Sexual Shift Read Online Free

broken cookies into a Sweet Nothings Bakery box, then swept the crumbs off the counter. A little boy wailed from the corner of the bakery until his mother offered him a taste of her cupcake. “For the record, Allie Halloran, I did not appreciate being bossed around. Even if I was in the body of a child at the time.”
    “Sorry, but I was just playing my part. Besides, I enjoyed being the boss of you for once.” Allie skirted away as Hilly pivoted toward her. “Tanner might be a player, but he’s one heck of a handsome player. Don’t try to say you didn’t notice, either. I saw the way you looked at him.”
    “Mmm. Really?” Meg, the middle Tristan sister, moved the box of cookies to the back counter, then waved her hand over the box. A pale blue mist settled over the broken pieces and they began to move together to form complete, unbroken cookies.
    “Don’t get started again, Allie. Plus, for your information, Meg, a player is still a player, no matter how handsome he is. That just makes him an egotistical player.”
    “Ooh, so you do think he’s hot.” Meg grinned, cookie crumbs stuck to the corners of her mouth.
    “I didn’t say that. Stop putting words in my mouth and cookies in yours. Chance will have to send you to a fat farm if you don’t watch out.”
    “Ouch. Damn, big sister, you don’t have to get mean. I’m only playing with you.” Meg sported a phony pout that fooled no one, much less her older sister.
    “Don’t you two have better things to do? Like going through the inventory? I think we’re running out of napkins.”
    “No, we’re not. I checked them— Ow! Why’d you hit me, Allie?” Meg rubbed her arm where her younger sister had slapped her.
    “She knows we have plenty of napkins, silly. Can’t you see we’re taking the joke too far and she’s trying to get rid of us?” Allie scooted her grumbling sister away from Hilly and toward the storage room at the rear of the building. “We’ll be back in a minute. You know, after you’ve had time to fantasize about the man in the bushes.”
    “You two better get out of my sight, or I’ll—” But her sisters were gone before Hilly could finish the threat. She mumbled a choice word under her breath, then counted to ten to keep from screaming. If only they’d stop teasing her. Or better yet, if only his wicked grin and incredible eyes would stop invading her dreams!
    Hilly moved toward the window to gaze out at Main Street. Traffic moved briskly while friends and neighbors strolled by enjoying the warm summer day. But her mind wouldn’t stay on the pretty scene. Instead, she did as Allie had prompted her to do. She sighed and thought about Tanner.
    Zoning in on the men passing by her, she noted how many she knew. Tanner had to be a businessman traveling through Cottageville. Would he stay? Doubtful. A man like him wouldn’t settle down in a small town. Not that the town couldn’t already boast a few handsome men. Her brothers-in-law, Tom Halloran and Dr. Chance Dannigan, for instance. But Tanner seemed worldlier than the others. Worldly and… What was the word she searched for? Immoral? She frowned, not liking her description of him.
    He’d realized she wasn’t Emma Grace’s twin. In fact, he’d known she wasn’t a child at all. She recalled his stark appraisal and once again relived the tingle of electricity that had surrounded him. Then why hadn’t he come straight out and accused her? Besides, how had he known? She’d matched her niece perfectly from the curled eyelashes down to the slight outward turn of her feet.
    Sensing a customer entering behind her, Hilly spun around and forced a smile to her face. “Welcome to Sweet Nothings. May I help you?”
    How she’d managed to say the entire greeting she’d never know. From the second she’d pivoted to face him, she’d lost her train of thought. Her mouth must’ve switched over to autopilot.
    “Hi to you, too, Hilly Tristan.”
    Hilly swallowed, afraid her mouth