Ryann nodded, but before she could get a new bite, Maddie had already speared a little sliver of one and was offering it to her. She hesitated and then leaned forward, taking the morsel in her mouth, Maddie all the while watching her eat. Maddie’s eyes darkened slightly, her lids somewhat hooded. Ryann looked away first, and Maddie seemed to shake herself awake, stirring next to her before taking her own bite. Ryann was drawn her way again a few seconds later, and she liked the way Maddie’s forehead wrinkled slightly, obviously deep in thought as she revisited the cake.

Finished, she looked satisfied. “I’m in complete agreement. It comes down to that one or the Black Forest.”

“Should we try the Black Forest again?” she asked.

One corner of Maddie’s mouth lifted, wryly, and before she could chicken out, Ryann cut a little piece for her from her own plate, offering it to her somewhat boldly.

Joan appeared then, and Ryann dropped the forkful in her lap, startled.

“Whoops!” Joan said. “I’m sorry. Was I interrupting…you know what? Never mind. Let me get you a wet rag, Ryann.”

“Actually,” she said, standing up, “do you have a restroom I could use?”

Joan waved, indicating for her to follow, and she was led through the warehouse, past several of the hot ovens, the scent of bread heady. In the very back corner of the building were a small office and a tiny restroom, and Joan left her there to rejoin Maddie.

She closed and locked the flimsy door behind her, letting out a breath of relief. She turned to the sink, glad to see a pile of cloth hand towels, and wet one before patting off the frosting and cake from her thigh. Clean enough for now, she checked her face in the mirror.

“What the hell are you doing?” she whispered. In the space of—she checked her watch—less than six hours, she’d gone from annoyed with Maddie, to flirting with her, to almost kissing, and then flirting again with the cake. What was this? Was she really this starved for affection? True, Maddie was attractive. She didn’t normally go for the whole woodsy, outdoorsy type—couldn’t actually remember meeting a woodsy, outdoorsy type in New York—but she’d certainly always had a thing for confident butch women. And Maddie’s confidence didn’t come with some dark, self-centered arrogance, either, like so many of her exes. No, Maddie was simply a nice person. People were drawn to that. She was a good person who did good deeds and volunteered and helped friends plan weddings with no ulterior motive but to help people.

And she was really hot.