Series: Paige Michaels
Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 44908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Jordi stared at him as he touched her. When he paused to check her expression for any sign of pain, she assured him, “I’m okay. Really.”
“Good. Let’s get these knocked out for you.” Callen patted her shoulder before turning his attention to the wood framework. He looked back at her expectantly, and she grabbed her hammer and rushed forward.
It took some time. Callen didn’t hurry or show any signs of impatience. He simply hoisted the pieces into place and steadied them as she attached the pieces together. When he released the last one, she couldn’t help celebrating.
“Woohoooo!” Jordi raised her hands over her head and danced in a circle. Hearing his chuckle, she froze in place. “Oops, sorry. I mean, thank you!”
“You’re welcome, Little girl. I’ll get back to the store. Maybe next time, you’ll show me how to do a celebration dance. I think I need this in my life.”
As she watched him walk away, trying not to focus on that tight, muscular butt, Jordi replayed his words.
Did he just call me Little girl?
Chapter Two
By the end of the next day, Jordi’s eyes were almost crossed from wiring all the small lightbulbs into the stations. Rubbing her hands over her eyelids, she decided she needed a break before she connected more. Jordi looked out the window to see someone walk by with a box emblazoned with the cute Little Cakes logo. A cupcake.
“Time for a break,” she announced to the waiting lights.
When they didn’t answer, she took off her work belt and dropped it to the floor. Jordi locked the door carefully behind her. She had a big investment in tools, so she didn’t want to walk away from them without securing the store.
With that task finished, she followed the covered walkway. Two stores away, she caught a whiff of vanilla, sugar, and chocolate. Congratulating herself on this really good idea, Jordi walked a bit faster. She reached for the door handle just as a large, callused hand encircled it.
“Oops! Sorry,” she said, automatically stepping back to allow the other customer to go in first. Her eyes followed the trail of the attractive male form past broad shoulders to…
“After you.”
“Callen?”
“We must have had the same idea. Cupcakes for the win. Allow me to treat you,” he suggested with a broad smile.
Is he glad to see me?
“Oh, that’s not necessary,” she protested before wincing as she realized she said that to him a lot.
“I insist. Come on. Cupcakes are more fun if you have someone to enjoy them with.” Callen waved her inside before him.
“Hi! Welcome to Little Cakes,” the attractive, curvy brunette called out.
Their voices blended together perfectly as they greeted her in unplanned unison, “Hi, Ellie!”
“Jinx?” Jordi said without thinking.
When he laughed, she apologized. “Sorry. I grew up with brothers. I take it back.”
He shook his head and guided her to the ordering line with his lips firmly sealed together. Callen definitely knew the rules to this game.
“Hi, guys! What can I get you? The special is Caramel Drizzle. Want to try one, Jordi? I know Callen’s almost eaten his own weight in this flavor. It’s his favorite.”
Callen nodded eagerly and held up two fingers before waving a hand across his throat.
“Aww! You can’t talk? Did she jinx you?” Ellie asked, quickly deducing what had happened.
“I didn’t mean to… It just slipped out. I told him not to worry about it,” Jordi said quickly.
“That doesn’t work. You have to say their full name,” Ellie reminded her.
“I know.” Jordi gritted her teeth and jerked her head slightly at Callen.
“Oh, you don’t know it. Callen will help you,” Ellie assured her.
The delightful cupcake baker chatted easily with the pair as she dished up their cupcakes on plates and got them cups of water. Jordi tried to argue about Callen paying but it was hard to debate anything with a man who wouldn’t speak. Finally, he carried their tray over to a window seat and waved her into a seat.
“Callen. This is ridiculous. Start talking,” she said weakly.
He shook his head and pulled out a business card. Grabbing a pen from his pocket, he added something and handed it to her with a flourish.
“Callen Anthony James?”
“Whew! That’s better!” he said. “I haven’t been jinxed for a long time.”
“Sorry, I had three brothers. It was automatic.”
“Three younger sisters. They loved doing that to me,” he shared.
“You were the only boy?” Jordi asked in fascination of their opposite childhoods.
“Yes, and I bet you were the youngest and only girl.”
“Tomboy, through and through,” she confessed as she nodded.
They looked at each other in silence for a moment. Jordi realized she was still holding his card. “Sorry. Here!” She tried to hand it back.
“Keep it. How else can you free me from the dreaded jinx?” he teased. “Besides, it has my cell phone on it. Call me if you need help with anything.”