Josh couldn’t believe he’d had to leave so quickly last night. But when Gabe reached out to him that they thought they were narrowing down a suspect, he needed out. He was glad he did. They didn’t have a final answer, but it was narrowed down to a handful of FBI agents. That was a hell of a lot more than they had before. Unfortunately, that was only the leak; it didn’t give them the man in charge. They were going to have to cast a wide net and hopefully bring in all the players at once. That was going to take more manpower than they had now.

Thankfully, over the last few years the Turchettas had become closer with the Hendersons. They were a powerful family, and if it came down to setting a trap, they were seen as questionable enough to make someone fall for it. Josh offered to go speak to Brice, the eldest, himself. Rafe thought he was needed right where he was. Josh couldn’t argue with that. It’d been pure damn luck that things had worked out as they had. If he was pulled now, no one else would get this close to her. Nor do I want them to.

It still troubled him that morning. He couldn’t stop seeing the disappointment on Ellie’s face. Although she’d tried to hide it, Josh was a master at reading a person’s true emotion. It was one of the things that had saved his life more than once in the field. Usually, it was the enemy. This time, it was the loveliest creature that probably walked the planet. Knowing he’d hurt her, even though it had been unavoidable, still sucked.

Josh went for a morning jog, trying to clear his head. It was needed, because the entire way all he could think about was how much they’d connected on a personal level last night. She was amazing in so many ways and damn, she deserved to be happy. The unfortunate reality was that wasn’t something he could make her, not long term at least.

Once they nabbed the assholes who’d put the hit on Frank and the others, and they were behind bars, Josh would be back in Newport awaiting the next person in need of their services. Usually when not on assignment, Newport was able to hold his attention nicely. But Yonkers seemed to have its own charm. Maybe it’s not the place.

The more he learned about her, the more appealing Yonkers became. Last night while she did the baking, they both chatted about their lives, her more than him. Josh wished it was the first time he’d learned these things, but Gabe had provided a pretty detailed background on Ellie. Yet, he enjoyed hearing it from her lips.

There were a few things he hadn’t taken into consideration before. Josh had grown up in a full house with both parents. Was it perfect? Hell no. No family was. They each had such strong personalities that sometimes his parents thought the boys were going to kill each other. That never happened, but there were several fist fights when they were young. It took the passing of their baby sister before they were all able to function as a whole unit.

It seemed, even though Frank had taken on the responsibility of Ellie, those two had always been very close. Frank put Ellie’s needs first, making sure she was involved in so many activities that it was a wonder she had time to sleep. Since Ellie didn’t have a woman around for guidance, he could see that was Frank’s way of making sure Ellie had females in her life. Although he respected Frank before, hearing Ellie speak so highly of him brought it to a new level. Yet with all the things Frank signed her up for, he was surprised none was a self-defense course. Maybe he thought he’d always be around.

It was a hard thing to accept, and no matter how many people you lose, it doesn’t get any easier. He hoped being in Yonkers was filling a need in her. Was it as a friend? A confidant? Or maybe something more? No way. That can’t happen. Eventually, the truth would come out. Either those scumbags would make another move, and he would have to relocate Ellie, or all hell would break loose in front of her, and that would reveal everything quickly.

He wanted to be at the shop first thing that morning, and there was no reason he couldn’t have been. More than likely it was what Ellie expected, and that was the reason he didn’t go. Josh was the last person she should count on, at least not in the way she’d want. So he had the team keep a close eye on the shop while he listened in.

Everything was quiet. It seemed as though the same customers came each day and about the same time. He was far from a businessman, but he didn’t know how she was going to be able to float the shop with only her regulars coming in. Maybe after the dust settled, he could see if the Hendersons had any brilliant marketing ideas they’d be willing to share with Ellie. As far as Josh was concerned, she had what it took; she just needed the world to know how good her product was.

But that would need to wait. For now, being low key was working in their favor. He might not be in Yonkers for long, but he knew this was her home, and he wanted to know she’d be okay long after he left. Without Frank there for her, he wasn’t sure who would be her cheerleader. He wasn’t about to step into that role, but he’d do what he could and share some contacts; from there she was on her own.

Josh couldn’t stand sitting around any longer. The shop would only be open for a few more hours. He could wait and stop in later and ask if she wanted to have dinner with him again. But he wanted to see for himself how she was today. He wouldn’t stay long, just a quick in and out. Maybe grab a coffee and a cupcake.

He reached out to the team with the update about his upcoming visit to the shop.

“We have this. No need to go.”

It wasn’t about a need to go as much as a want. But Josh ignored their comment and responded, “Remain in place.”

This time of the day was where the lull in customers normally took place. It would break up her day, and who knows, maybe she needed a distraction. Maybe I do too.

---

Ellie had been prepared for a late night with Josh. But when he said there was no way he’d be eating broccoli anything, he’d meant it. No licking of the batter bowl as usual, and somehow he’d gotten a phone call just when the cupcakes were coming out of the oven. But she wasn’t going to lie; she was disappointed when he told her he needed to leave. Things had been going so well between them. They laughed, talked, and joked back and forth. Josh had an unusually dry sense of humor. Sometimes she had to look in his eyes to see if he was serious or not. But as the night had gone on, she had been able to tell better by only the tone of his voice. One I could listen to for hours.

Chuckling to herself, she remembered last night: Josh might think she had done all the talking, but he’d seemed in the mood for sharing just as much as she had been. At times she was grateful it had only been her and Frank growing up. All those boys seemed to have made it difficult for the two young sisters. Where she was encouraged to go out to do new things, the Turchetta brothers seemed to have what she’d call an overprotective nature.

But what they’d talked about hadn’t mattered. They’d just seemed to enjoy each other’s company. And when he’d left abruptly, so had the joy she’d been feeling.

They had exchanged phone numbers, and she’d kept her phone in her back pocket all morning, hoping he’d call. But when that hadn’t occurred, she’d decided to leave it charging on the counter. Ellie resisted texting him. He knew how to find her. She wasn’t going to chase after him.

He probably thinks he won the bet and I’ll want a rematch. He’d be right. Just because he didn’t eat or even touch the broccoli, as far as Ellie was concerned, he forfeited by leaving. Today was a new day. If he showed up, she wasn’t going to speak to him until he had at least one bite.

Imagining herself, a five foot nothing, standing there against Josh who must be almost six feet tall and making him do anything seemed absolutely ridiculous.

She snickered to herself and Katia-Lynn, one of the high school girls she hired part-time, gave her a questioning look.

“You look like you’re planning something. Need my help?” Katia-Lynn asked.

Nope. I got this. “I’m all set, thank you.”

She didn’t let it drop and added, “If my mom were here she’d say you look like you’re up to no good. But she doesn’t know you like I do.”

So you think. Ellie turned away, knowing darn well Katia-Lynn was going to keep talking about it. Once she started, nothing was going to stop her. The customers loved her, especially the elderly. Katia-Lynn was like everyone’s granddaughter. She made more off tips than she sold in cupcakes. That wasn’t great for the bottom line, but it was good for the shop.

“So what’s going on?” Ellie didn’t answer her. “Are you really pretending not to hear my question?”

Ellie turned back, but this time she had a tray of cupcakes. “Not at all. I am actually working. If you recall, that’s what you’re supposed to be doing at this moment.” Handing the tray to her, Ellie turned and said, “I’ll be in the kitchen grabbing the rest. Feel free to be productive while I’m gone.”

There was no need to be facing Katia-Lynn, she could feel the eye roll. Once in the back, she loaded up another tray, half with A Bit Corny and the other half with Broccolicous. Named just for you, Josh.

All but one made it on the tray. She set that one aside. Ellie hadn’t planned on putting them out for sale until Josh sampled them, but if he didn’t show, she was going to be stuck with a dozen broccoli cupcakes that she hadn’t planned on making. There was no way would she toss out perfectly good food. The worst-case scenario was she would donate them to the homeless shelter after work if none of her customers purchased them. She knew they tasted great, but Wednesday was a finicky group of customers who always bought the same thing, traditional chocolate, vanilla, or marble. She was more confident of getting Josh to eat one before getting the customers today to take even a free sample of something so . . . green.

Somehow, she knew even before starting that whatever she tried today was going to be a waste of effort. That didn’t mean she wasn’t going to give it her all. Toot Sweets was in trouble, and she needed to persevere. Even before Frank had been killed, Toot Sweets was struggling. She’d refused to cave in and tell him; failing now would feel as though she let Frank down. But it took a lot more than hard work and a dream to be successful. She was finding it also took some luck. But it was Frank’s faith in her that had kept her going all this time. He was the one who made me believe in myself.

That’s why she was not thrilled holding this tray. It’d been time and money wasted. Although she thoroughly enjoyed herself last night, such foolishness couldn’t happen again. And when she saw Josh today, she’d tell him that.

If you don’t show up today, next time you’re getting the broccoli raw. She wasn’t mad at Josh, more so at herself. He was distracting her with his sweet smile and light flirtatious ways. A woman could get used to having someone like him around all the time. But he was going to grow bored of Yonkers and her. Where would that leave her?

As Ellie half-stomped into the shop, it became evident she should’ve been paying attention to what she was doing instead of thinking of Josh. The tray bumped the door frame and tipped out of control. All she could do was stand there as a rainbow of color went flying into the air in all directions. The sound of cupcakes making contact with the floor was heartbreaking. It was money she couldn’t afford to lose—gone. Damn it!

She dropped to her knees, scooping them up, knowing they were only good for one thing, the trash. Ellie was glad Katia-Lynn wasn’t hovering, offering to help. Right now she was angry. Built up emotions that she struggled to keep under control were all mixed up. This mishap wasn’t the end of the world, but right now all she wanted to do was cry. No one was hurt, but the tears were on the verge of flowing. It wasn’t the Broccolicous. They were only there because of a stupid bet, one that ended too soon. But seeing all the A Bit Corny cupcakes smashed was like losing another piece of Frank. Making them was her way of keeping Frank with her.

Sniffing back the tears of anger and dismay, she knew she needed to clean this up fast. Ellie needed the safe haven of her kitchen where she could deal with her emotions . . . alone. Scooping them up as fast as she could, she didn’t care how much she got on herself. Katia-Lynn didn’t budge to come to Ellie’s rescue, not that it was a surprise. She was about to call out to her when she extended her hand out a bit farther for one of the last cupcakes she could see. But it wasn’t leaning against the leg of a table. Nope. It had landed on a pair of large brown leather shoes. Great. Can this get any worse?

With the cupcake still in her hand and her on her knees, Ellie slowly looked up. Her eyes roamed over the jeans which had even more green, yellow, and orange frosting splattered over them.

Ellie felt sick to her stomach that the cupcakes had landed on a customer. At least it would be one she knew. They always were. Taking a deep breath, she knew exactly what she needed to do. Apologize and pay to have their clothes and shoes cleaned. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to—”

“Force the broccoli down my throat?” Josh grunted.

Ellie finally raised her eyes to meet his but stopped when she saw he was holding two, not perfect but still intact, cupcakes. “What are you? How did you . . .?”

“Catch them?” Josh asked. She nodded. He grinned and said, “I guess it’s a combination of being good with my hands and self-preservation.”

It was good to see Josh still in the playful mood he was in last night. Just the sight of him elevated the frustration she’d felt only moments earlier. Standing up while still holding the tray of crumbled cupcakes, she said teasingly, “I really don’t think you’d have been injured.”

Josh snorted. “I think if anyone knew I was a Marine and lost a food fight, it might hurt my pride.”

Biting her bottom lip, Ellie replied. “Definitely if they saw me.” She had frosting all over her hands, but that was the extent of it. Josh, on the other hand, wore quite a bit of frosting, from his irresistible jaw to his shoes. She couldn’t have accomplished such a mess if she’d done it on purpose. “Because, obviously, I would look victorious.”

Josh glared down at her, his eyes darkening. Ellie gulped. She knew taunting him was a mistake, one she couldn’t help.

As he stepped closer, Josh was holding the cupcakes so she couldn’t misread his intention. “Really?” Josh asked in a challenging tone. “I think that can be fixed.”

The tray Ellie had filled with smashed cupcakes was between them. If he came too close, it might get knocked over and cause an even bigger mess, if that was possible. So she decided to use an alternate strategy. Calling your bluff. Standing as tall and as confident as she could muster, she said, “I don’t believe for one moment that a Marine would . . .”

He stepped so close that the edge of the tray was firmly pressed against his waist. Ellie’s hands trembled.

Giving her a wicked grin, Josh said, “Oh, I would.”

She could tell he wasn’t joking. “Josh. I’m begging you.” He only smiled wider. Then she tried a firm tone. “Don’t you dare . . .”

It was too late. The corn cupcake was up by her cheek, and she felt the cool frosting make contact. Thankfully he hadn’t smashed it as she’d thought he was going to do, but a few strands of her hair fell loose and were now sticking in it. You’re so going to pay for that.

Josh declared, “That’s better.”

Opening her mouth in utter shock, she blurted, “Oh, you didn’t.”

Leaning back with a loud laugh, Josh lifted the Broccolicous high into the air. “One left. What should I do with it? Eat it?” Ellie didn’t even bother nodding. “I already told you, I don’t eat broccoli. But I hate to see it go to waste.”

Josh was playing with her. Ellie stepped backward until she couldn’t move any farther.

“You could place it on this tray with the others,” she offered.

He shook his head. “We don’t match yet.” Bringing the second cupcake up again to her face, Josh paused ever so briefly before he tapped the tip of her nose with it.

Ellie felt ridiculous as she could see the wad of green frosting covering that part of her nose. If that was the way Josh wanted to play this, the game was on.

“That was uncalled for.” Her tone may say she was hurt by his actions, but that wasn’t so. If anything, it just rejuvenated her desire to win this challenge. He wasn’t the only one full of surprises. You so underestimate me, and now you’re going to realize it. Gripping the tray tightly she tipped it forward and giggled as it made contact with his T-shirt. She didn’t stop there. Ellie moved it around until every inch of the front of his shirt was covered. And that’s how it’s done.

Of course, she was still with her back against the wall. Escape was impossible. Josh dropped the cupcakes he’d been holding and took the tray from her. “You, young lady, are going to pay for that.” He let the tray drop to the floor then pulled her up into his arms so her body was now covered with the cupcakes remnants as well. With her feet dangling in the air, she was forced to wrap her arms around his neck to hold on tight.

She knew the risk when she ground them on Josh, so she wasn’t about to complain. Yet she saw a problem. One she was about to correct. Now face to face, she leaned in, touching his nose with hers. Then she took her finger and rubbed some of the green frosting over his lips making it look like a mustache. No matter how much she had on her, he was wearing much more.

When she went to pull her face back, Josh tightened his grip then claimed her lips in a fiery kiss. She tensed briefly in surprise before melting into his embrace. She could feel the hunger within him as his muscles bulged against her. Heat began to flood through her veins as his tongue teased her lips to part. Opening to him, she tasted the blend of him and the frosting.

She heard a low growl before he said, “Damn, I would eat broccoli off you any day.”

I’ll roll in this stuff if it means more kisses from you. Taking her tongue, she licked a speck of frosting off his right cheek. “You taste—”

“Oh gross. Don’t say it.” Katia-Lynn grumbled her disgust before continuing. “But this is funny as hell. I can’t wait to show my friends this.”

Apparently, they’d both gotten lost in the moment and had forgotten they weren’t alone.

Josh didn’t fully release her, but he loosened his grip enough so Ellie’s feet were at least on the ground now. As she pulled back slightly, she turned to find Katia-Lynn standing behind the counter, boldly holding her cell phone pointed in their direction.

Please tell me you didn’t do what I think you just did. Ellie blushed in embarrassment, thinking Katia-Lynn had just taken a picture of them kissing. Ellie wasn’t into public displays of affection, and what just transpired with Josh, well that crossed the line. She didn’t need a constant reminder of that hanging around. Where the heck, was my mind? Her body still tingled with desire. I know where it shouldn’t have been. Roaming all over his hot, sexy body. She could chalk this up to the emotional roller coaster she’d been on lately, but Josh ignited a raw need in her. Obviously, one she barely could control. That couldn’t happen again. Not in the showroom or anywhere else. She’d attend to that detail later. Right now, she needed to stop whatever Katia-Lynn meant by her comment.

“No one else needs to know what happened,” Ellie tried to explain, but Katia-Lynn was still looking at her phone as though in her own little world. One that I’m afraid I’m not going to like being part of.

“This video is going to go viral.”

Oh God no! It was worse than she thought. A photo panicked her, but a video was her worst nightmare. I despise social media. Hoping to regain some authority, since she was the boss, Ellie said firmly, “Don’t you dare!”

Katia-Lynn shrugged and laughed. “That’s what you told him, and you didn’t seem to mind when he didn’t listen to you.”

This was going to be one of those days when she wished she’d never gotten out of bed. Crawling under a rock would work too, but that wasn’t a viable option either. The problem was Ellie never raised her voice to anyone. She painted the smile on so well, that’s all anyone knew of her. But this wasn’t a time for her to be passive. Trying again, in a tone which sounded fierce, at least to herself, Ellie snapped. “Katia-Lynn, if you value your job, I’m warning you—”

“Too late. It’s shared,” Katia-Lynn said proudly, with her hands on her hips. “And by the way, you should thank me.”

“Thank you? For what?” Making me a laughing stock of Yonkers? Maybe for a teenager this situation was humorous, but for Ellie it was totally unprofessional, and embarrassing. She wanted to scream, kick Josh out, and pretend none of this had happened. There was nothing she wanted to remember about today. Well, maybe Josh’s kiss, but that doesn’t count.

“You want people to come and try those cupcakes, right?”

Nodding, Ellie said, “That’s how I make my living.” Or at least I’m trying to.

Katia-Lynn rolled her eyes then pointed toward Josh. “You just made out with the hottest guy in Yonkers, who by the way is covered in them. Really, you can’t get better advertising than that.”

Ellie looked at Josh, who didn’t seem all that upset with what Katia-Lynn was dishing out. The girl had hit the mark on a few things, but that didn’t mean she had the right to share it. Ellie liked her privacy. And she suspected Josh did as well, even though he wasn’t voicing it.

Turning back, she said, “You may mean well, but there are things you never do. Posting personal things about another, including your boss, is unacceptable behavior. It’s grounds for termination.” Ellie noticed Katia-Lynn’s eyes widen as though that thought had never crossed her mind. Ellie needed to remind herself that she was young and hopefully would learn a valuable lesson from this. And hopefully, Toot Sweets survives this. In a calmer tone, Ellie continued, “I’ll let it go this time, but if it happens again, you won’t have a job here. Do I make myself clear?”

The young girl nodded and sincerely looked as though she felt bad. “I guess I wasn’t thinking. I mean, I never knew you had a boyfriend.”

“He’s not my boyfriend,” Ellie said, wishing this subject would cease.

“Wait. You were making out with a stranger?” Her eyes were widened again as she looked Josh over.

“No! He’s not a stranger. It’s just . . . none of your business. Now since you seem to have so much free time on your hands, why don’t you get the mop and clean up this mess? I’ll get the replacements ready.”

Ellie left the showroom and went into the kitchen. She thought for sure Josh would be right behind her.

Katia-Lynn asked, “Are you really a Marine? Cause that’s really cool.”

Ellie wanted to turn and put an end to this once and for all. Instead, she heard Josh finally speak out. “Young lady we need to talk.”

She was tempted to stand by the door and listen to whatever lecture Josh was about to dole out to her. But eavesdropping was wrong. She trusted Josh not to do anything that would jeopardize her business. At least not any more than I already have.

Now alone, part of her was glad he hadn’t followed her. Where to start apologizing was still running through her mind. Maybe they could just pretend it never happened. Not the food fight or the kiss. The video, well that one was going to be hard to ignore.

She needed a bit of time to process this. What had his kiss meant? Was he thinking about doing it before and hadn’t? Last night would’ve been nice. Then again, maybe it meant nothing to him. They were both caught up in the heat of the moment, and things got hotter than either had expected.

Oh hell. Ellie had no idea what was running through Josh’s mind because she couldn’t explain what had possessed her to engage in such childish behavior. Hopefully, the showroom would be cleaned before another customer came in. Ellie wanted to fill a new tray for the display case, but she needed to clean herself off. Catching a glimpse in the mirror, a change of clothes wasn’t going to cut it. She thought Josh looked bad, but somehow she had yellow, white, and green frosting in her hair. She needed a shower.

Heading into her apartment in the back, she realized, though she looked like a hot mess, she hadn’t come out of this food fight the loser. She’d gotten Josh to taste her cupcakes in a way she never imagined. If I could make them as sweet as his kisses, I’d be a millionaire. She chuckled to herself and shook her head as she entered the shower. No. I’d be broke because I wouldn’t want to share those with anyone.