her personal life as well. But if there was a physical connection too, she wasn’t sure she’d be strong enough not to just fall headfirst in love with him. Again.

“I’ve been really clear about what I want, Whit,” he finally said. “I want a chance to see what, if anything, is between us now. It’s been ten years but I wouldn’t say we had a lot of closure. If we spend time together and decide to be friends, great. If we can only manage to be coworkers at Hot Cakes, then, fine. I guess. But if we can be more, then I absolutely want to know that.”

“So you’re using my grandmother to get closer to me?” she asked, crossing her arms, feeling suddenly raw and jumpy.

Her life had been easier when Cam had lived in another city and only came home occasionally. It had always hurt to see him. She’d always wanted more than the few minutes of interaction. She’d wanted more than acting as if they were just acquaintances, like she did with any of the other guys she’d gone