Ben nodded, his cheeks flushed with pride.
“It’s beautiful, Bug.” Eliza used his special nickname, and his grin grew even wider.
“Great composition.” Grant stood, peering at the painting over Eliza’s shoulder.
His nearness made the back of her neck tingle.
“You have an artistic eye,” Grant told Ben with a smile.
“Wow, Ben. That’s quite the compliment coming from Grant.” Luke nudged Ben on the shoulder. “Grant went to school for art. He knows his stuff.”
“Really?” Ben’s dark eyes doubled in size as he gazed at Grant with newfound interest.
“I majored in graphic design with a minor in fine art.”
Ben pointed at the artwork on the table. “Did you make these?”
“Yep. It’s some stuff I’m working on for your mom and Cassie. Want to see?”
“Yeah!” Ben dumped his backpack on the floor and scrambled onto the chair eagerly.
Luke slid an arm around Cassie’s waist, planting a kiss on her forehead. “Think I can get a licorice latte in exchange for hanging that mug rack?”
Cassie giggled. “Eliza might even throw in a couple cookies if you hang the menu board, too.”
“Is that so?” Luke chuckled. “You ladies drive a hard bargain.”
Eliza attempted a faint smile, but she couldn’t focus on their banter.
Not when Grant had all of his attention focused on her son.
* * *
Apermanent smile adorned Grant’s face as he showed Ben how he diluted the red paint to make pink, then added a touch of blue to alter the hue. Seeing the way Ben’s eyes illuminated with excitement stirred something inside Grant…. A desire to pass on everything he knew to someone who shared the same passion for art. In some ways, Ben’s eagerness to learn reminded Grant of himself when he was that age.
As Grant hung out with Ben while Luke, Cassie, and Eliza worked on various projects around the bakery, he had no concept of the passage of time. Completely immersed in showing Ben various techniques, Grant rarely diverted his attention. And when he did, it was purely to sneak glimpses of Eliza.
Standing barefoot on the back counter draped with a drop cloth, Eliza stretched on her tiptoes to reach the chalkboard overhead, hand-printing the bakery’s new menu. With her silky blond hair gathered in a messy bun, Grant admired the slender curve of her neck as she tilted her head to the side, surveying her work. “How does it look?”
“Perfect!” Cassie nodded her approval, then frowned. “Wait… something is missing.” Turning to Grant, she asked, “Do you think you could add some artwork? A cup of coffee, a cupcake, stuff like that? Oh, and can you draw a big square, like on a calendar? We can list a different daily special inside.”
“Great idea. I’d be happy to.” Leaving Ben with a color wheel assignment, Grant kicked off his flip-flops and hoisted himself onto the counter.
He took the piece of chalk from Eliza, his heart undulating as their fingers grazed. Even after all this time, her touch left him woozy.
Trying to steady his pulse, Grant studied the menu, looking for inspiration. The coffee side of the chalkboard would be easy. A few coffee beans sprinkled here and there, a cappuccino topped with foam…. But when it came to the desserts, Grant could be more creative.
He scanned the options, deciding he’d draw one of Maggie’s enormous cinnamon rolls. A mulberry pie with a lattice crust would also make for an appealing design. What else? His gaze traveling the list of desserts, Grant froze as he landed on the second to last item—tiramisu cheesecake. One half of that combo was Grant’s all-time favorite indulgence.
His pulse quickened, although the reaction seemed foolish. It wasn’t as if Eliza had included it simply for his sake. Still, he stole a glance in her direction.
She stared intently at the chalk dust covering her hands, a faint blush tinting her cheeks.
Grant fought the urge to point out the tiramisu cheesecake and gauge her reaction, but before he even had the chance, Eliza hopped off the counter.
“Hey, Cass,” she called out, a nervous trill to her voice. “Is the espresso machine still on? I could really use a latte.”
“Of course.” Cassie set down one end of a shelf she was holding for Luke, telling him, “I’ll be right back.”
