Just Desserts by Marquita Valentine Read Free Book Online Page A

fifty-two pound dog of indeterminable origins a puppy, but Cici was having none of that and decided she’d rather be a lapdog, tackling her.
    Laughing, Daisy fell on her butt, wet sloppy kisses covering her face. “Need a little attention, do you?” Gosh, she loved this dog. Three years ago, when she and Glen had first found Cici at the shelter, an instant connection had been made. They had taken one look at that dog’s blue and brown eyes and fallen in love.
    The back door swung open. Glen walked in, a smile on his face when Cici bounded over to him.
    Wasn’t there a saying about dogs being a good judge of people?
    Slowly, she rose to her feet, dusting off her pajama bottoms. “I was getting worried about you. I made you an extra plate, and I can heat it up if you’re ready.”
    The smile faded from Glen’s face. “It’s not want I want.”
    “ But you don’t know what I cooked tonight,” she said.
    He held out his hands, palms up. “I mean, this isn’t what I want. You’re not what I want.”
    A ball of what felt like dough that’d been left out in the open for too long hit the bottom of her stomach. “It isn’t? I’m not?” she croaked.
    “ Oh Lazy-Daisy—” Her eye twitched at his juvenile nickname. She’d always hated when he’d call her by it. “Not really. I’ve been thinking and I’m not in love with you anymore. Well, I love you, but more like a friend. There’s no spark, no life to our relationship, and I’m bored. Gina told me to give you another chance, so I did, but it’s not working.”
    “ Who’s Gina?” she asked, anger merging with furious to make one ticked off baker.
    “ She’s the new guidance counselor at work,” he said slowly, as if speaking to a small child. “I told you all about her.”
    Crossing her arms, she pursed her lips. “No, you didn’t.”
    “ Like you listen to anything I say,” he scoffed. “You’re too busy baking and talking to some guy in England.”
    Blood rushed to her face, heating it. How dare he turn this on her? “Excuse me? I own a bakery, and Jules is a customer.”
    Glen smirked. “You talk to all of your customers that often?”
    In fact, there were some she talked to every day and knew everything about, including when their next doctor appointments were and who had hemorrhoids. So sue her if she had a lot of senior citizens for customers. “Don’t make what Jules and I have into something dirty.”
    Petting Cici, he motioned for the dog to go to bed. She went happily and Daisy wished she could join her.
    “ I didn’t.”
    “ Yes, you did.” She swallowed and briefly closed her eyes. “Did you cheat on me, Glen?”
    “ Only in my heart, with Gina. We really love each other. It’s a mature love, with a woman who has less baggage than you. I can’t handle your baggage.”
    Gaping at his answer, she fought back the tears of anger and frustration. Any love she felt for him was gone, and for it to have left so easily meant it hadn’t really been there in the first place. At least, not this time. “You’re my baggage, you asshat!”
    He cocked his head to one side, a move that she normally thought was endearing, but now it made her want to smack him. “Don’t be mad, honey. A clean break is what’s best for both of us.”
    Pressing her fingers to her temples, she tried to process their conversation. This Glen wasn’t the Glen she loved in high school, or the Glen that had been there for her when her momma had died. No, this Glen was unrecognizable. They’d grown apart while growing up.
    Hurt raked through her. How could he do this? How could he have led her on? Oh, she knew how, because she had let him.
    “ Get out of my house.”
    He blinked at her. “Right this minute?”
    “ You said it yourself—a clean break is what’s best for both of us. So why draw it out, Glen? Get your crap and leave,” she said, proud that her voice didn’t waver. No matter what, she would be strong.
    “ Fine,” he snapped, marching