War Wounded (The War Trilogy #2.5) Read Free

though, she was looking very fashionable, so I guess that’s why that came to mind.
    I turn onto the street where the shop is and take the first parking spot I can, which is at the opposite end of the block from where the shop is, but parking spots around here are hard to come by. I’ll just have to suffer in the cold wind and walk down the block.
    I get out of my car and flip the collar of my pea coat up. The wind whips sharply around my face, making my eyes water and my breath catch. Dammit, I should have worn my hat and scarf. I shove my hands into my pockets and start down the sidewalk. I stop in front of the door with the right address and the corner of my mouth lifts to a smile. I look up at the large sign over the door. In pretty pink calligraphy writing, it says:
    The Cupcake Place
    How cute.
    The door opens and a little bell rings, drawing my attention down to whomever opened the door. My breath catches. Not from the freezing wind this time, but because of the beautiful woman standing in the doorway.
    Her dark mahogany hair whips around her face. “Don’t just stand there, come in!” she says and waves me in.
    I brush by her, catching a whiff of her scent, which is all sugar and vanilla. She smells like a cupcake. A delicious cupcake.
    “Jesus, it’s freaking cold out there,” she says through chattering teeth.
    I turn to look at her. She’s looking as gorgeous as ever in her dark jeans and fitted pink T-shirt with the shop’s logo on her chest, over her heart. She’s smoothing her silky looking hair back into place. Her cheeks are flushed red from the cold. Or at least, I think it’s from the cold. Could be me. It would be nice if I made her cheeks flush like that, but I’m not getting my hopes up, especially because she’s most likely getting married in three weeks.
    “Cute place,” I murmur, looking around.
    “Thanks, I just opened a few months ago.”
    “Great name, real original,” I tease.
    She narrows her eyes at me and I grin wide.
    “Oh, shut up, you,” she huffs.
    I chuckle.
    “Jules, you okay for an hour?” Arianna asks the young girl behind the counter.
    The cute blonde, who looks to be around 18 or 19, nods. Her big brown eyes are wide as she stares at me. I smirk and give her a little wave. Her face turns bright red before she ducks down behind the counter. I roll my lips in to keep from laughing. Apparently, someone in this room finds me attractive, even if it’s not the one I want. I turn back to Arianna who rolls her eyes at me.
    “What kind of cupcake would you like?” Arianna asks me.
    I raise an eyebrow at her in question. “Who said I even like cupcakes?”
    She gives me a look that says “get real.”
    “Everyone likes cupcakes. Come on, pick one,” she says and waves at the display case.
    I purse my lips and walk over to the counter. There is a huge variety of cupcakes with all different flavors, icings, and designs. My mouth waters just looking at them. Damn her for exploiting my sweet tooth.
    “I’ll try the red velvet,” I mutter in defeat.
    “Jules, can you get Mr. Tavish two red velvet cupcakes, please?” Arianna says to her employee.
    The red-faced Jules slowly stands up from behind the counter and taking every caution to avoid eye contact with me, places two red velvet cupcakes in a plastic container and sets them on the counter in front of me.
    “I really don’t need two,” I tell Arianna.
    She smiles at me as if she knows something I don’t. “Believe me, you’ll want two.”
    “A bit arrogant in your confectioner skills, aren’t we?”
    She shrugs. “You tell me.”
    She motions for me to follow her. I grab my cupcakes, glancing at Jules, who I find watching me. If it’s possible, her face turns even redder. I can’t help the laugh that slips out. I send her a wink, which makes her groan and cover her face with her hands in embarrassment.
    We walk through the kitchen to get to her office. It’s a nice space. She has a decent sized desk