“Oh, that’s so much easier than my way of double-fisting it.” Laura Kate exhaled, and her white-blonde bangs whiffled up.
“You learn quickly,” Chloe said. “I don’t understand how you can do such beautiful and delicate work when you and your station look like frosting exploded all over.” Chloe didn’t know whether to scold the girl, get an attorney on retainer for the inevitable unsafe workplace lawsuit, or offer her a pay raise.
“I know, I’m a mess.” Laura Kate’s hand was steady as she squeezed off the last shell. “I just get so caught up in what I’m doing.”
Chloe remembered feeling like that when she’d first started out. She’d wonder why her back and arms ached, then realize she’d been crouched over a table, piping frosting, making gum paste flowers, or drizzling hot caramel into intricate patterns for three hours.
“That means you love what you’re doing.” Chloe patted Laura Kate’s shoulder. “I can’t fault you for that.”
“I wanted to go to the Culinary Institute of America like you, but my daddy got sick, so I just hung around here and copied everything Donna did, watched YouTube, read books. Every gray hair on my parents’ heads is because of me. I blew up our kitchen with flour, sugar, eggs, milk, and vanilla bombs so many times…”
“I’ll be honest, you have more skill and talent than some of the highly educated and trained pastry chefs I worked with in Paris. Good for you.”
More and more, Chloe loved this place. If she ever began to solidify plans of going back to France, maybe getting that little café she and Jean-Marc dreamed about, she was starting to believe that Haven’s might just change her mind. Might.
By mid-morning, the bakery bustled with customers, both homegrown and tourists. It seemed impossible that they could lose their standing in Hearts Bend to a Donut Heaven. But DH had deep pockets. Chloe retreated to the office to balance the books and check on her inventory orders.
“I see you’re finally out of your Sam daze.” Ruby slapped the mail down on Chloe’s desk.
“You exaggerate. I’m not in a Sam daze.” She leafed through the bills, ads, and a magazine.
“Okay, a Sam stupor then.”
“Not even close.” But she had been in a bit of a—okay, a haze—continually pulling her mind back from the park last night.
“Whatever you say, boss lady.” Ruby folded her arms and gave Chloe a steady gaze. “So, Art Loamier just came in for a fritter and coffee.”
The name rang a bell, but a search through her memory drew a blank. “And that matters to me how?”
Ruby tutted and sighed. “He’s on the town council. One from the pro-Donut Heaven camp. I held his coffee hostage until he’d tell me who’s behind this stupid scheme.”
“Did it work?”
“He left without coffee. Took his fritter and was gone. All he’d say was more of what he spouted in the paper. It’ll be good for tourism, bring jobs, and help modernize the town.” Ruby’s disdainful expression made Chloe smile. “Same old claptrap.”
“Thanks for trying.” Chloe knew Ruby hated the thought of Donut Heaven coming to Hearts Bend and changing the town’s hominess and quaintness as much as she did.
“What do you want us to do about Frank’s cake? Laura Kate’s finished that decorating.”
“Let’s start packing it up and loading it in the van.” As part of the sale, Bob had left his windowless van for the transportation of baked goods around town. It drove like an old jalopy, but it did the job. Chloe had just tied on her apron to help Laura Kate box the layers when Sam poked his head into the kitchen.
“Come on in, Sam. Cruller and chocolate milk coming up.”
“Ruby, you’re going to make me fat.”
“Fat chance.” Ruby thought she was so funny.
Chloe smiled and gave him a short wave. Oh, my. He looked…amazing. Street casual Sam, dressed in jeans and a polo, his hair styled except for the stubborn dark curl flopping over his forehead. She didn’t regret brushing on a touch of mascara before daybreak this morning.
“What’s this?” He stood over the drip bucket, which needed to be dumped out back.
“Leak in the roof,” Chloe said. “Cole Danner is giving me a bid.”
“Go ahead and call a roofing contractor for a bid instead of Cole. Cole will just contract it out anyway.” Sam’s gaze went to the table. “Is this Frank’s cake?” He looked genuinely impressed. “Wow.”
“The prettiest decorations are Laura Kate’s.” Chloe felt so warm standing next to him. Like he belonged here, admiring her work, helping her with the bakery. Like they were…partners. “We’ll load it up in a minute,” she said, stepping away from him. “I’ll drive it to the house and assemble it there.”
“Can I help?”
