Free Brutal Discoveries by Kasey Millstead Page A

staring at me with a look of hunger.  I leaned in and brushed my lips over his.
    “I’m looking forward to tomorrow,” I whispered breathlessly.
    “Me, too, baby.”  His words were said like a promise.
    “Tomorrow,” I said, still whispering, as my fingers traced the light smattering of facial hair on his jaw.
    With one more quick, deep, wet kiss, he folded out of the car and came around to my side to walk me to my front door.  Once I was safely inside, I watched out of my blinds to see him walk down the pathway and climb back in his car, before pulling out onto the road and disappearing at the end of my street. 
    ***
    It didn’t matter it was late.  I was bouncing from the high that was a fabulous date with Aden West, and the buzz from the drinks at dinner were still working their way through my system.  So I called Ella. 
    “Yeah?” she answered, her voice thick from sleep.
    “Sorry I woke you,” I said, not sounding apologetic in the least.
    “Scarlett?  What’s up?” she asked, instantly sounding more alert.
    “I just came back from a date,” I gushed.  “With Aden… AKA Hashtag Hottie AKA Hashtag Asshole.” 
    “Are you drunk?”
    “No.  Buzzed.  Oh, my god, Els, it was such a great night.  He picked me up in his Camaro and went to this little Mexican place.  We ate, chatted, laughed… it was awesome .”
    “Uh, okay, I’m still really sleepy, so you’re going to have to back up a minute,” she bossed.  “The other day you were telling me how much of an ass he was.  Now you’re going on a date with him, in his Camaro, and eating Mexican food?”
    “A sleek black Camaro,” I informed her giddily.
    “Scar,” she growled, frustrated.
    “Fine,” I huffed.  “It turns out, he’s a prison guard at South Glenn.  He called me into his office today and explained why he was asking me about Damon that night at Sherman’s.  It was completely innocent and I took it the wrong way.  Then, we kind of made out in his office and he asked me to dinner, which obviously, I agreed to.  Then we kind of made out again after he dropped me home.”
    “You made out in his office?” she breathed.
    “The man is good with his mouth,” I gushed dreamily. 
    “He looks like he would be,” she agreed.  “I still can’t believe you went on a date with Hottie.  Go, girlfriend.”  We both started giggling like schoolgirls and then I heard Ella yawn.
    “I’ll let you go, honey.  See you in the morning,” I said.
    “Sweet dreams, Scar.”
    “You too.”
    I ended the call and changed into my pajamas.  Then I collapsed into bed and fell asleep with a smile on my face.

CHAPTER TEN
     
    Sweet Treats was packed.  Sammi was working the register, Macy was cleaning off tables from customers who had left, and Ella and I were manning the display case and the coffee machine.  It seemed word had got around about my cupcakes, and they were selling like, well, hotcakes . 
    “You’ll need to speak with the owner about that,” I overheard Sammi saying, so I made my way to the register.
    “Can I help you?” I asked the well-dressed, fifty-something woman politely.
    “This is Scarlett, she’s the owner.”
    I was wearing my uniform of black skinny jeans paired with a mint green shirt that was embroidered with my name and the Sweet Treats logo.  Over that, I still had on my full apron, pastel yellow and embroidered with the Sweet Treats logo as well, but didn’t have my name on it.  Macy, Ella, and Sammi all wore half aprons in either mint green, pastel yellow, or pale pink.  Their shirts were the same colors, but like mine, had their names on them.  Every day we paired a different colored apron and shirt together to go with the eggshell blue walls of the bakery, which in turn matched the thread on the embroidery.  I was a fan of pastels because I thought they gave my space a calming and soothing feel.  The entire color scheme, right down to the napkins, melded together