Free Building Up to Love by Joanne Jaytanie Page A

the heat build in her cheeks and spread clear up to her earlobes. “Are you still interested in applying for a position with the crazy woman?” She held out a copy of the elusive application.
    “I don’t scare easily. I’ll bring it back tomorrow,” Travis said with a smile.
    Laura smiled and waved as Travis walked down the sidewalk. So much for asking Mr. Travis Jerome for a date. For that matter, after her display of insanity it was probably safe to assume he would never darken her doorstep again.
    “Great, two strikes and I just met the guy. No wonder I haven’t dated in nearly five months.” She shook her head and closed the door.

CHAPTER TWO

    “Good morning. It occurred to me I never got your name yesterday,” Travis said.
    Laura nearly shrieked with surprise. Instead, she managed to bite her lip. Thank goodness. She’d already made herself look like a fool in front of this man. As she turned to look up at him from where she knelt, all she could make out was a large muscular frame that blocked the sun. She raised her hand to her brow in an attempt to get a clearer view.
    “Laura…Laura Tate. I’m the owner. I guess you figured that part out.”
    She pulled her garden gloves off and as she did, Travis reached out and offered his hand to help her up.
    “Thank you,” she said, as she accepted his offer.
    “Your gardens are lovely. Do you do all the work yourself?”
    “I’m just putting in the new plants and flowers for the summer. My grandmother did all the hard work.”
    “Well, you both do beautiful work. I brought back the application.” Travis pulled the folded paper from his back pocket and handed it to her.
    “Would you like to come in? We could have a cup of coffee and a muffin and go over your application.”
    “Sure.”
    He followed her into the kitchen. Laura poured two cups of coffee and put a plate of muffins on the table.
    “Help yourself. I’m going to go clean up. I’ll be right back,” she said.

    * * * *

    Laura looked even sexier today than yesterday, if that was even possible. As he casually walked up the sidewalk, he watched her dig in the dirt and plant her flowers. Her sun-kissed blonde hair was pulled up into a loose ponytail and every so often she would swing her head to get the hair away from her face. It gave him a glimpse of her soft, creamy peach neck. Her body was slim, but curvy, as demonstrated by the perfect fit of her jeans. When she first turned toward him, he saw the surprise in those haunting gray eyes. She instantly hid it, the same way she did yesterday, which made him wonder if she might be a woman who tried to hide her emotions.
    “Sorry to keep you waiting,” Laura said. She’d changed her clothes and combed out her long blonde hair, letting it fall freely down her back.
    “No problem. These muffins are awesome. Where did you get them?”
    “I made them this morning. A new recipe I’m trying out for my café. I’m glad you like them.”
    “Like them? I love them. If you hire me, I’ll be here for breakfast every day.”
    “And if I don’t?” she asked with a giggle.
    “Ahh, I’ll probably still come here every day. But you gotta admit it would save me a stop.”
    She laughed and put a muffin on her plate. She tore off a small piece and tasted it. “Not bad.”
    “Is this the first time you’ve tried it?”
    “Yes. I never try my baked goods until they’re done. Food is a different story.”
    “You cook too?”
    “I do. Why do you think I want to open a B & B?”
    “That will be a lot of work, with all the cooking,” Travis said.
    “I hope to be busy enough I can hire a few cooks and a baker or two. That way I can plan menus and be in the kitchen only part of the time.”
    She started to look over Travis’s application. He hoped he put down whatever skills she needed. He wanted this job; it would be a good break. This Victorian had lots of potential.
    “I see you’ve built some homes,” she said.
    “I’ve done my fair