PENELOPE
The door slammed shut behind Christian, and for a second, the only thing I could hear was the clink of silverware against fine china.
I stared at the space he’d left behind, watching the way his chair rocked slightly from how fast he’d gotten up. I didn’t know if I was supposed to follow him. I didn’t know if I even wanted to.
Alex cleared his throat. “So…Penelope, you’re my sister-in-law?”
His voice was light, trying to break the awkwardness like cracking through the surface of a frozen lake. I turned to him slowly, half-smiling.
“Looks like it,” I said, trying not to sound winded.
“Damn,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “And here I thought I just had an insanely beautiful bakery buddy.”
I laughed softly despite myself. “Well, that title is still accurate. Just with
