What was I doing? I shouldn’t let the past be the damning ingredient to this day. “Love is a special ingredient the heart savors.” I looked at Cindy and then Austin. “Right?”
“Absolutely!” Cindy cheered.
I returned my attention to the lesson. “The next technique is rolling it into a smooth ball.” I demonstrated, and he followed with ease. We continued until we filled a baking sheet and covered it with plastic wrap, letting it rest for fifteen minutes.
While waiting, I busied myself with other tasks. Bianca entered, asking for Austin’s assistance.
When he stepped out of the kitchen, the room temperaturedropped immediately. The sensation was probably in my head. Somehow, he still had a powerful effect on me.
Austin returned to continue learning how to snip the dough to form the ears. He beat an egg to coat the bread and slid the baking sheet into the oven.
For the next three days, I took paid vacation days from my main job to acclimate myself to the daily routine of the bakery. He showed up on those days to help out. On Thursday, I returned to my day job and stopped by No Name after work. Austin showed up thirty minutes after my arrival.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, knowing the bakery would close in three hours.
“I like it here.” He shrugged. “It makes me happy to see baked goods.”
“Oh yeah?” Bianca smirked as she carried a tray of cookies. “It’s always good when the boss loves what his shop sells.”
Standing next to me, Rosie elbowed me and whispered, “I think he means you—a lovely pastry.” She licked her lips.
Oh my god.I shook my head and laughed.
Donna and Cindy slid me a smile as they opened boxes and put supplies away.
“I don’t think so,” I whispered to Rosie.
Austin grabbed another tray of pies and followed Bianca to the front.
“Wanna bet?” Rosie wiggled her eyes. “The winner buys dinner.”
“No.”
“Why not?” Rosie asked. “I heard he was your ex.”
Curious, Donna and Cindy huddled around to listen.
“If I were younger, I’d date him,” Donna said. “But my Mikey wouldn’t like that.”
“What happened?” Cindy asked. “Why did the relationship end?”
I didn’t want to talk about my personal life with my new coworkers. Austin was the owner—their employer. Whatever happened between us should remain private. I didn’t want my negative experience to give an unattractive portrayal of him.
Austin seemed like a dedicated boss who cared for his employees.
“It’s the past.” I shrugged. “I just want to focus on the future, you know?”
“Understood.” Donna patted my back. “That’s a great outlook.”
Time flew by when I worked at the bakery. My shift ended, and I slid on my coat and waved to Cindy. Rosie and Donna were inside Bianca’s office.
I didn’t see Austin around. He had probably gone home already.
Wrong.
He was outside waiting for me. “Want to have dinner? It’s my treat for the bread lesson.”
“There’s no need. I’m a part-time employee. So you basically paid me to teach you.”
