The back door opened.
“Knock knock.” Ruby entered. “Hi, Mae. Madison!” Her voice held so much enthusiasm it was my very own pressure valve. She rushed toward me but didn’t tackle me with a hug. “How are you? I heard about the bar. How awful.”
The good thing about my business spreading like wildfire was that I didn’t have to repeat stories. “Yeah, it’s not an expense I needed.”
She stuffed her hands on her hips. “Did you get pictures? I bet you could make a post with something like hashtagsetbackorvandalsordidntneedthisand leave it at that, and you’d get some outrage. The public might flush out who did it.”
Ruby was only five years younger than me, but her innocence was a breath of fresh air. “I don’t think the public will care that much. It might give people more ideas.”
“I don’t know. Flatlanders is part of Bourbon Canyon.” She went to help Mae cover the food with aluminum foil. “I don’t mean to sound callous with my marketing brain, but you can build this into your story. Make it a comeback thing.”
“I’ll think about it.” I actually would. Surprised, I started digging through the cupboards. My first instinct hadn’t been to brush off her advice. She feared it was callous, but what it was was calculated. I had a shuttered business I was renovating to turn a profit. Ruby hadn’t steered me wrong yet.
“Ruby,” Mae said, “can you help haul these outside, and then would you mind seeing if Madison needs a hand with the cookies or the cleanup?”
“No problem.”
I kept busy while they transported the trays of food to the shop. No help was needed; I could make cookies in my sleep. Did Mae see that Ruby made me more comfortable? The thought warmed me from the inside out, gave me an unfamiliar sense of security.
Ruby made one more trip before stopping. She kicked her hip against the counter. “How are things going with Teller?”
“Fine.” I continued plopping globs of cookie dough onto the baking sheet.
“He’s been decent to you? You two seemed to clash before.” Sincerity oozed from her. She didn’t sound like she was asking to get the dirt.
I slid the baking sheet into the oven and faced her, adopting her position. “He’s been good about backing off when I don’t want his bossiness.” Never mind the superior kisses I couldn’t quit craving. I was already wondering how much better at other things he was. “He’s honest, and I need that.”
“Good. He’s always been good to me at Copper Summit, and he’s an amazing boss. They all are.”
“The benefits of being raised by decent parents.”
“I don’t know what your parents are like, but you’re a good person too.”
I smiled tightly. “Let’s hope I can be a good boss.”
“You’ll be terrific.” She grabbed another baking sheet and we loaded it up with cookies.
What was it with this family and everyone associated with them? Endless optimism and they handed it out like candy. I happened to like candy, and their confidence bolstered me.
After we swapped out the next batch of cookies, Ruby leaned against the counter again. “Your invitation came back to me. I was going to stop by Flatlanders and catch you, and if that failed, I’d just text your invite. I hope you can make the wedding.”
“You’re inviting me?” Ruby and I had been friendly, but she was more like a contractor I had hired. The girl couldn’t help but be bubbly and friendly, but to invite me to her wedding?
“Of course!” Her radiant smile lit the room. “I consider you my friend.”
Didn’t I just tell Teller I didn’t have friends? But I’d been baking with Ruby much of the afternoon. I was at a family party with her.
Holy shit, I had a friend.
The back door opened and Teller stepped through. His warm gaze immediately landed on me. “Smells good in here.”
My stomach dipped and flipped. He made it sound like he wasn’t talking about the food, but like I had splashed vanilla extract behind my ears and dabbed it on my wrists. “Cookies do that.”
“And cake from the looks of it outside.” He came closer to steal a cookie from the baking sheet. I scooted the pan out of his reach. “Hey now,” he said, chuckling.
I grinned and then caught the astonished way Ruby watched us, a flicker of delight dancing in her eyes. Teller and I must be making a hell of a domestic scene.
I jerked my hand off the cookie sheet. Teller narrowed his eyes and snatched a cookie without taking his attention off me.
