Love for Dessert (Contemporary Romance) Read Online Free

didn’t look like the typical man who worked at a bakery.
     
    Before Anastasia could get a glimpse of him, her phone rang. It was the real estate agent. “Hello?” she answered as she motioned to Ariana that they should go back across the street. “Uh-huh… I see… Yes, I’ll be right there…”
     
    “What was that all about?” Ariana asked as Anastasia hung up.
     
    “Someone else is also interested in the place. Damn it. Should I take it?” she said as they walked back towards the empty place.
     
    “I say do it. Be a little spontaneous. You need the change and fresh start, especially after…” Ariana stopped and pulled Anastasia in for a hug, not wanting to mention Aaron’s name. “It’ll work itself out.”
     
    “Thanks, Ari. You’re the best. Really.” Anastasia pushed open the door of the empty place. “Regina?”
     
    Regina the real estate agent came out of the back almost immediately, holding a clipboard and a pen. “Will you take it?” She smiled brightly, hoping to make the sale.
     
    Anastasia gave Ariana one last glance before turning back to Regina. “Yes.”
     

**
     
    The next few weeks were filled with excitement, as Anastasia prepared for her bakery’s grand opening. There were things to buy, ingredients to order, flyers to be put up, advertisements to be designed, oh, there was just so much work to do. Anastasia was glad for all the work, because it helped her keep her mind off Aaron.
     
    Ariana’s wedding plans were also coming along quite nicely, for she had hired an expert wedding planner who took care of her every need. She had picked out the perfect white dress, and even a beautiful outfit for the bridesmaids. Everything was going along smoothly, and Ariana and Peter seemed more in love than ever.
     
    Anastasia was happy for her best friend, but she couldn’t help but feel something was missing from her own life. A man. She was beginning to get over Aaron, and it was easier because the last couple months with him had felt one-sided anyway. Anastasia stood outside of her bakery, thinking of a name. It had to be something creative, yet tasteful…
     
    She thought about it as she closed up the bakery, glad that in a couple weeks’ time, it would finally be opening. Erica had finally come around, offering financial and emotional assistance, and without her mother, the bakery would have been hard to make a reality. And now it was really happening. Anastasia could hardly believe it, and she was incredibly excited.
     
    Anastasia had a sudden desire to celebrate, but she knew that Ariana was meeting with her wedding planner and she definitely did not want to go drinking with her mother. So she headed to the nearest bar, ironically named Poison, for a drink before going home.
     
    Poison was a rather popular bar with the older crowd, and Anastasia didn’t usually go there; she and Ariana more often frequented Lights , a bar that had pulsating neon lights and a top 100 playlist. But today, Anastasia was feeling something more low-key. She stepped through the wooden doors, feeling relaxed immediately by the calming piano music and dim lights. There weren’t too many people here, and that’s how she liked it.
     
    Anastasia took a seat at the bar, and ordered. “A gin and tonic, please.”
     
    “Coming right up.” The bartender was a pretty woman, and she made the drink quickly and expertly. It was obvious many of the men at the bar were only there to stare at her. The bartender had no problems with this, and her low-cut top earned her more tips than the other drink mixers.
     
    “Thanks.” Anastasia shot her a smile as she took a sip of the drink. She surveyed the room, feeling the alcohol travel down her throat satisfyingly. It had been a while since she had had a reason to celebrate, and it felt good. She was finally realizing her childhood dream. Though she still had many hurdles to jump over, financially and emotionally, she had a feeling that everything was going