“This cake is fantastic,” I say, “Where did you learn to bake like this? It can’t be inherited. Everett can barely grill without burning the steak into a piece of charcoal.”
“Stop! He’ll hear you.” She giggles and covers her mouth. “Do you really like it?”
“I do. Best damn cake I’ve had in a while. Will you answer my question or leave me guessing?”
“Well… I’m in culinary school now, but I’ve been baking since I was young.”
She’sstillyoung, but I keep from saying it. That is the last thing any young person wants to hear.
“Your studies are paying off.” I lift the plate and nod approvingly. “Are you going to school here?”
“Oh, no. I’m enrolled at Ohio State.”
Dammit. The mystery of what she’s doing here goes unsolved.
“They’re teaching you well over there.”
“Thank you.” Her cheeks darken, and she looks away.
She has soft, prominent cheeks. There’s something about them—I want to pinch them. She has the cutest little nose, too. She takes her lower lip between her teeth again, biting down on pink flesh.
I can dismiss myself now. I’ve done my duty, spoken to her briefly, and ensured she doesn’t feel completely alone. Everett can come back and save the day.
But he doesn’t make his grand return, and Evie speaks before I can leave.
“What do you do?” she asks. “My brother says you’re a big business guy, but that’s all he said.”
Not exactly the reputation I want.
I tilt my chin down, frowning. “Big business guy? Really?”
She holds her hands up. “His words, not mine.”
“I guess that’s one way to describe what I do.” I chuckle. “I’m the CEO of Intentional Paper. We focus on forestry, paper, and packaging in a way that supports the environment rather than harming it. Recycled goods, replanting more than we use, that kind of thing.”
Her lips pop open. “That’s not what I was expecting.”
“What? You thought I was… a Wall Street guy? A techie? Something like that?”
“No! I don’t know, but I admire it—the business side of things, that is. I want to open my bakery someday, you know.”
“So, you like picking the brains ofbig business guys?”
She giggles. “I guess I do.”
Not that I want to accept the title Everett gave me, but if she needs help… I can provide it.
“I’m here to answer any of your questions.” I cut off a piece of cake. “Our businesses will be different, but if there’s anything you need to know… ask away.”
“What I need to know is…” She shifts on her feet and looks off to the side. “When will things get easier?”
Yikes. Not the question I’m expecting.
I set my fork down. “Let me guess. You’re struggling right now?”
“Yeah.” Her voice thickens. “I really, really am, and I haven’t even opened the bakery yet. I’m nowhere near that. The first few years of business are supposed to be so hard, and?—”
“Hey.” My voice softens. “It’s normal to struggle when you’re in college. Hell, I was still struggling when I was your age. Like you said, business is hard for the first five years—sometimes ten.”
