Return of the Jerk (Sweet Life in Seattle, Book 2) by Andrea Simonne Page A

platform pumps. She doesn’t usually wear them for deliveries, but she can’t resist today. The shoes are so wonderful, she sits on her bed and takes a couple of selfies of her feet in them from different angles.
    “What are you doing?” Road asks, standing in her bedroom doorway, watching her.
    Blair glances over at him, embarrassed to be caught. “Nothing.”
    “Taking pictures of your feet?”
    “Sort of. It’s just that I love these shoes.”
    He chuckles. “Let me guess, these are the ones you’d save along with Mr. Maurice in a fire.”
    “Yes, but if you’ll remember, Mr. Maurice came first.”
    When she gets up from the bed and walks toward him, his eyes travel the length of her with approval. “Damn, babe, this what you always wear to deliver cakes?”
    “Of course.”
    “Nice.”
    She tries to hide her smile. So what if I’m not Skank Factor X?
    “Thanks, you look nice, too.” Road is wearing jeans and a white button-down shirt. In truth, he looks mouth-wateringly hot. She can barely pull her eyes away. His shirt cuffs are rolled up to reveal his muscular forearms, and the white shirt looks sexy. As usual, his thick, blond hair is parted in the center, tucked behind his ears.
    They head out to the Honda where Road insists on driving, not that she cares. It gives her a chance to call Natalie and update her on the situation.
    When they arrive at La Dolce Vita, Blair instructs Road on where to park and they go in through the back entrance, where the scent of fresh pastries surrounds them. Natalie has just pulled out black-bottom cupcakes. They have a smaller menu on the weekends and offer sweet breads and muffins, along with these crazy-delicious cupcakes Natalie came up with recently.
    “I’m glad to see you found someone who can help.” Natalie comes over, wiping her hands on her apron. “It’s nice to meet you, Road.”
    “Same here.” Road shakes her hand.
    “Grab a cupcake if you like.”
    Blair can see him looking around the bakery, taking everything in. And for a moment, she’s filled with pride. She and Natalie have created a solid business, and she enjoys showing it off to him.
    Lindsay, Natalie’s gorgeous younger sister, comes in from the front carrying an empty baking tray. When she notices them standing together, she walks over and puts the tray down by the sink.
    Blair introduces her and can see Road looking at Lindsay. It occurs to Blair that Lindsay is sort of Road’s type. She’s not Skank Factor X exactly, but Lindsay is sexy with an edge.
    “So, you’re the infamous Road,” Lindsay says, tossing her wavy brown curls over her shoulder.
    He chuckles. “Didn’t realize I was ‘infamous.’”
    “Oh, you are, trust me.”
    And that’s when Blair realizes Lindsay isn’t joking.
    “Anyone who abandons my girl Blair is infamous and a whole lot of other choice words I’m too polite to use at the moment.”
    “Huh?” Road is taken aback.
    “Uh, Lindsay, Road is here helping me deliver wedding cakes,” Blair says quickly. “I was desperate, and he offered to pitch in.”
    “Sound like it’s the least he could do.”
    Blair doesn’t know what to say. In truth, she’s touched that Lindsay wants to defend her. She glances over at Natalie for help, but she just sips her latte and watches Road with interest.
    It figures.
    There’s something unusual about the two sisters, and the way they grew up, that Blair doesn’t entirely understand. They’re fierce and loyal, though, and once they accept you into their circle, that’s it. They have your back. It was a quality Blair admired, and it made Natalie a business partner she trusted.
    “Look, I don’t even know you,” Road tells Lindsay, still confused by her hostility.
    “Doesn’t matter. I know what you did to Blair, and that tells me all I need to know about you .”
    Road glances at Blair with surprise.
    Blair is tempted to fill the awkward silence that has developed, but the sisters have influenced her, and