The Cupcake Diaries: Sweet On You Read Online Free PDF Page B

expression of a professional intent on business.
    “Andi, are you okay?” Jake placed a hand on her upper arm and gave her a little shake.
     “Your whole face just went pale. Are you dizzy? Feel faint?”
    She shook her head. “I . . . I’ll be fine.”
    “We don’t have to go over the details of the partnership today, if you aren’t up for
     it,” he said, pulling back.
    “Partnership?”
    “Rachel gave me most of the numbers over the phone, but we still need to discuss specifics
     of the business plan before I’d be willing to finance the start-up costs.” Jake shot
     her a hesitant look. “Don’t you want me to be your partner?”
    Andi covered her eyes with her hand and cringed. “I was under the impression you wanted
     a different kind of partnership.”
    Jake was silent for several seconds, then let out a deep, throaty chuckle and pried
     her hand away from her face. “Did you think Rachel set us up on a date?”
    She looked away, unable to face him. How could she have been so foolish? Didn’t Rachel
     say they were meeting here today to discuss a new idea to finance the cupcake shop?
    “What if I said one of the reasons I’m interested in financing the cupcake shop is
     because I am interested in you?”
    “You barely know me.”
    “I think I know you better now.”
    “You don’t want to date me. I’m just plain, simple, and oh-my-gosh, right now I feel
     so stupid .”
    “How about we start over?” he suggested, taking her hand in his. “Hi, I’m Jake Hartman.
     I would have asked you out on a date the first night we met, except my babysitter
     sent a text saying she couldn’t watch Taylor past 11:30, and I was already late. I
     didn’t know how you’d react if I asked you out and hit you with the news I’m a father
     at the same time. Some women hear you have a kid and want to run.”
    “Some men have been known to do that, too,” she said, and shook his hand to formally
     introduce herself. “Hi, I’m Andi Burke. My dream is to open a cupcake shop with a
     kitchen big enough to dance in because I love baking. And music. And I also need to
     pay my rent. But why would such a great financially sound guy like you want to invest
     his money in a risky venture with a trio of women he doesn’t know?”
    “Maybe because I, too, have a dream, and with my past experience of owning and operating
     a restaurant the venture won’t be so risky. My family opened a pizzeria when I was
     growing up, but after my father became ill, we decided to sell the business. Over
     the last few years I’ve missed the camaraderie we had as a team. I’ve been looking
     to invest in another local restaurant, and when Rachel called asking about Hollande’s
     French Pastry Parlor and told me your plans, I told her I was interested.”
    “Did she tell you the bank denied our loan?”
    Jake nodded. “Banks have to be cautious. Most small businesses fail their first year,
     but I know what it takes to succeed. Besides,” he said and shot her a heart-stopping
     grin, “I think a gourmet cupcake shop would do well in this town.”
    “The idea of a fourth business partner hadn’t crossed my mind,” Andi admitted and
     smiled, “but I think the idea has merit.”
    Jake brought her hand up to his mouth and gave it a quick kiss. “I’d also be interested
     in knowing if you are free on Saturday night to go out on a real date.”
    “But if we’re working together . . .” Andi’s breath caught in her chest. “Do you think
     it’s wise to mix business with pleasure?”
    Jake grinned. “I think we already have.”
    He was right, of course, but what if mixing the two didn’t work out? What then?
    As if reading her mind, he added, “If we do this, and you decide our partnership is
     not working for any reason, you can pay back my investment with future profits, and
     I will graciously bow out.”
    Andi hesitated, still unsure.
    Her cell phone hummed, shaking the pocket of her baggy sweatshirt. Her