Jane hadn’t lied to Dax. The bakery was open and was doing its usual Saturday morning business, but this morning she was here to help Zoe and Josie get their sweets ready for the event while Zoe’s mom and dad handled the front of the bakery.

He’d still be able to get muffins, and she was happy to get a table with him once he arrived, but she had been called in as more than a patron today. She was happy to help. Not just because she loved the idea of Zoe and Josie showing off their talents to a wider audience and offering some limited shipping options for those outside of Appleby for the first time, but because now Jane had them both to herself for a little bit, and she could tell them about Dax.

And ask for their advice.

“Good morning.” Josie gave her a grin from where she was boxing up cake pops. “Hey, you’re wearing a dress.”

Jane looked down at the navy-blue sundress with the white flowers. “I am.”

“You almost never wear dresses,” Josie said.

“I know.”

“So you’re in a dress kind of mood,” Josie mused.

“Yes, I am.”

“Okay, what is going on around here with you two today?” Zoe asked, looking from Josie to Jane.

“I have a date later on,” Jane said. “With Dax.”

“Ah.” Zoe nodded. “So that’s why you’re so chipper. Do you have a date too?” she asked Josie.

“Too?” Jane asked.

Zoe tipped her head toward Josie. “She’s been humming all morning.”

Jane looked at Josie. “Oh really?”

Josie laughed and waved her hand. “I’m just in a good mood. Maybe I’m excited about this event. We’ve never done something like this before.”

Zoe and Jane shared a look.

“Sure,” Zoe said.

“Right,” Jane agreed.

Josie giggled, and Jane was certain she saw a little blush on her friend’s cheeks.

“Well, I am excited about my date,” Jane said, going to the table set up with the apple, cherry, blueberry, and strawberry—her favorite—jar pies. “But I’m also in a really good mood because of the sex.”

Jane started putting the little mason jars into the box that was padded with Styrofoam peanuts and tissue.

Both of her friends immediately stopped what they were doing and turned toward her.

“The sex?” Zoe asked.

“Yeah,” Jane said, her grin huge and, she was sure, goofy. “The sex last night.”

“Who did you have sex with?” Zoe asked.

Jane laughed. “I’m going on a date later with Dax.”

“So you said.”

“And I had sex last night.”

“You also said that,” Zoe agreed.

“You think I had sex with someone last night and am going out with someone else today?” Jane asked.

“So you did have sex last night with Dax?” Josie asked.

“Yes.” Jane grinned and kept packing jars.

“Oh my God, Jane!” Josie said. “That’s awesome!”

She laughed. “It is?”

“He’s so good looking and funny and charming.” Josie sighed.

Zoe shook her head. “I thought you were adamantly against that,” she said to Jane. “Since he’s your boss and everything.” She held up a hand. “Not that I don’t love Dax. He really is awesome and I know you’ve been flirting. But why did you change your mind?”

Jane paused with a jar in each hand. “Well, for one, he went over to the house with me and helped me and Kelsey clean last night.”

Josie gasped. “He did? Wow. That’s pretty sweet.”

“And he totally mediated this whole situation with the girls, and then he took us all out for ice cream and made the girls hugely popular with the hottest guys in their class.” She told them the whole story.

Through it all, Zoe’s smile continued to grow, and Jane thought Josie might actually swoon at some point.

“Wow.” Josie had her hands on her chest, her eyes wide, as Jane finished. “Just wow. That’s so sweet. He’s just so… heroic,” she decided. “He must really like you to go in there and fix things like that.”

“That’s the thing,” Jane said. “I don’t think he was even trying to fix anything.” She sighed. “That’s just who he is.”

Josie sighed too with a dreamy smile.

“So he was awesome yesterday,” Zoe agreed. “And you decided that was more important than him being your boss?”

Zoe didn’t actually think Dax being Jane’s boss was a problem. She knew Dax and Jane. She knew Dax wouldn’t reward Jane at work for sexual favors, and she knew Jane would never expect or want that. But she agreed it didn’t look good to other employees, potentially.

“Actually,” Jane said, shooting a glance at Josie, sure this would make her friend swoon. “He gave up his shares in the company.”

Zoe’s eyes got round, and Josie made a little squeak-gasp-choking sound.

“What?” Zoe asked.

Jane nodded. “Yep.”

“To date you,” Josie clarified. “He gave up his part of the business… that could have made him millions… so he could date you?”

Jane lifted a shoulder. “Evidently.”

“Oh my God. I need to sit down.” Josie reached for a tall stool nearby and slid onto it.

Jane laughed. “He can get it back. Of course. The guys would sell it back to him. In fact, the paperwork isn’t even finished yet.” She looked at Zoe. “Aiden didn’t say anything?”

“No, but Grant’s in town, which is unusual, so they took advantage of all being in the same place, in person, at the same time and had a big meeting.” She grinned as she put air quotes around meeting. “Which I think means they went out and ate and bullshitted and drank a lot. He came in really late and crashed in the other bedroom so he wouldn’t wake me up. There was a sticky note on the bathroom mirror, but I haven’t seen him yet this morning.” She shook her head. “It’s a little hard on them all being apart, not being in the same office together every day. It’s pretty cute that they miss each other.”

Jane agreed. She knew the guys had all been friends for a very long time, and the things they’d accomplished together were definitely impressive. Which made it even nicer Dax had chosen to spend the evening with her. Sure, he might not be a Hot Cakes partner right now, but the guys getting together had been about more than business. It was longtime friends hanging out. But he’d chosen Jane. She felt a little warm at that realization.

“So,” she said, starting to pack jar pies again. “I was thinking that, before it’s all official and he’s really given everything up, I need to let him truly see my life. Really see what being with me would be like.”

“You mean with your family?” Zoe asked.

Jane nodded. “With everything. But he’s already seen the factory and knows what my job is like and how I feel about it. He’s met Kelsey and Aspen, and he’s heard about and gotten a look at what Cassie is like. So now he needs to meet my dad.” She looked up. “Right?”

“That’s big for you,” Zoe said, studying Jane.