Brent chuckled and stepped into Jen’s bathroom. After using the restroom, he stared at himself in the mirror, wondering if tonight would be the time she ditched him. She was a good person and maybe he was being too critical, and she wouldn’t dump him. Too many times he’d been tossed aside after one, maybe two dates. He didn’t think Jen was shallow, but he wasn’t positive.

He washed his hands and headed out to the main room, excitement zinging through him as he spied her naked on her couch. He grew even harder as he stared at her. Goodness, she was freaking sexy. She had no clue how amazing she was. His dick strained to get out of his pants as he moved to stand in front of her. Her full breasts were an invitation he couldn’t pass up. He lowered, placing a kiss on each nipple before pushing them together.

“It would feel good sliding between your breasts.”

Jen’s pupils dilated, and her mouth hung open. “You’d want to do that?”

“Oh yeah, it would be good. Just thinking of my seed spread over you, oh yeah, I’d do that so fast.”

“So why are you still dressed?”

“Because this is about you. I’m going to eat you out and make you come, then we’ll get to me.” She shivered as he lowered. “You’re wet for me, aren’t you? I can smell your arousal.” He leaned in and licked at her, loving how she tasted.

Jen’s fingers twisted in his hair, tugging softly. He teased her clit with his tongue, licking gently after a few long licks. He liked the way her body moved as he licked and toyed with her. She pumped her hips, making him want her even more.

When he slid his tongue lower and inside her, she arched up, pushing at his face. He chuckled and sat back, watching as he used two fingers to fuck her. She was writhing under his touch and he knew she was close. He could deny her the orgasm, or just give it to her. He opted on making her come.

With his fingers deep, he leaned in and flicked his tongue over her clit, causing her to cry out his name. She held onto his head, pulling him closer as she rode his fingers. Then she stiffened, and he felt the first pulse of her core. She was whimpering, and pride filled him.

Deep in her orgasm, she was the most beautiful person he’d ever seen. He watched her for a moment before moving to sit beside her. Her head lolled to the side and her gaze met his.

She wiped a bit of sweat off her forehead and let her hand lay across her belly. “You are amazing.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

Jen reached for his pants and tugged the zipper low after unbuttoning them. Heat filled him as he watched her, anticipation filling him. She sat up and bent at the waist as she scooped his cock out of his underwear. The moment her lips touched his dick, he thought he would come unglued.

The wet heat of her mouth made him dizzy with need. She sucked down on him and his eyes rolled up into his head. She did something with her tongue on the underside of his dick which made his balls pull tight. He was going to explode down her throat if she kept this up. The woman knew how to blow him and he was already so turned on from eating her out, he couldn’t take much.

She moved and slid one hand lower, grasping his balls. Her touch set him off. His breath hitched, and he rocked his hips up, about ready to come. She tugged gently on his balls and he tapped her back fast.

“I’m going to—”

Jen sunk down on his cock, swallowing him almost all the way. He couldn’t hold back. She was too perfect and felt just right in his arms, on him, everywhere. Her head bobbed up then she slid down just as he came, shooting his cum down her throat. He drew in a ragged breath and stared at her with wonder as she sat up. He tugged her close and kissed her, sliding his tongue over her lips, tasting himself on her. She opened for him and he pushed her to the couch cushions, holding her down as his tongue tangled with hers.

When the kiss ended, he sat up and stared at her, wondering if she was still happy with them being together. It was happening fast. Maybe they should slow things down, but he didn’t want to. He wanted to feel her beside him every morning, to wake in her arms, and to come home to her sweet, smiling face. They weren’t at that point yet, but he could imagine it.

“Would you spend the night?” Jen asked.

It was like she knew his mind. “Yes.” Relief filled him as he watched her eyes light up. He cupped her cheeks, sliding his thumb over her soft skin. “I packed a bag this morning. I know I shouldn’t have presumed, but I wanted to stay with you.”

The corner of her lips twitched up. “Good, I’m glad you did.”

“I need to run down and grab it.”

“Sure. I’ll put up the food and then we can figure out what else you want to do this evening.”

He tugged her close and kissed her again. “Just being with you is wonderful.”

They watched a short movie then ended up with him on top, pounding into her as she held on. Being with this woman was so much better than anything he’d experienced before. Jen made a difference in how he slept and how smooth his life ran. He finally accepted she wouldn't walk out and leave him, or at least she promised she wouldn’t.

The alarm rang early the next morning, but it turned out to be a good thing. He made it to the gym early enough he didn’t have to wait for any equipment to open for his use. Plus, Bruce and Dan were there. It was great to catch up with them and be encouraged by them as he worked out.

One day turned into two, and then another where he would go to her place, or she would come to his. They went out a few times, but many nights they spent naked, exploring each other’s bodies. They’d been together for a few weeks when he woke to a text from his boss. He hurried through getting dressed, making it to work early, but being punctual wasn’t good enough today. After dropping his things at his desk, he headed into his boss’s office and sat in the ‘oh shit seat’ waiting for the man to turn and address him.

“Brent, we have an emergency situation.”

His heart squeezed. Was there another fire, or worse? Some days he hated his job. “With which property?”

“We signed a new client and they need all their tenants out of a building. They won’t take no for an answer. You’re the best, so I want you to head this up.”

He swallowed, hating the position he’d been placed in. “When do the contracts end?”

His boss rubbed his forehead. “It varies.”

“Can we do this, like legally?”

His boss shrugged. “I don’t know. There is a clause in the contract which can be used to get the guy out of honoring the rest of the contracts. He’s willing to pay money.”

Brent shook his head. “It feels slimy.”

“I know, but this is our job, even if it is slimy as you say.”

He took the folder, unhappy with the change in plans for the day. Though he’d seen Jen this morning when they woke, he still wanted to go by Sunshine and Sparkles to see her. After grabbing his list of places to visit, he decided dealing with the crap folder earlier in the day instead of later would be best. He wished for once his boss didn’t think he could fix any situation.

Traffic seemed worse today and he didn’t want to backtrack, so his first stop wasn’t far from his office. Jen’s bakery was close by, and he decided he’s stop by before he went to give the news to the tenants they were being evicted. The first stop was easy. Just a check on the property to make sure the property looked good. A few months ago, in a roundabout way, his boss discovered a property manager in the company didn’t go do visual checks every few weeks. While he’d been hanging out and not doing his job, a group of homeless people had set up an encampment in the parking garage. It had taken two months to evict people in the sloppy tent city. He knew they needed a place to live, but they couldn’t set up a tent city in a parking garage when there weren’t any restrooms or other facilities. A biohazard company had to be called in to clean up the human waste left behind. He wouldn't allow anything like that to ever happen to any of the properties he managed.

After his visual check on the outside, and a quick walk through the building, he drove over to Jen’s bakery and sat in the lot, staring at the folder, dreading having to tell business owners their leases were expiring early, and they had to leave. That’s not what he wanted to do today, or any day. He sighed and opened the folder. With his phone in hand, he typed in the address then realized he was already on the street. His head buzzed as he read off the address. His mouth went dry, and his stomach turned.

One night, after making glorious love to Jen, she’d told him her story of how she’d started her bakery. Before finding a property to lease, she’d been driving around Hollywood, delivering orders to office buildings. Then she’d happened upon the storefront just days before she’d planned on giving up and moving somewhere less expensive. She’d found the place by some crazy miracle. After putting the deposit down to rent the shop, she’d ended up crying in her car. Emotions along with sweat equity had made Sunshine and Sparkles a success. And now he was here to tell her she had to find a new place in this tough as nails town which killed more dreams than it fulfilled.

He stared at the building. It wasn’t the best, and it could use some work, but it wasn’t condemned. In addition to Jen’s store, an electronics store, a nail salon, and a flower shop occupied the building. There were five open spots where stores could go. When he’d first visited Jen's store, there’d been two other tenants. Now he knew why those spots hadn’t been filled when they’d left. He should have seen it, but he’d been focused on Jen and hadn’t cared about tenants or fill percentage since the property wasn’t under his management. Now he wished he’d told her to watch for something like this.

There were benefits to using the bandage ripping off approach, and there were arguments against doing business that way. Telling Jen her lease would be terminated at the end of the month was the last thing he wanted to do. Not because he was afraid, but he didn't want to disappoint her. He'd want to stay with her and talk to her for a while afterwards, see if he could help her come up with a solution. He had work to do. No way did he need this complication in his life.

The manager at the electronics store shrugged and rolled his eyes. He didn’t care if the store was located here or in another building. The florist took the news well, but cursed a few times, not directed at him, just words flung out there because she was angry. The nail salon owner threw a bottle of polish at him. He ducked and ran out, making a mental note she had a temper.

When he stepped into Jen’s place, Mia greeted him. “Brent, it’s so good to see you. Jen is in the back, let me—”

“Actually, I’ll go back there.”

Mia narrowed her eyes and then nodded hesitantly. “Oh, well, okay, I guess.”

He stepped around the counter. It was the first time he’d been on this side. He shuddered, realizing it may very well be the last time he was welcome in her store. He wasn’t surprised to find the back area near spotless. Jen was wiping down a counter where she’d been preparing cookies if the scent from the ovens was any indication.

“Hey, Brent, what a surprise. I thought you were called into an early meeting.”

He nodded and his stomach turned. This sucked. Telling Jen her dream was being moved, maybe even destroyed, was the worst.

“Yes, I already had it.”

“How did it go? You seemed nervous when I left this morning.”

He swallowed and glanced around the kitchen. Jen had filled her shop with love. She had photos of cakes she’d made, happy couples celebrating their lives with wedding cakes she’d created, shots of her cookies and other times. Happy photos of people enjoying Sparkles and Sunshine, and here he was to ruin it.

“Hey, Brent, you look—I don’t know, off. What’s going on.”

He drew in a deep breath and shook his head. “I took on a new client.”

“Okay.” She wiped her hands on a towel and moved to stand in front of him. “And?”

“I manage properties. Sometimes, the owners aren’t great people. But I represent them because it’s my job.”

She narrowed her eyes and lifted her hand, placing it on his chest. “This doesn’t sound good.”

He stared into her eyes, knowing he would hurt her. She didn’t deserve this at all. He wished there was another way for this to resolve, but he knew there wasn’t. “The owner of this building is ending your lease early. You have until the end of the month to leave.”

Jen froze. Her eyes grew wide before her lips parted like she was going to say something, but nothing came out. She removed her hand from his chest and used it to clutch her neck. He could see the worry clouding her eyes. He took a step closer, and she waved him away.

“Please, I—”

Jen shook her head. “Don’t. I can’t deal with anything right now.”

“Please, just let me—”

“No. Do you know how long it took me to find this place?” Her voice rose, and she glanced at the door to the café and shook her head. “My customers know to come here.” She glanced around, worry filling her eyes. “The end of this month? Are you kidding me? I don’t have enough time. I need to work here in the shop and search for a place. It will take time—too much time. The rents in this city are too high. I can’t do it.”

“I can—”

She held up her hand and gave her head one short shake. “Just leave.”

His heart felt like it was being crushed. He didn’t want to lose her, but he had no idea how to keep her. “Jen?”

“I’m too upset, just go.”

Brent felt helpless. She wanted nothing to do with him. It wasn’t like he was doing this on purpose. He stepped out into the dining area of her bakery and caught Mia’s gaze. She lifted her brows, and he shrugged. He was failing, and he knew it. He took one step, and then another. Losing Jen would devastate him. He couldn’t walk away but he had no idea how to stop this train wreck. Before he made it out the door, his heart sped up. He wouldn't leave.

He squared his shoulders and turned back to the kitchen. Maybe it was a mistake to try to get her to change her mind on accepting his help, and maybe he should just keep walking, but what he and Jen had built was worth fighting for.

Worry filled him, and his hands were shaking as he pushed open the door. He wasn’t going to run out on Jen. She’d come to mean too much. Right now, she was too upset to realize he wanted to help. He’d brought bad news, but he could turn it around for her.

He found her on the floor, curled in a ball. She didn’t protest when he dropped beside her and pulled her onto his lap. It took her a few minutes to calm enough to wipe the tears from her cheeks.

“Brent?” she said with a shaky voice.

“I’m not leaving you.”

Her lips quivered, and she nodded. “I’m sorry. I’m just so upset.” Her voice shook as she spoke.

“I understand. I brought bad news, but I'll help you find a place.”

“How?” Her voice broke on the one word and he felt terrible. He was crushing her dreams.

“Along with the bad, I also have good clients. I’ll search through my listings and find something that will work. I know occupancy rates, how businesses are doing for the most part, and we’ve done traffic studies. Trust me when I say I will find you a place for your business. It may mean you have a week of downtime, but Jen, I swear, I’m on your side.”

“Why?” Her body shook in his arms as she drew in a breath.

“Because I care about you. You may not have realized this yet, but it’s not just the sex. I mean the sex is great, but you mean something to me.”

“You’re too good for me.” She hiccupped over a sob.

“No, Jen, I’m not.”

Mia stepped into the kitchen and paused. Jen lifted her head and wiped away more tears. “Yes?”

“We kind of have a rush starting. A bus stopped outside.”

“Oh, let me…”

Brent helped her to standing and grabbed an apron. “I can put stuff on plates or pour coffee.” He washed his hands and dried them on a clean towel.

“But—”

He stopped Jen with a shake of his head. “Go clean up. I’ll stay until the rush dies down.”

Fresh tears sprang to Jen’s eyes. She nodded and turned away, walking to a small door at the back of the shop. Brent faced Mia and gave her a tight smile.

“I’ll do what I can. If I’m in the way, just tell me.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t hesitate to tell you to step aside. Let’s go out and I’ll show you where things are.”

They headed out front where he saw a line of people which had to be forty deep. The tour busses were being good to Jen by stopping here. How did they know to come here? Was Jen sharing profit or was this by happenstance. The people from the bus bought out all the cookies in the display and Jen had to heat more from the freezer. Near the end of the rush, they had no cookies at all, not even any stowed in the freezer. The muffins sold out along with the scones. Jen had no loaf cakes, or any other types of bread. She also sold all the English muffins with eggs and bacon. Only a few bagels were left, and those she didn’t make in-house.

Before the bus took off, Brent headed outside and asked one of the customers how they’d heard of Jen’s shop.

“Oh, it was put on a Facebook group. We knew this would be a great place to stop and get a treat because another tour group broke down here a few weeks ago and recommended the place.

Brent nodded then an idea struck. “So, the man who owns this building is making all the tenants leave. Jen has to move. If I sent you the new address, would you put it in the group?”

“Why yes, of course. I had one of her anise cookies and it was to die for. Plus, you all were so nice, so sure, I’ll recommend this place and keep everyone updated about the address change.”

“Thank you.” Brent nodded and sighed in relief. Jen wouldn’t lose all her business, and he may have to find creative ways to help her advertise her move, but he had faith this would work.