The bakery's stainless steel kitchen has an island-style layout where all the food preparation for the shop is completed in the center while the perimeter is used for baking, storage, and cleaning.

They say a kitchen can make or break a bakery, so that was where I invested most of my energy and time. I spent months looking for the best brand new and secondhand equipment deals, sat down with a couple of interior designs to plan the perfect space, and was committed to creating a functional place where I could get lost inside for hours.

So, when I hear Thomas whistle as we enter my sanctuary, a sense of pride washes over me. "Wow! You got a really nice place here," he says.

"Thanks. Here." I pull a chair for him to sit before I gather all the ingredients I'll need. Since I'm baking just a few cupcakes, there is no need to break out the mixer, so I'll make them the way I love the most, by hand.

One of the secrets for a perfect cupcake is to get one bowl for dry ingredients and another one for wet ingredients, and then gently mix the two together. I've lost count of how many times I've done this in my life, so when I see my hands are shaking a little as I measure the flour, I realize how nervous I am around this guy. Thomas seems like a genuine guy trying to do something nice for his sister, who I've chatted with countless times before, so logically I know it's all good.The issue is my brain has a hard time thinking logically sometimes.

What the hell happened to me? I used to flirt and enjoy a cute guy's company as much as the next girl. Now look at me shaking and worried this guy is a creep or a threat.

"Are you sure you're okay? I kind of feel bad now that you're actually here doing it for me..." Thomas says, and I close my eyes for a second.

"Yeah... Uh... sure..." I head to the coffee machine to brew us some coffee. Maybe a good dose of caffeine will sober me up. He's just a customer, and I've learned my way around them a long time ago: be friendly, smile when appropriate, and engage in ordinary conversations.

"Is there something I can do to help?" he asks, and it puts me at ease a little. As I said, he's just a guy trying to do something nice for his sister - I remind my subconscious.

"You said you wanted to watch..." I say as I start measuring the ingredients.

"Hmmm... actually, I think you offered," he says, making me turn my attention to him just in time to see a full smile on his lips.

And damn... Not fair. Not fair at all... How is this guy so handsome without even trying?

And why can't I stop noticing how good-looking he is?

"You'll know when I'm offering, dude!" I make sure my tone is light, but that my eyes are telling him I'm not joking.

"Good to know."

"Do you always have a comeback?" I hear myself chuckling at the humor in his voice.

"I could ask you the same." He grins like I'm amusing him, but I just shake my head.

The beep of the coffee machine tells me the coffee is ready, so I fill us two cups. "Here." I offer him one.

"Oh, thanks... Uh... Isn't it a bit late to be drinking coffee?" He looks at his watch as I place some cream and sugar in front of him.

"Never too late for a good cup of coffee." I take a sip of mine, the liquid bitterness bringing me some much-needed dopamine before I keep going, "Also, I need to sober up if I want to bake her cupcakes right."

His eyes widen, and I hide my smile behind my cup. "You're drunk?" He chuckles, his eyes a mixture of curiosity and amusement.

"Maybe."

"What was it? White wine?"

"Do I look like a white wine kind of girl?" I adjust my glasses, and he flat-out laughs at me, making me smile at the absurdity of our situation.

He takes a moment to study my eyes, and maybe it's the alcohol running in my blood, but for the first time in years, I don't feel weird under a man's gaze. "Nah..." he says after a while, "Let me guess? Whiskey?"

Forcing myself not to overanalyze my feelings, I answer him, "Tequila, muchacho! Jose Cuervo and I are old friends." I pour the wet ingredients into the dry ones and gently mix them until the chocolate batter is perfectly spongy and cakey.

He doesn't say anything for a while, and when I turn my attention to him, I realize his eyes are on me - not in a creepy or malicious way, but more like I'm a puzzle he's trying to figure out.

"What is it?" I ask.

"Sorry." He shakes his head, and the flush of crimson embarrassment creeping slowly up his cheek throws me off for a second.

Not knowing how to react, I blurt, "I normally make a much better impression on people, you know?" I feel I have to say after the fiasco of me throwing up all over his shoes.

"Oh, believe me, I'm impressed," he says, and I'm about to reply when his phone rings. "It's my sister, sorry," he adds.

I make myself busy by filling the cupcake liners. "Sure. No problem."

"Hey," he answers, then rolls his eyes at whatever she is saying. "Yeah, I'm here... yeah.... she's actually making them right now... I don't know... Yeah, I'll be there soon... Okay, bye." He hangs up, his eyes on me. "She says she's officially in love with you."

"Hmmm... maybe I should start playing for the other team. Maybe I'd be luckier." I put the cupcakes in the oven, then turn to him. "More coffee?"

"Yeah, sure." He hands me his cup, and I refill it, noticing he drinks it black and with no sugar like me. "So, no luck in the love department?" he casually asks, making me pause.

"Are you- are you flirting with me?" My still obviously drunk self asks, making him spit coffee all over himself.

"I might really be out of my game if you need to ask me." He coughs and gets some tissues from a counter to clean his shirt.

"No, I mean... I just threw up on you!" I say and suddenly burst out laughing. Seriously, I'm never drinking again. How crazy has this day gone?

"Uh... okay! No more lame attempts at flirting! Noted!" He jokes, but when I take a good look at him, I see he's actually blushing.

"I'm sorry. I just had a terrible day. That was really rude of me, but..."

Well.. How do you tell a guy you just met you're completely messed up in the freaking love department?

Chuckling at my now flustered state, he says, "It's all good, really. You just... I mean, I did guilt you into baking for my sister while you're still a little drunk. "It's just..."

"Just what?" I ask when he stops.

"You're..."

"I'm what?"

"Refreshing, I guess. I don't know."

"Oh?"

"You're not really worried about your appearance and you're being very nice to my sister... and... "

"Do I look that bad?" I joke, because damn... I guess I just can't help it.

"God, I'm really making a fool out of myself here. I'll just shut up while you finish the cupcakes." He shakes his head, a hint of a smile on his lips.

"You just make it easy, you know?" I shrug while getting the cupcakes from the oven, the freshly baked aroma I love so much, filling the air. I still have some frosting left, so as I wait for them to cool, I pour myself another cup of coffee.

"This place is kind of new, right? I remember it was more like a coffee shop before." He changes the subject, his attention now on the cupcakes too.

"Yeah." I smile proudly. "Right after college, I got a full-time job at the accounting firm I was interning for. I liked the job but was not really passionate about it. My best friend's mom owns a bakery, and I used to hang out there almost every day. I didn't know I loved baking that much until the opportunity to buy this place happened. She helped me through all the process and well, here I am."

"Wow, that's very impressive!"

"Thanks!" I'm thrilled it's all working out." I get the frosting and start topping the cupcakes, offering him one when I'm ready. I watch him take a bite and see the exact moment the moist soft taste of the cake powders his mouth, along with the creamy dark chocolate frosting.

"So?" I smile when he closes his eyes for a second as if to appreciate it more properly.

"Best fucking cupcakes I've ever had!" He finishes one, then reaches for another. "Seriously, I totally get my sister now. Delicious! Really!"

"Thank you." My grin widens, and I wrap the dozen cupcakes he ordered before handing them to him. "Here you go."

"Really, Lisa! You're amazing! Thanks a bunch for doing this. How much do I owe you?" He stands up, reaching for his wallet.

"Nah, that's fine. You brought me some fun after a really bad day and you say your sister is a regular here, so..." I shrug, suddenly shy. He really helped me to forget the day I had, even if I had to warm up to his presence first.

"No way!" He gets his wallet and hands me fifty dollars. Way too much than the cupcakes cost.

"I puked all over your shoes. Please let me have this one?" I look into his eyes so he understands how serious I am.

"I can't not pay you..." he murmurs as we walk back to the main area of the shop.

"You just did." I smile. "Here." I offer him some business cards. "Spread the word to your friends and family. Tell people how amazing my cupcakes are and then we're all good."

"You're stubborn." He takes the cards, his head shaking.

"One of my best personality traits." I shrug, making him smile.

"Well, I guess I'll get going then. Thanks a lot for helping me out. I owe you one." He keeps nodding but makes no move to leave.

"No problem, and uh... sorry again for throwing up on you." I try to sound serious but end up laughing at how ridiculous the situation was.

"Yeah." He rubs his neck, his eyes dancing with humor.

"I can't believe it actually happened." I bite my lower lip, still a little embarrassed.

"Right? But seriously, are you going to be fine here by yourself?"

"Yeah, I just got some sad news and stupidly thought drinking would make me feel good. I should've known better by now."

"Does it have to do with that lack of luck in the love department thing?" he asks.

"And you say I'm stubborn?" I smirk.

"Just naturally curious," he says, his eyes warm.

"I just got the news about this guy I... I mean, just got the news he's getting engaged." I sigh, wishing that saying it out loud didn't hurt this bad.

"Ouch." He frowns, and I swear I now see a hint of pity in his gaze.

Great!

Plastering a smile on my face, as the last thing I need is to discuss how messed up I am with this man, I open the main door for him to leave. "Yeah, I guess some things are just not meant to be."

"I think... but...I... You know, I'll be in town for a couple of weeks and before you think I'm hitting on you, I'm not! I heard it loud and clear you're not interested - I just thought we could hang out?"

"Hang out?" I raise my eyebrows, leaning by the door as he makes his way out.

"Friendly hang out!" He grins.

"Is that how you kids are calling it these days?" I can't help the laughter that leaves my lips.

"Damn, you're too much!" He joins me, covering his eyes with his hand for a second, before continuing, "Okay, how about this, I'll bring you some lunch tomorrow, we'll eat, chat, and then I'll go back to my sister's."

I look at him, wondering where he's going with this. I'm too messed up to be going out on dates. "Hmmm, eat and talk... sounds like a date to me." I hear myself saying.

"Only if I kiss you in the end..."

"Are you offering?" I let the words out of my lips and when it hit my ears, I realize what I just did, but before I have time to take it back, he is already talking.

"Oh, I would if I knew for sure you wouldn't kick me in the nuts." His eyes shine, a grin playing on his lips.

"So what? You want to be friends?" I cross my arms, willing my heart to stop getting excited about this. Yeah, he is a nice guy, but this is a dangerous game - and one I know better than playing.

"Why not?" he asks.

"Oh-"

"Come on, eat and talk! Right there at that little table." He points to a table for two in a corner, and I feel my heart racing as it hasn't happened in a very long time.

"A friendly date, tomorrow, at two, right there at that little table?" I'm not sure if I'm telling him or asking him, but before I both have time to figure it out, Thomas is already grinning and heading to his car that is parked right in front of the shop.

"Great, see you tomorrow! Lock everything up after me and don't open the door to strangers this late, Lisa." He raises his eyebrows, that carefree look in his beautiful eyes rendering me speechless.

"Did I just agree to a date, I mean, a friendly date with this guy tomorrow?" I sigh as I watch him go.

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A/N: Thanks for reading, guys!❤️ Where in the world are you reading this story?

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-Celeste.