The next morning Alex Wolfe is the very first thought in my head when I open my eyes. That’s how I know I’m in trouble. The first thing on my mind should always be the bakery—marketing, inventory, networking, spreadsheets, employee paychecks, and on and on—not the hot man who has an appointment at ten o’clock to have his dogs groomed.

I try to shake him from my thoughts, but he won’t leave. I even consider masturbating while thinking about him in the shower, but instead, I slam the water spigot handle down hard and rip my towel off the bar right outside the door.

Stepping out, I dry my skin roughly and stare hard at my face in the mirror. “You will not act like a fool in front of that man today. You will not flirt or touch or make unnecessary eye contact with him,” I tell my reflection.

Even my reflection looks doubtful. I brush my teeth and towel my hair dry before making my way back to my bedroom. When my makeup is on, and my coarse hair is stick straight and smooth, I pull on a pair of leggings and a black hoodie with my company’s logo on the front. I stand in front of my full-length mirror and wonder if Mr. Alex Wolfe thinks I’m attractive.

I’m five-feet-eight with shoulder-length brown hair that has purple streaks in it. I have brown eyes, and if I had to describe my figure, I would say it’s willowy. I’ve always considered myself to be mildly attractive, sometimes average even, except for the streaks of purple in my hair.

Jacob says I’m model-knockout beautiful and wants me to join him at his modeling agency. I know he only thinks that because we are best friends who have known one another since birth. He’s biased, and I love him for it.

“Looking gorgeous, as usual,” he says walking past my open bedroom door. We don’t bother closing doors. He is like my brother and seeing me naked would do about as much for him as me seeing one of his fellow female models naked.

“Thanks, just the same old, same old.”

He leans his shoulder on the doorframe and looks at me with doubt. “No, you have makeup on, and you did your hair. You never do all that for a regular day at the bakery. I know you, you’re all painted up for the Wolfe.”

I’m starting to wish I’d never mentioned Alex to Jacob. He’s like a dog with a new bone, and he’s never going to give it up.

“I do my makeup and hair sometimes. I got a lot of sleep last night, and I had some extra time to kill this morning so…”

“So you thought you’d get pretty for the billionaire, I get it.”

“Billionaire? How do you know he’s a billionaire?”

“Google, darling. He’s one of Seattle’s most successful medical malpractice attorneys. He owns his practice, the other names on the door are his partners, but he’s the head honcho. If you have this guy’s eye, he could be a good friend to have. You never know when you might need a lawyer or a loan… or a lover.”

“Okay, you can stop with the lover stuff right now.”

“I’m sorry, honey, but he looks like the real deal to me. And Holy Mother of all things yummy, he is handsome. I imagine the photographs online don’t do him justice. Mind if I come to work with you this morning so that I can see him in the flesh? Maybe he’s not your type? Or maybe he’s both of our types? Oh my God, wouldn’t that be amazing? We could share him!”

He pushes off the doorframe and rushes toward me full of excitement, but I know he’s putting on a show to get me to claim the Wolfe for myself.

“I know what you’re up to, and it’s not working. If you want to come and meet him, that’s fine with me. He’s all yours.”

The ball is in his court now. He won’t do it if he believes I’m interested, he loves me too much for that.

“You’re no fun,” he says shoving my shoulder playfully.

“I don’t do rich guys, you know that. They’re all the same… arrogant, cocky, and conceited. I haven’t met one yet that didn’t fit that description.”

“I have money, granted I’m no billionaire, but you still love me.”

“That’s different.”

“How?”

“It just is.”

“Honey, just because the guy’s loaded, doesn’t mean he can’t be nice. At least give him a chance today. If he asks you out, take him up on it. Don’t shoot him down just because he’s successful. If he doesn’t seem interested, and I can’t imagine he isn’t, then don’t worry about it. Cést la vie.”

I sigh and stand to kiss him on the cheek. “All right, if he asks, I’ll accept, but he won’t ask.”

He turns his head to the side and narrows his eyes. “No sabotaging your chance by acting like a moron.”

I chew on my lip and look at the ceiling. “Define acting like a moron.” I smile and giggle.

“You know what I mean.”

I make an x over my heart with my finger. “I promise not to purposely ruin my chances with Mr. Wolfe.”

“Good girl. Now come on, let’s go have coffee and waffles.”

“I don’t have time for breakfast, but I’ll take some coffee.”

“I’m not making real waffles, silly, you know better than that.”

Jacob is a lot of things, but a good cook isn’t one of them. He’s making Eggos.

“Okay, I have time for an Eggo.”

“Perfect. Chocolate chip or strawberry?”

“Strawberry, of course.”

He slides his arm around my waist and pulls me down the hall toward the kitchen. “Strawberry, of course.”