Knead: Contemporary Romance (Creamy's Bakery Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

next four hours.”
    Mason chuckles softly. “I guess I'll just have to entertain you, then.”

 
     
     
     
    Chapter Seven
    Mason
     
    Beth is just as beautiful in a pair of tight jeans and a t-shirt as she was when I met her at the wedding. The only difference is the tension in her eyes. She seems unsettled but trying to hide it. It takes everything I have not to ask her to confide in me.
    I'm basically a stranger, but I feel like I want to know what troubles her. I want to know if there's something I can do to help.
    “You come here often?”
    I laugh, startled by the cheesy pickup line. “Not too often. But haven’t seen you around these parts. You new in town?”
    Beth laughs and lightly smacks my arm. “You know what I mean. You said this is a normal party, so I assume you come to their parties often.”
    “Nah.” I shrug. “I think Amy feels sorry for me so she invites me over all the time. I show up with sticks every couple weeks. The food is always good, although, usually the company’s not always so interesting.”
    I glance at Beth's eyes just in time to see her looking away from me with a shy smile on her lips. “Thanks.”
    When Beth doesn't say anything else, I decide to delve a little deeper. “So why haven't I seen you here more often? Santa Cruz isn't that far away.”
    She looks out at the trampoline where little Isla is playing with Natey and a few of his friends. There are couples and groups standing all around the large yard, but it feels like just Beth and I are out here. “I don't party too often anymore. This is about as wild as I get these days.” She looks back at me with a disbelieving grin.
    “I find that hard to believe,” I say innocently. “I'm just a lonely old baker man. I fill my cream sticks and go about my business.”
    “Ha. Ha,” she says with an amused glint in her eyes. They are beautiful emerald eyes that sparkle now and then and hold me in with their vibrancy.
    “So what are you doing  tomorrow?” I have to take a chance.
    “Oh.” Beth looks uncomfortable with my question, so I immediately backtrack.
    “No… I was… I'm not suggesting anything. I just wondered because there's a great farmers’ market downtown that has a kid area. They do face painting and stuff like that. Isla would probably enjoy it.”
    “Oh.” Her face lights up but then she pulls the corner of her lip between her teeth. “Yeah, actually, I do have plans  tomorrow,  and then I'll probably head home, but that sounds like fun. Maybe we'll have to come back next weekend and drag Amy out there. A little walking might do her some good.”
    I laugh. “Yeah, poor thing is desperate to be a single being once again. She’d probably try just about anything to deliver early.”
    After a few moments of sitting in silence, Beth turns toward me.
    “Are you gonna go to the farmers’ market  tomorrow? D o you usually go?”
    “Sometimes. There's an organization that we donate cream sticks to.” I turn away, a little uncomfortable bragging about my personal philanthropy efforts. “Um, they sell them to raise money. I try to stop by and at least check in with them if I can.”
    “Cool. What kind of organization is it for?”
    “Women in abusive relationships. There's a shelter in Redwood City that’s kind of a halfway house for women and children escaping bad relationships.”
    “Oh.” Beth’s face goes white and she looks away, locking her eyes on Isla again. “That’s a very worthy cause, Mason. I'm impressed.”
    “I’m not trying to impress anybody. I just can't donate as much time as I’d like.” I clear my throat and force a smile. “The best I can do is help them earn some money.”
    Beth gives one quick shake of her head but doesn't say another word.
    After sitting in silence for a while, the moment is broken by a sweet little girl running toward us. Isla falls into her mother’s lap. “Mommy, I'm thirsty.”
    “There's a bucket of water and juices right over by the