Carpentry and Cocktails by Smartypants Romance

Author:Smartypants Romance [Sorensen, Karla]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Smartypants Romance

Chapter 14

Jocelyn

Thwack.

"Stupid men."

Thwack. Roll. Roll. Turn.

Thwack. Thwack.

My hand gripped the handles of the rolling pin so tightly, I wouldn't have been shocked if my bones burst through the skin.

"Stupid men who flirt and make you think things and go crazy and then start dating someone else."

Thwack. Thwack.

"Stupid men who help you work out and make you smoothies and look hot when you're swimming."

"Joss?" Joy asked cautiously.

I gave the dough one more unnecessary hit before I turned to her. "Yeah?"

Her wide eyes took in my face, which was actually sweating a bit from the mini-therapy session.

"Let's just … back away from the bread dough, okay?"

"Right." I looked down at it, beat the hell up and rolled way too thin.

"Are you … are you okay?" Her already big eyes took up about half her face as she watched me carefully set down the offending pin.

What a bitch I was, I thought glumly. I'd been at work for over an hour, and I hadn't spoken two words to anyone, heading straight back to the kitchen to work on bread and mini berry pastries for the case. Jennifer had given me a concerned look when she caught sight of my face but wisely gave me space. Her eyes, man, they freaked me out. Joy had tried to talk to me. Tried. I'd been about receptive as a concrete wall.

No wonder Levi called me Sonic. When my prickles were up, they were up, and God help anyone who tried to approach.

So even though I didn't want to answer Joy's question about whether I was okay, I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.

"I asked someone out today. And he said no."

"Ohhhh," she breathed. "I'm sorry, Joss. He's stupid."

I smiled a little bit. "He's not stupid, just unavailable."

She nodded earnestly. "I understand unrequited love."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." She sighed.

I wiped my hands on my apron and eyed her expression. "So no boyfriend for you?"

She leaned up against the large stainless steel island, facing me. "Nope."

"Me neither."

"No girlfriend, either," she continued. "Not even a dog or a cat."

Nero's dopey face popped into my head. It was nice to have someone to cuddle with at night, even if he got around on four paws and ate his own shit from time to time.

"It's depressing, actually."

I grimaced. "Sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up."

Behind Joy, Jenn's husband Cletus came in, giving me charming, wide smile in greeting. He was a giant grizzly of a man, barrel-chested with a full beard covering his handsome face.

If my sweet co-worker understood unrequited love, it was probably because of this guy. I tried to elbow her, but I missed because I wasn't looking.

Joy was off in her own head, staring straight ahead at the large trays of finished cupcakes. "I really need to replace my vibrator now that I'm thinking about it."

My eyes widened, my mouth fell open, and Cletus froze midstride with a horrified expression on his face.

"I, uhh," he said haltingly, "I'll go now. Just … just trying to find Jenn."

Joy gasped and whirled around, her hand clasping the front of her apron.

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