Read A Moment on the Lips (A Whistle Stop Romance, #3) for Free Online Page B

should be going. I still have work to do at the restaurant, and the staff probably wonders where I went.” Ana started toward the door.
    “Hey, you never did say why you dropped by.”
    “Oh, that. It’s nothing.” Ana waved away the thought.
    Piper sensed that it was definitely something. “Ana, tell me.”
    “Are you sure?”
    She nodded. “If you don’t tell me, I’m sure someone else will.”
    “It’s David. He set the date for his wedding. It’s in six weeks.”
    “Six weeks? He sure isn’t wasting any time.” With her, it’d taken two years to set a date—time for her to work on things , such as lose weight and become the perfect society wife.
    “I’m sorry. I know it must hurt. Rumor has it that...”
    “That what?”
    “That his fiancée is pregnant.”
    “That sure won’t look good for a rising politician.”
    Ana stepped closer. “Would you like me to stay? We can talk some more. Or I can help you close up.”
    Piper shook her head. “I’m fine. Thanks for telling me before I heard it from someone else. You better go before they send out a search party for you.”
    After Ana left, Piper clicked the dead bolt into place and switched off the interior lights. The glow from the display case filled the room. There were still a few chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting. Her weakness.
    Tonight she wasn’t even going to try to fight the craving.
    Tonight she was just going to enjoy.
    ♥♥♥
    A black cloud dogged his steps.
    Joe hadn’t spoken to Piper since lunch the prior day. The throbbing in his jaw and the shooting pain in his temples had him unclenching his teeth. Not even his morning run, which usually invigorated him, had done a thing to lighten his mood. Nor did the fact his lumber order had been sorted out, and the renovation project was back on schedule. There was something nagging at him, eating at his peace of mind. Not something, make that someone. Piper.
    A couple of times he’d considered going next door, but there was nothing he could say that she’d want to hear. He couldn’t break his contract with the other bakery without steep penalties that he couldn’t afford. And, in truth, he didn’t want to. He liked answering to no one. It was best they maintained their distance.
    Apparently, his sour mood was obvious, because the workmen kept their distance. Only Bob, the foreman, would have anything to do with him. Joe told himself the less socialization, the more work that got completed. And the faster he’d get the business up and running.
    The sound of a circular saw cutting two-by-fours echoed in the enclosed area as the hammering provided a staccato beat. In fact, it was so loud that it made it hard to keep his thoughts straight, which was fine by him. All they did was keep going in circles and coming back to Piper.
    He set to work ripping out some rotted wood from the back of the building where he planned to situate his office. His office. He liked the sound of it. He wouldn’t have to share the space with anyone. Soon, his dream would come true. He’d have his own business and his own apartment. There would be no one to butt in. If he wanted to leave his dirty socks on the floor, no one could complain. If he wanted to watch a football game and yell at the screen, no one would glare at him for being loud. And, most all, there would be no one to take it all away from him. At last, he’d be happy.
    It was then Joe noticed a distinct silence had fallen over the place. He checked the time. It was only half past ten. Definitely not time for his men to hightail it over to Piper’s for one of her delicious-looking sandwiches. So if it wasn’t lunchtime, what was the problem?
    He set aside the crowbar he’d been using to pry off some old paneling. He moved toward the front of the building. He stopped in his tracks when he noticed his mother and Mrs. Sanchez, Whistle Stop’s queen of gossip, making pleasantries with his men.
    Mrs. Sanchez was anything but dull. His