Free The Baker's Man by Jennifer Moorman Page A

honey, I’m so sorry.”
    Anna tried to swallow but couldn’t. Her mother’s pity undid the last of her resolve. She shrugged as if to say, It doesn’t matter . But it mattered so much she felt suffocated by her crumbling plans. Evelyn closed the short distance between them and wrapped her arms around her daughter. Anna clung to her.
    “He’s an idiot not to ask you to go,” Evelyn said.
    “Mama, you were just mad when you believed he had asked me to go.” Despite the ache in her body, she smiled against her mother’s shoulder.
    “Of course, you can’t go with him, but I’m indignant that he didn’t ask,” Evelyn said and pulled away from Anna. “You’ve followed that boy around for years and supported all his nonsense whims. I’ve always thought you were too good for him. You need a solid man. A good man who knows how special you are—”
    A bolt of lightning lit the entire apartment. Thunder rattled the windows, and books leapt off the shelves. Amid the storm, the front door flung open, and Eli rushed inside. He dripped rainwater onto the hardwood.
    “Barely made it,” he said, dropping his bags on the floor and rubbing one hand through his wet hair. Water droplets flew through the air and caught the light like glitter. “One more minute and I would have had to swim from the car.”
    His drenched clothes adhered to his body as if he’d taken a shower fully clothed. Evelyn stood rigid beside Anna. Eli noticed Evelyn and smiled. Anna dropped her head back and stared at the ceiling, exhaling loudly.
    Eli walked over to Evelyn. “You must be Mrs. O’Brien.” He held out his hand, and Evelyn hesitated before shaking it. “I’m Eli.”
    Evelyn’s light eyebrows rose on her forehead. She looked at Anna for an explanation.
    “Mama, this is Elijah Long. He’s a—a friend from college. He’s helping me at the bakery for a while.”
    Evelyn smiled, but her eyes scrutinized Eli. “From the Culinary Institute?” she asked. Eli nodded. “It’s nice to meet you. Will you be staying in town for a while?”
    Eli looked at Anna. “As long as Anna needs me, I’ll be around.”
    When he smiled at her, Anna couldn’t help but sigh. She shoved her hands into her pockets because all she wanted to do was trace the outlines of his chest muscles with her fingers.
    “Is that so? Where are you staying, Eli? I hope you’re not paying too much for a short-term lease. I know a few people who are renting out houses or small duplexes at affordable prices. I’m sure they would be willing to work out a month-to-month lease with you.”
    Eli smiled. “I’ll keep that in mind. I’m staying with Anna at the moment.”
    Evelyn’s brown eyes bulged like popovers, and Anna feared she might have to shove them back into her mama’s head. “Eli, could you give my daughter and me a minute alone?”
    Eli grabbed his shopping bags and headed for Anna’s bedroom. “I’ll jump in the shower. Nice meeting you, Mrs. O’Brien. I hope to see you again.”
    When the bathroom door closed, Evelyn turned to Anna. “Have you lost your mind? You’re letting a grown man stay in your apartment? This place is barely big enough for you.”
    “Mama, it’s only for a little while.” Anna grabbed a towel from the kitchen and started drying Eli’s puddle and trail of water.
    “How well do you know him? Does Baron know he’s staying here?” Evelyn asked. She fisted her hands on her hips.
    “Yes, he knows.” Anna didn’t bother adding that Baron was displeased about her houseguest too. Having her mama and Baron on the same team was more than she could stomach at the moment.
    “I can’t imagine he’s okay with it.”
    On her hands and knees, Anna wiped away the last of Eli’s wet footprints. She stared up at her mother. “I’m sick of caring about what Baron thinks. I’m a grown woman, and I can offer a friend a place to stay if I want. It’s my choice.”
    Evelyn’s lips pressed together. Anna knew her mama wanted to