His Kind of Wonderful (Sugar Bay #2) Read Online Free Page B

girlfriend by sometime. I want to meet her.”
    “Absolutely.” He lied through his teeth, glad George looked happy and less stressed.
    He’d put off telling Derek though. Joe’s nose had been broken once and he wasn’t looking forward to having it broken again. The first problem was—how to break it to Dani?
    Last night’s spat in the kitchen came to mind.
    He was screwed .
     
    ***
     
    Joe whistled as he walked up Main Street towards Charlie’s Decadent Den. After Lisa left, the boys had harassed him until he escaped for a sugar run. There was a Lemon Coconut Crunch with his name on it and maybe—but it was a stretch—he’d bring back some for the boys in spite of their insensitive behavior. He doubted any of those yahoos wanted to prance in front of local society in the name of charity either. Bastards.
    He pushed the glass door open and was greeted by unearthly delights. He’d always imagined heaven would smell just like Charlie’s Decadent Den, full of sugar, chocolate and all things delicious.
    “Joseph James! Get yourself over here and give me some sugar.”
    “Yes, ma’am.” He crossed the shop and enveloped a tiny redhead in a big hug and gave her a smacking kiss on the cheek. He was pretty sure Mrs. MacKinnon wasn’t a real redhead. Over the course of his youth, she’d changed her hair color with the seasons so he didn’t know her true color. But she’d always been nice to him, when most people labeled him as the dirty kid with a drunken dad who wouldn’t amount to much. She let him play with her sons and he’d spent hours in her kitchen. She was one of his favorite people and he’d do just about anything for her.
    “Hiya, handsome.”
    He grinned down at the petite lady. “Hi Mrs. Mac.” He’d shortened her surname long ago.
    “You doing okay? Staying out of trouble?”
    “Doing my best.”
    “That’s a good boy. Charlie just put out some fresh Lemon Coconut Crunch cupcakes. Want some?”
    “When are you going to forget the men of Sugar Bay and marry me?” He spun her in a circle while she squealed, slapping his shoulders.
    “Put me down, rascal! You couldn’t handle me so I’ll leave all the sweet young things to you. They’re more to your speed.”
    “You’re nothing but a heartbreaker, Mrs. Mac.”
    “Alright, alright. Stop flirting with my mom and grab your goodies.”
    “Hey Charlie.” Gently, he set Mrs. MacKinnon down. Charlie was actually a Charlotte. Tall and slim, she wasn’t what people had in mind when they thought ‘baker’. The auburn haired woman looked more like a corporate lawyer or somebody that took delight in eating small children for dinner. Not exactly warm and fluffy but, damn, she could bake.
    “Hey, punk. How’s it going?”
    “Not too bad. Been on the water lately?” Charlie loved the water almost as much as she did her bakery.
    “Everyday. Keeps me sane.”
    He gave her a look and she grinned.
    “Okay. Relatively sane,” she clarified.
    The jiggling bells on the door signaled a new customer and in walked Dani and right behind her, Lisa Strickland, George’s wife.
    Shit .
    Dani gave him a startled look through her hipster glasses. As if seeing him in a bakery was an anomaly. He took in her pink cheeks and wondered if she was still embarrassed over last night. He hoped not.
    She’d pulled her long, dark hair up with an antique butterfly clip and with her gauzy white—almost transparent—poet shirt, beat up jean shorts and leather messenger bag slung across her hip she looked like a hot, bohemian gypsy librarian.
    Joe made sure to keep his eyes above her neck even though the lure of her long lean legs called to him. “Hey, Dani.”
    She nodded back. “Hey.”
    She avoided his gaze so he took the opportunity to grab her by the elbow and ignored her startled squeak. He pulled her close and brushed a kiss on her lips for good measure. He snapped back at the spark he’d felt. “What the hell?”
    “What?”
    He touched his lips.