Rediscovering Emma

Two months later... Emma

"Hi! Umm, I saw your sign outside. Are you still looking to hire someone?"
The woman behind the counter looks at Emma over her red-rimmed glasses and frowns. Emma looks down to make sure she didn't spill any of her Caramel Mocha on her white shirt. Nope, no stain. She's dressed in a jean skirt with a light blouse and sandals. With her long brown hair in a high ponytail and just some tinted Chapstick on her too full lips, she is definitely not dressed like someone looking for a few job. But as she was rushing her daughter out of their tiny apartment this morning, she was only thinking of staying cool on this hot Georgia day. After dropping Naomi off at her new school for her first day of second grade, Emma decided to walk around her new town. The first place she came to was called Sweets By Georgia. It was a beautiful house that had been converted in to an inviting bakery. The dark wood porch wrapped around the front of the house with mismatched tables and chairs for an out door seating area. The siding on the house was what captured Emma's attention in the first place. It was the same color yellow that her beloved kitchen was painted. Then she saw the sign in the window. As she walked through the heavy, purple door the aromas that hit her nose brought back memories of long days in her Nana's kitchen, learning all of her recipes her mother passed down to her. There were lace curtains hanging in the floor to ceiling windows that let in the perfect amount of natural light. The white curtains complemented the pale yellow walls perfectly. Emma immediately felt at home in this cozy establishment.
"You ever done any bakin', darlin'?" The woman standing before her, she's guessing is Georgia, has such a thick southern accent, Emma has to pause to make sure she understands her. Just like she does every time she comes in contact with anyone from this small town.
"Yes ma'am. I have been baking since I was a little girl. Back home, I did custom cakes for family and friends."
"And where are ya from, young lady?"
"Indianapolis."
"A city girl! What in the world would make you wanna move to this one horse town?" Emma hadn't really thought about why she choose New Heart, Georgia as her final destination. They had been in a hotel in Nashville and when she looked down at her map of Georgia she got from the lobby, New Heart was the first thing she saw.
"I liked the name." Emma said, pink tinting her cheeks from embarrassment.
"I'm Georgia by the way."
"Emma." She shook Georgia's outstretched hand. She had a firm handshake for a woman, Emma guessed, was well in her 60's.
" How's 'bout you come in tomorrow mornin', and show me what you can do?"
"Really? Oh my god, thank you! Thank you so much!" Emma was practically bouncing out of her brown sandals.
"It's just a trial. If you can't bake worth a damn, there'll be nothing for you to do here." Georgia said.
"I won't let you down. Thank you so much for this opportunity! Is 8 o'clock ok?" Just then, the bell over the brightly painted purple door rings, signaling someone coming in. Georgia's face lit up with a smile as big as the sun. Emma decided to look at the beautiful cookies. Naomi would love the one with the hot pink flower iced on top.
"Luke Winters, you handsome man! When did you get back in town?"
"Just yesterday ma'am."
That voice. So deep and sexy with a southern drawl. Immediately, Emma thought of ripped clothes, sweaty bodies, and sweet release.
Damn, it had been too long.
"Wha' brings you in here today Luke?"
Emma still hadn't turned around to look at the man with a voice that had to have been made just for sedition. What if he was ugly? She could use the memory of his voice alone for her next date with B.O.B.
"Momma has her book club meeting tonight and asked me to pick her up some of your famous chocolate macaroons."
"Let me get those for ya. Luke this is Emma. Gonna give her a try to see if she can fill Joy's spot at the bakery."
Emma had no choice but to turn around and greet the man with the voice. As soon as she turned to him, she gasped. The most gorgeous man she has ever seen was standing before her. The first thing she noticed was his eyes. The color like nothing she had seen before. Deepest blue with specks of grey. His almost black hair was slightly too long, and looked like he ran his hands through it constantly. He had on an expensive looking button down blue shirt that brought out the colors of his eyes perfectly. His stone washed jeans hugged his thighs and hips. From his cowboy boots all the way to that beautiful hair, he is exactly what she would have called her perfect man. That's when she realized he was smiling at her. Just one dimple graced the left side of his tanned cheek. Oh god, did he catch her ogling him? She wanted the floor to swallow her whole at the moment.
"Nice to meet you Mrs...?" As Luke was walking closer to her, she had to tilt her head up to continue to look in his eyes. He had a good 6 inches on her 5'6. Up close, his eyes were even more beautiful. There was purple around the iris. She could get lost in those eyes.
"Just Ms. No husband, just Ms." What did she just blabber about? Ok, she was gonna have to get away from this man quick before she said something even more stupid. And she really wished he would wipe that smug smile off his face. Like he knew why she was a blubbering mess, and enjoying every minute of this embarrassing situation. Get it together, she thought to herself.
"Well, I better get out of here. Got stuff to do. Georgia, I'll see you in the morning. Is 8:00 ok?" Why was her potential boss staring at her with a knowing smile too? Jeez, she needed to get a grip.
" 8 is just fine sweetie." Georgia said.
" Great, see you then!" As she was walking out the door she said "It was nice to meet you Luke. Have a nice day!"
"You too darlin'. I hope to be seeing you around." Not if she had anything to do with it. He was a heartbreaker. She could see it in his cocky smile, the way he was so comfortable in himself. She did not need another man like that. Nope. She will just forget about him and his bedroom voice.