Back for Seconds by Ginger Voight

That was a lot of work. She’d definitely have to start baking cakes and rolls in order to meet that kind of demand in the time she had allotted herself. Otherwise she’d never see her kids.
    “I want you to take a photo of each batch of goodies you make. That will be your portfolio. We’ll put it online and have a book here at the restaurant, that way interested parties can hire you directly for customized orders. You should definitely invest in a website and start social media accounts, further shaping your brand. Maybe do a tutorial or two and post the videos online so that people can see the work that goes into what you do, and what makes you so special. As impressive as those cookies are, I’d bet money those videos would go viral.”
    Joely was overwhelmed. “This is all happening so fast.”
    “That’s usually the way it works when it’s meant to be,” he said as he leaned back in his chair with a glass of wine. “You follow your passion and you step in line with what the universe is offering you.” She was still uncertain, which made him soften towards her. “I’ll help you however I can.”
    “Why?” she wanted to know. After all the games he’d been playing, she still didn’t trust him as far as she could throw him.
    “Because what helps you helps Lillian’s Place.” She nodded. She supposed that made sense. The longer he sat without saying anything, however, the more nervous she got. She became keenly aware that she was alone with him in that office. The way he watched her unnerved her. It was like he could see everything she didn’t want to show.
    She cleared her throat.  “I, uh, want to apologize for running out on you last night. That probably wasn’t the best way to handle that situation, but I’m fairly new at all this stuff and I really don’t know what I’m doing.”
    “I appreciate that,” he murmured as he watched her mouth, making her stammer even more.
    “That’s not to say that I was wrong to leave. I just could have handled it better.”
    His eyebrow arched just a hair. “You attach a lot of meaning to such a brief dance, Joely.”
    Her mouth fell open. Was that all that he thought it was? “You came onto me.”
    He shrugged. “I come onto most beautiful women.”
    “See?” she said. “Like that. Why do you do that?”
    “Do what?”
    “Say things like that.”
    “Like what?”
    She sighed. “Look. I know who I am, okay? Your lines are wasted on me. I’m no bombshell. I’m no ‘cougar.’ I’m just trying to get by. I don’t need anyone playing any games with me because they think they can.”
    His eyes hardened. He rose from his chair and walked around the desk, perching right in front of her. The muscles of his body rippled under the fine fabric of his clothes. She could almost feel his hands on her skin. She cursed herself how that made her tremble.
    “I’m a man who knows what I want. And I go after what I want. That doesn’t make me a player or you a victim. It just means that I think you are a beautiful woman. I think it’s rather sad that you find that so hard to believe. When did you forget it?”
    She jumped from her chair, which put her face to face with him. “If you want to help me with my business, great. I’ll take your help and be grateful for it. But my personal life is off limits. Period.” She turned to leave but he caught her arm and pulled her back. He studied her so intensely that she nearly shrank back from him.
    Moments passed as they stood there facing each other, not saying a word. She tried her best not to concentrate on how warm his hand was against her skin, or how closely they stood to each other. His eyes consumed her. He looked like he might kiss her, and for one insane moment she wanted him to. Finally his hand fell to his side. “You should probably be going then,” he murmured as he studied the flush in her cheeks. “You have a lot of goodies to bake for the church crowd tomorrow. I’d recommend five dozen at