“Are you going to tell me what happened between you and D.D.?” I ask Devil, as he finishes helping restock the front display case from the lunch rush. I should say he’s stocking it while I’m sitting in the chair behind the counter, feeding Connor. He’s taking a bottle even though it’s not his favorite. Still, I’ve found pre-pumping milk for him makes my life easier during the work day. I would be lying though if I said I didn’t miss breast feeding. We still do that at night before bed, though. I run my fingers through Connor’s dark hair and wait for Devil to answer.

“Nothing to tell. Not really. D.D. is what I like to call, a woman on the prowl.”

“A what?”

“She’s a single mother and she’s looking for a permanent man—that is not me.”

“I don’t get that vibe from her, but—and I don’t mean any offense Devil—I think if she was on the prowl, you would be the last man she set her sights on.”

“What makes you say that?”

“She had a threesome with you in the back of a shop. That’s not exactly daddy material,” I tell him and I have to giggle when he looks confused as to why she wouldn’t pick him.

“You’re wrong,” he denies, shaking his head no.

“I don’t think I am,” I laugh. Connor has fallen asleep and I put the bottle up on the counter, staring down at my beautiful baby.

“Women always want to be the one to reform the Devil. That’s just facts. You girls love to think you have what it takes to tame the bad boys,” he says and he doesn’t say it cocky. In fact, he sounds rather matter-of-fact about it all.

“Odd. I don’t really see you as a bad boy,” I tell him honestly.

“Honey, I’m as bad as they come,” he winks.

“If you say so. I just can’t see it.”

“Maybe you need glasses, darlin’,” he jokes.

“I think you protest too much. You just haven’t met the right girl yet,” I tell him, slowly getting up. “I’m going to take Connor back to his playpen. Be right back,” I whisper.

“Maybe I have met her, but I already know she couldn’t handle me,” Devil responds, having followed me into the work room.

“You were supposed to watch the front,” I mumble.

“I eat pie, honey. I don’t sell it,” he smirks. I roll my eyes at him and do my best not to laugh. I’m pretty sure I fail.

“You’re horrible. I’m going to sit back and laugh when some girl finally does catch you,” I laughingly tell him as we walk back to the front. He follows me, laughing too.

“There’s not one girl that you’ve looked at and wanted?”

“Thousands,” he deadpans.

“I meant to keep,” I snort out loud. He’s crazy.

He smirks, but then something happens. He gets a faraway look in his eye and then it’s almost as if he forces himself to look at me. The look is gone and his face is full of the mischief I always associate with him. He shrugs. “Ah! Ha! So there is one!”

“Nah. Not really.”

“That’s a yes.”

“You’re annoying. How does Sunshine put up with you?”

“Wow. Did you know that when you get backed into a corner that charm starts to crack?”

“Whatever,” he laughs, not bothering to deny it.

“So tell me about this girl.”

“Not much to tell. I saw her and I wanted her. The end.”

“It ends after you get her?”

“Didn’t get her. Turns out she’s…not available.”

“Married? You can’t touch a married woman, Devil. It’s not right.”

“Honey, there’s not much in life that I’ve done that could be called right. But, she’s not married—at least not to a man.”

“She likes women?”

“What? No. At least I don’t think so.”

“I’m afraid I’m not following then, Devil. Maybe you could dumb it down for me.”

He laughs, shaking his head. “You’re just what Sunshine needs in his life.”

“I’m trying to be, but you need to quit changing the subject,” I reprimand him.

He sits down at one of the empty customer tables with an exaggerated sigh. “What is it with women and their need to constantly bust balls?”

“What is it with men and their need to avoid serious questions?”

“Jesus. Fine. She lives in a convent.”

I’ll be the first to admit that I wasn’t sure what he would come back with. The last thing I expected, however, was that the woman who had caught his eye lived in a convent. I open my mouth to try and say something appropriate. Then I close it, realizing there’s nothing I could say.

“Do you smell strawberries?” I ask instead, because right then the scent hits me strongly.

“And I’ve left her speechless,” he jokes, still looking a little uncomfortable.

“No. I’m being serious. Do you smell that?”

“I just figured it was something you had fixed to sell,” he shrugs.

“No. It’s so strange. You know, I smelled that same exact scent when that man tried to rob us.”

“I doubt he’s coming back. I think he’s still in county lockup.”

“Yeah. Still, it’s weird right?”

“If you say so. Shouldn’t it be about time for Sunshine to get back here?”

“I would have thought so. Maybe D.D.’s car is still messed up,” I tell him. I take out my cellphone and try to call Michael, but it just goes to recording. “No answer. I’ll try D.D.,” I tell him, already dialing the number. Her phone goes straight to voicemail too. I leave a message and sigh, looking up at Devil.

“We’ll give them a little more time. I’m sure it’s fine.”

“Yeah. You’re probably right. How about I teach you how to frost cupcakes to pass the time?” I ask him, trying to ignore the warning bells going off in my head. There’s no reason for them. The door opens with the chime and a couple of young girls walk in.

“Saved by the bell,” Devil jokes, laughing and I try to smile with him. “Quit worrying, Hayden. Michael’s a big boy. I’m sure everything is fine.”

“Yeah you’re right,” agreeing with him as I go to help the new customers.

I just wish I believed him.