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is so not fair. I lost my head for a moment. That’s all that happened.”
    “Your dad knew what was good for you. That’s why he put number three on that list.”
    I set my empty glass on the table a little too hard. “My dad should’ve been more detailed with number three. Attraction is all well and good. But I need to date someone who’s stable. Not someone who’s going to fall off a cliff or get eaten by a shark while he’s at work.”
    He grinned, lifting my jacket from the back of my chair. “You saw the Bali photos on my website? I just uploaded them this afternoon.”
    My cheeks heated as I slipped my arms into my jacket and chastised myself for not having more self-control when it came to my cell phone’s Internet service. “I’m glad you have a job you love. That’s what I’m going for, too. But I can’t cross something off the Carpe Diem list if I haven’t truly completed it.” I grabbed my purse from the ground and slipped it over my shoulder. “And you and I are not dating.”
    “You’ll change your mind.” He grinned, holding out my dad’s letter. “Just like the fudge.”
    “Don’t count on it.” I snatched the letter from his hand, then slipped through the hatch, feeling completely flustered as I hurried down the stairs.
    I didn’t care what number three on my dad’s Carpe Diem list said, dating someone who left me breathless was not enough. I needed someone who would be around in fifty years, not a wanderlust like Nate who might get eaten by a grizzly bear while hiking in the Rocky Mountains.
    Unfortunately, reminding myself about that didn’t make leaving Nate any easier.

Chapter Five
    The next day I spent over thirteen hours straight working at Bernie’s Bakery, making everything from chocolate croissants to custard pies. I took inventory, placed supply orders, and even served customers while Avery was on her lunch break. But instead of being worn out by such a long day, I felt invigorated.
    Managing the bakery felt completely different from my customer service job in the software industry, which would have wiped me out after such a full day. I loved baking in the early hours, helping the customers, and organizing the business side. Today just reinforced that buying Bernie’s Bakery was essential to my future happiness.
    I’d almost cried when Bernie’s Realtor, Wendy Watts, put up the “for sale” sign outside the bakery this morning, and it was all I could do not to rip it down and yell, “It’s mine .”
    At least, it would be mine as soon as I got my inheritance money, which was why I was attacking the first task on my dad’s Carpe Diem list tonight.
    Ginger had given me two thumbs up this morning for getting a dog as long as it was less than twenty-five pounds, which was the homeowners association’s rule. She’d also mentioned that her friend, Sarah Carlton, ran a dog rescue service out of her house. So I made a six o’clock appointment with Sarah to adopt one of her rescues. I’d give the dog a nice home, but I’d keep my feelings tucked safely away from him.
    No creature could ever replace Checkers.
    I arrived home from the bakery after five o’clock, which didn’t give me much time to eat before heading over to Sarah’s house, let alone time to wash the flour out of my hair. Nate had appeared in the bakery’s kitchen at five a.m., insisting that friends help friends bake. When I’d protested, he’d merely flicked flour in my direction, and we’d ended up having a bit of showdown involving multiple spices.
    Nate had won, so I ended up letting him help me bake—customers were arriving soon after all. But I’d held my own in the spice fight and he’d left that afternoon smelling of cinnamon, nutmeg, and sugar. Yum. His scent had been even more delicious, but I managed to resist him, which hadn’t been easy. The man looked hot wearing an apron, and despite my need to distance myself from him, he’d made me laugh over and over like old times.
    Now,