The Bucket List (A REVERSE HAREM ROMANCE)

The smell of baked goods—something that usually cheered me up—was doing nothing to ease the pain in my heart. There was an empty hole that wasn’t going to fade anytime soon.

I stared down at my failed attempt at making brownies with burning eyes. Somehow I had forgotten to add something to it and it flopped. It has never happened before.

Maybe it had something to do with the fact that I hadn’t been able to sleep at all since Crystal had been diagnosed with cancer, but these days it wasn’t worrying for her health that kept me up. The last night I slept peacefully was two nights before Crystal’s panicked call.

Reaching up, I rubbed at my eyes with the back of my hand.

With one last look at the flopped brownies, I picked the pan up and walked over to the trashcan to throw it away. There was no use trying to salvage it.

Relieve flooded me when I heard the bell above the front door ring. The last thing I needed right now was to be alone with my thoughts. Lee was the person I needed by my side at the moment. She would be able to distract me.

“Hello?”

I tensed. That wasn’t Lee’s voice. Had I forgotten to lock the door behind me again? My eyes darted over to the clock on the wall; it was too earlier for customers to start arriving.

Swallowing, I hesitate before I picked up the knife and then made my way to the front.

What I wasn’t expecting was to find a well-dressed man standing near the register, glancing around with a frown.

My eyes dropped to the knife in my hand, I quickly placed it on the counter, out of sight but still within reach if I needed it, and then I cleared my throat and took another step forward.

“Morning, I’m afraid that we’re not open yet but if you. . .” My words died down when he turned his head to look at me.

For a few seconds, we only stared at each other. He was the first to look away and clear his throat. When he looked back up at me, he looked somewhat more composed.

“Are you Albany?” he questioned.

“Yes. How can I help you?”

His eyes darted over my face and lingered on my cheek before locking with mine again. I took note of the way his lips twitched and the amusement that flashed through his eyes.

“You have a little something. . .” he pointed to his cheek. “Here, let me.”

Before I could react, he stepped forward and reached out. My hands curled into fists and my body tensed. I held my breath when he raised his hand to my face and swiped his thumb across my cheekbone.

“Is that chocolate?” he asked as he stared down at the piece of dough stuck to his thumb.

“Oh no, I—”

My warning came a bit too late because he had already raised his thumb to his lips and was licking the dough from his finger. He pulled a face and to my surprise, a giggle fell from my lips.

“I’m sorry,” I muttered. “I forgot to add something to the mix. Here.”

He took the serviette and wiped his thumb. “You added salt instead of sugar.”

“I did?” I questioned in surprise. “I don’t remember doing that.”

Stuffing the serviette in his pocket, he walked over to the display fridge and stared down at the empty platters.

“Everything is baked before the store opens. I’m afraid that we aren’t open yet, but if you come back at around eight you’ll have a wide variety to choose from.”

“I’m not looking for anything particular or anything to eat now although I must say that the smells coming from the kitchen are appetizing.” He smiled at me and by hell it made my breath catch in my throat. “Do you do functions?”

“You mean catering?”

He nodded.

“I’m afraid not. We—”

“I need someone who can cater for me at an event this afternoon and my secretary suggested that I try your bakery,” he interrupted.

“Look Mr. . .?”

“Miller,” he provided. “Severide Miller.”

My eyes dropped to the hand he held out—a big hand with long lean fingers and a fine dusting of hair on the back. Swallowing, I hesitantly placed my hand in his. His hand swallowed mine when he closed his fingers and squeezed my hand.

“Mr. Miller, we—”

“Please,” he interrupted. “I’m desperate here. The company who was supposed to do the catering cancelled and nobody else can do it on such short notice.”

I raised an eyebrow at him. “And you think I can.”

His eyes darted over what he could see of my body. “You do look like a very capable woman.”

Colour flooded my cheeks. Was that a compliment or not? I’d never flirt with a man before so I was a bit unsure of how to react to his words. Letting out a nervous laugh, I pulled my hand from his and rubbed it on my jeans.

“It was a compliment,” he muttered. “Not an insult.”

More colour flooded my cheeks. “I. . .thank you. I—”

Shit, why was he messing with my brain? It was his eyes—his very intense and beautiful eyes that were the bluest blue I’d ever seen. The colour reminded me of something but I just couldn’t place it.

“Albany, help a fellow businessman out here.” He smiled at me. “I promise that I’ll make it well worth your time.”

Before I could answer, the door opened again, and the woman I’d been expecting entered. Lee bustled inside, her arms packed with bags filled to the brim with baking ingredients.

“Albany!” she exclaimed when her eyes locked with mine. “No, no, no. What the hell are you doing here?”

“Lee—”

“Take your stuff and get your ass back home this instant.”

She moved forward and stumbled which set Mr. Miller in action. He moved and managed to save a few bags from hitting the floor. Smiling, she took a step around him and moved to the nearest table to place it down.

“Thank you.”

“Welcome.”

“So,” she placed her hands on her hips and glanced between us. “What’s happening?”

My lips parted but he beat me to it.

“I’m trying to talk Albany into catering at an important event for me this afternoon. My secretary suggested that I try you first because your baked goods are the best in town.”

“I was just telling Mr. Miller that we don’t do any catering or—”

“I was just telling Albany that I will make sure that it’s worth your time.”

Our eyes clashed—mine narrowed and his flashing with amusement.

“Would you give us a moment, please?” Lee asked and without waiting for an answer, she walked around the counter, grabbed my arm, and dragged me behind her into the kitchen.

She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at me. “What are you doing here? I thought we agreed that you wouldn’t be back until next month. You need to rest and—”

“If I stay in that apartment for a second longer, I’m going to go mad,” I told her. “It’s too silent and there’s nothing to do which makes me think. . .it makes me think of Crystal.” I blinked back the tears. “I just can’t do that right now.”

Lee stepped forward and hugged me which nearly made me burst out in tears. I gave her a squeeze and stepped back. Reaching up, I wiped away the few tears that had managed to escape and smiled at her.

“I’m fine, promise.”

She stared at me with narrowed eyes for a few seconds before she smiled at me. Nodding towards the door, she raised a questioning eyebrow.

“What does he need?”

I shrugged and turned away from her. “I don’t know. I didn’t ask him. We’ve never done catering before and we’re not about to start now. I—”

“I’ve seen him in the newspaper two weeks ago. He’s a very well-known businessman.” She smirked at me. “And very hot, don’t you think?”

Sighing, I shook my head. “Will you go tell Mr. Miller that—”

“Think about it, Albany. He’s a well-known businessman. If we can score this deal with him, do you know how much business will pick up?”

I looked at him. “We get enough business as it is, we don’t need anymore.”

Lee gripped my shoulder and turned me to face her. “It’ll be good for you. A new order means that you’ll be super busy. You won’t be able to think about anything, isn’t that what you wanted.”

I glared at her. “I hate when you’re right.”

She laughed and pushed me in the direction of the door. Rolling my eyes, I grabbed the notebook and pen as I passed the counter and entered the front of the shop again.

Mr. Miller was still waiting but he didn’t look as friendly as he had when he first arrived. His eyes snapped to me the moment I exit the kitchen. I gave him the best smile I could manage.

“What do you need and for what time?”