“What’s not to love about you, Izzy?” Suda Kaye beamed, tears in her eyes.
“My sisters.” I choked out the words. “The best gift I’ve ever received.” I looped my arms tighter around the two women and held on. “Thank you, Mom,” I whispered into our huddle. Using the word Mom for the first time in reference to Catori.
Out of nowhere, in the center of a department store, no open windows in sight, I felt my hair lifted by a soft breeze that smelled vaguely of bergamot, patchouli and the earth.
Twelve
By midweek the bakery construction had shifted into high gear. I’d already met with Camden twice to hash out the decisions we needed to come to in order to make smart business choices for our start-up. Between Jasper and me, we divided and conquered. He worked on getting supplies and building relationships with the vendors, as well as researching and meeting up with the companies to determine the appliances we would purchase. I took up the administrative side by setting up bank accounts and working with the graphic designer on our logo and other promotional materials we would need in order to officially launch. I’d even had a meeting with Mayor Browning to set up a ribbon-cutting ceremony, which would also bring the local press.
Bright and early on the first morning of construction, Kyson and Lincoln showed up. To say Lincoln wasn’t the most perfect man for my best friend was putting it mildly. He was grumpy as hell. The exact opposite of my bestie’s jovial and extroverted personality. Still, the second those two met it was like an explosion of instant sexual tension.
Much to my delight, Jasper did what he always did with people who didn’t want to like him. He pranced around and made a nuisance of himself every chance he got. Lincoln was not deterred by this behavior in the least. And Kyson had not been lying about Lincoln’s taste in men. Right out of the gate it seemed that he appreciated every inch of my fantastically loud and fashionably adventurous bestie. At the end of day one, Lincoln had stomped over to where Jasper was picking through a catalog and slapped the book shut, demanding to take him to dinner.
Jasper put up a fight by looking him straight in the eyes, crossing his arms over his chest and answering with a flat no. This reaction seemed to be a new challenge for Lincoln because as I watched surprise flit across his handsome, rugged, manly features, there was also a determined gleam in his eyes that spoke volumes.
Me, I’d made a point not to get involved. I wasn’t going to wade into this firestorm because honestly, I had my own hot Turner brother to deal with.
It was Wednesday evening and I hadn’t actually seen Kyson since he’d taken off around lunch. This wasn’t unusual since he owned most of Turner Brothers Construction and needed to check in on his guys at other jobs, or meet with customers somewhat frequently.
I looked up from the list of to-dos I was going over in the kitchen area when the man himself entered. I smiled.
“Isa, babe, have you eaten today?” Kyson leaned against the doorjamb.
I sat across the room at the ugly, battered butcher-block counter we were removing and replacing with all new stainless-steel countertops.
Jasper exited the big refrigerator unit, which thankfully did in fact hold its temperature and worked amazingly well. Thank God. “She hasn’t eaten anything since the cupcakes we bought from a bakery across town this morning. Gotta taste our competition.” He waggled his eyebrows.
“Well, yeah, and because cupcakes,” I answered with a secret smile. Jasper snorted. We never needed a reason to eat cupcakes. Ever.
Kyson lifted his chin toward me. “Wanna take you out. I’m craving pizza and beer. You down for that?”
I grinned and nodded my head. “Of course. I love pizza. I’m from Chicago where the best pizza in the entire world is made. Besides, I could use a beer or three,” I admitted on an exhausted sigh.
Kyson and I hadn’t met up for an official date since our Sunday brunch three days ago, but we’d seen one another daily and texted. It had actually been nice seeing him work, being able to chat with him about inane things. Aside from that, I’d found his mind was filled with unique and innovative ideas on the renovation process and how we could better provide customers an experience while they were in our bakery.
“Sounds heavenly,” Jasper groused. He came over to me, wrapped his arms around me from behind and pressed his face to my neck. “You have the best boyfriend,” he sighed.
At hearing the word boyfriend I sat still as a mouse about to be pounced on by a big, fat cat. My gaze instantly went to Kyson, who didn’t seem fazed in the least at the title Jasper announced; nor did he correct him. I felt it prudent to ignore the comment and just let it go. For now.
“Glad you’re hungry, pretty boy, because we’re going with ’em,” Lincoln commanded as he entered and leaned against the wall close to Kyson.
Jasper let me go and put his hands to his hips with a dramatic flourish. “If you think you can demand me to go anywhere with you, you’re crazier than I thought.”
“Crazy enough to be chasing after the prettiest man I’ve ever seen, with a mouth that fuels my fantasies, even though half the time I want to gag you and tie you up until you’ll do what I say. That type of crazy is about right. Now, get that fine ass in gear and get it seated on the back of my bike.”
“Oh, snap. He told you!” I taunted, because he absolutely had.
Lincoln might have had a stick up his booty and a cranky personality that drove my bestie up the wall in a good way, but he also had an excellent work ethic. He was always on time, very thoughtful and direct when communicating with me and almost as hot as his brother. The family genes were strong in these two with their dark hair, light eyes and big, muscular bodies. Then again, those bodies could have come from the manual work they did—which Jasper and I had been doing, too. Watching Kyson and Lincoln lift, hammer and nail things made us both need a cold shower at the end of the night.
“A bike? As in a motorcycle?” Jasper gasped, awe clear in his tone.
Lincoln’s lips twitched, showing he actually did have some humor in him. “You like motorcycles?”
“I like hot guys who ride them,” Jasper admitted breathily. I could tell he was excited by this new layer of Lincoln. Not only was the guy persistent when it came to flirting and asking my best friend out, he also rode and owned a motorcycle. Jasper had been obsessed with guys who rode bikes since Sons of Anarchy. Opie was his favorite character but alas, Jasper had never dated a guy who actually rode a bike. This was a big plus on Lincoln’s side.
“How’s about you, Isa?” Kyson grinned. “You dig guys who ride bikes? Picked mine up after that last job.” He smirked.
I jumped up from my stool and put my hands into the air, cheerleader-style. “Heck, yeah!” I went over to Jasper and pulled him into a hug. “We’re going on double hot-guy bike rides! This is so fun!” I squealed.