The tattoo lasted long into the night. Dale and Max left around midnight while Trey continued to work. The client wanted it done and completed in one sitting. Trey didn't mind. He'd given her the spare bedroom to rest up and so he could check the state of the tattoo in the morning. By six in the morning, he was exhausted, hungry, and in need of something quick to eat to get his energy back up. He checked the woman's tattoo, got paid, and sent her on her way with a list of instructions and contact details in case anything went wrong. Trey didn't anticipate any problems.
Seeing his fridge completely bare, Trey saw no other choice than to go across the street to buy something.
Fuck, he'd been trying to avoid going to June's place. All he did when he wasn't working was think about her. She'd entered back into his mind, and now he couldn't shake her presence.
Talk to her and get it over with.
Slamming his door closed, he saw several of the construction workers exiting her shop. They were all moaning on the way out. The heavenly fresh scents of bread and donuts assailed him.
He greeted the workers, recognizing most of them as they worked with his two buddies.
Fisting his palms, Trey took a deep breath and headed inside. It was busy, considering it was six-thirty in the morning. He heard June's deep smoky voice the instant he walked in. She was laughing at something one of the workers said. Her eyes were sparkling with happiness. Grabbing his wallet, he pulled out a note and waited his turn.
When it came time to serve him, the whole shop was empty. Clearing his throat, June looked at him. The smile in her eyes vanished.
"Hello, June," he said.
His mouth felt dry, and his cock was thickening in his pants. She wore a hairnet, which bound those sexy dark curls together, but he was fucking horny.
"Hello, Trey. What can I get you?" she asked.
You could take your clothes off so I could have something more to masturbate over at night, instead of using my imagination.
"A bagel will do, with everything inside."
"You'll have to wait five minutes. The morning crew cleaned me out of the ones I made up earlier."
"I don't mind."
She nodded, turning away from him. He watched over the counter as she started to make up his breakfast. She didn't speak to him or try to draw him into a conversation. Looking at the display case, he saw a couple of Danish pastries that made his mouth water.
"This place smells amazing," he said, needing to hear her voice.
"Thank you."
"Do you make everything yourself?"
June hummed and nodded her head.
Fuck, woman, talk to me.
"It's difficult for me to not always come over here. The
smell is always amazing."
She walked back to the counter. "I appreciate your
words. It's nice to know the scents of the baking are liked." There was a slight smile on her lips. "Would you have
any issue to me coming here for breakfast?" "You're a paying customer, Trey. I don't see a
problem."
He ordered three of the Danish pastries and then
handed over the money. "Are you seeing anyone?" he asked, hating the words the instant they were out of his mouth.
"It's none of your business. You're a paying customer, nothing more."
She handed him over the change.
"You're different."
June shook her head, smirking. "Yeah, I'm different.
I'm not the shy girl you bullied back in the day."
His cheek heated at the memory of some of the things
he'd said.
"What do you know, I opened this bakery up in the
month of June. Maybe you could add that to your past insults about my name?"
Trey recalled taunting her over the name June. He used to say it was when her parents conceived her or some other shit like that. Thinking back over his youth, Trey had a lot of regret.
"I've moved on, babe," he said. "I'm changed." "So I've heard."
June turned away from him first. Staring down the
length of her body, he couldn't help but moan at the full rounded curves of her ass. She was so fucking sexy. Trey cursed his wayward thoughts. He wanted to fuck her, and June couldn't stand the sight of him.
Great, there was a time he could have any woman he wanted. Nothing had changed. He could snap his fingers, and women would surround him. June was not part of that circle. He was never going to get her sweet smile or have her thighs wrapped around his waist.
"I'm not the man I once was," he said, needing her to see he'd changed. He sounded desperate even to him.
His mouth lost all saliva as she tugged her hair net off. Those black curls escaped, sliding down her back to hit her butt. He wanted to run his fingers through the length, grip her hair and fuck her from behind.
"Okay, I believe you," she said. "No, you don't."
She whirled around, moving back to the counter to glare at him. "Look, I don't know you, Trey. I remember the nasty as fuck teenager who used to tease me about everything. You picked on my hair, my appearance, even my name and my weight. Everything you could find fault with, you picked at. Don't expect me to be different toward you. High school was stressful enough without having to pass you in the hallways."
Her hands rested on her hips. Trey shouldn't be responding to her outburst, but he was. His cock was unbearably thick in the tight leather pants he wore.
"What did you get out of tumbling my books around or stealing my backpack? Nothing. Everyone would stop and stare at chubby June trying to get on with her day. Please, don't tell me you've changed. I'll see it for myself."
She dismissed him with her hand.
"Whatever." He grabbed his purchases and left the shop feeling angry. There was no reason to be angry. Every word June had spoken was the truth. He'd been mean to her because he couldn't have her. She didn't know he was angry at the fact she made him hard all the time. No one knew how affected he was by her mere presence.
Opening up the paper surrounding his bagel, he took a large bite and moaned. The bagel was so tender and fresh, the tomatoes juicy and the cucumber delicious. He'd never tasted such a nice bagel before.
He finished the bagel in three bites. Opening the shop, he checked the log as he finished the Danish pastry. The other two were for Max and Dale, but after the first one, he ate the other two.
June was one hell of a baker, and he was addicted to her food.
The morning rush went by quickly for Trey. At lunchtime his bell went letting him know someone had arrived. Molly came through the shop carrying another
bound package with the label "Just Another Slice" printed on it.
"Hello," he said.
"Hi. June asked me to give this to you."
Getting up from his desk, he took the package from
her. Looking inside the package he saw another bagel and a chocolate cupcake. "Why?" he asked. His mouth watered from the smell.
"She wanted me to apologize for her outburst. This is her way of saying sorry and hoping you won't be offended."
He wasn't offended. That morning was the first time he'd seen June stick up for herself. Trey said as much to her.
"June doesn't hold grudges, and she doesn't like conflict. At least, she doesn't like it with me." Molly rubbed her hands down her clothing.
"You're working for her?" Trey asked, shocked.
Molly nodded. "Yes, she took me in when no one would give me a job 'cause I'm a single mom. She adores my kids, and to be honest, I can't believe I was never friends with June when we were younger."
He listened to Molly. They'd all been part of the same circle. He wasn't a football star, but he'd been popular like them. Molly was the cheerleader back in the day.
"She's funny and smart, and I remember how bad you made her life," Molly said. "I don't want her to be hurt or have any reason to want to leave Winters Fall. Luke and Sasha adore her, and I can't let them lose her."
"What are you trying to say, Molly?"
"Please, don't bully her or hurt her. If you can't be nice then don't come by the shop."
Fisting the wrapper, Trey stared at her seeing the desperation in her eyes. "I've no intention of hurting her."
"Good. Then I'll go."
Molly pushed past Max and Dale on her way out.