“Miles,” she groans, arching into me.
I smile, pulling my finger out as I now position my cock against her, pushing in slowly as I kiss her deeply.“I fucking love you, Daisy.”
We’re up earlythe next morning, waking to surf before the sun rises.Then Miles is off to the studio to work on some boards with his dad, and I’m back in the bakery.
Yesterday was perfect, with all our family and friends there, getting to tour the bakery and taste everything I’ve been working on.
I was nervous but excited, and it feels even better to know that everyone loved it.Opening in just a few short days will be the final test, but Miles and I have been hard at work getting the word out to the community.
Even better, Lisa already has a few items on the bar menu, and they sell out daily.And yesterday morning, before the excitement of the soft opening, I signed a contract with Orchid Bay to supply breakfast pastries to their little walk-up coffee shop in the lobby.Like Lisa’s bar, it’s first come, first served, and when they’re gone, hopefully people will visit the bakery instead.
Sometimes I worry that people are just being nice, allowing me to have my items in their restaurant and hotel because we’re friends.But it’s Miles who reassures me, telling me that having close friends who support you is part of the business.
“Good morning!”Sloane’s voice calls, cheerful and sweet.“You better have a Boston Cream cupcake for me.”
She finds me in the back, in the little office Miles created for me to get paperwork done.It was a suggestion his dad made to keep work and home separate, or else it all blurs together.Something Tanner learned early in his small business career, and I’ll take any advice I can get.
“In the freezer,” I tell Sloane, and she smiles, turning on her heel to grab one.“I’ll be out in just a second.Finishing up entering an order.”
Ten minutes later, I’m joining Sloane in the kitchen.She’s come by to help me get some cupcakes made and frozen so I’m ready for the rush of the opening.Well, what I hope is a rush of people when I open.
I have two huge fears: one being that no one shows up, and the other being that I run out of goods.I’ve already started taking advance orders, and I have way more than I expected.And they’re not just from Lisa or Orchid Bay.
With Lisa, it’s a rotating menu, but with Orchid Bay, they’ve ordered the same thing daily: mostly scones, muffins and breads—things I plan to sell here at the bakery, but the main focus is cakes and cupcakes.
I have an order for six dozen cupcakes for a baby shower the day after I open.That’s one of the things Sloane and I will be working on today.
“So what’s the plan for today?”Sloane asks, her cupcake defrosting on one of the racks, a clean towel placed over it like I taught her.
“Plan is to crank out six dozen pink vanilla cupcakes for an order and get them in the freezer.I’ll frost those fresh the night before,” I tell her.“Then, we can get to work on the opening day menu items.”
“Boston Cream?”she asks, smirking.
They’re her favorite.All of my friends have their favorites.Miles loves the pink vanilla, and Kai’s favorite is the coconut cake.Sage and Nate both love the white chocolate strawberry.Alana is lime chiffon, and Flynn’s is just simple chocolate.Owen pretty much eats anything, totally going with the vibe of his whole go-with-the-flow personality.
“Of course, Boston Cream,” I say, laughing.She’s never going to let me have a day when it’s not on the rotating menu.I always have a few stashed away in the freezer for her, regardless.
“Last night went really well,” Sloane says, grabbing some of the items we need.She’s been helping me for a while, learning the machines and the recipes.
“Yeah, it did.I really wanted the band to play, but Miles wanted it to be about me.”
“I get that.He didn’t want the focus to be taken off of you, and that’s really sweet.”
We work and chat for several hours, music playing, lots of laughs and stories shared.It’s so great having her here, and I love that she has given up her time to help me.
She’s nearly done with school and will begin working for Orchid Bay as one of their graphic designers.I love that she has a job lined up already—something she was worried about when she started her journey to get her degree.She always feared she wouldn’t make it, that her past would stop her from being successful.
“I picked us up some sandwiches from Lisa’s,” Sloane says, walking over to the refrigerator to grab them.“Wanna take a break and have some lunch?”
“Yeah, sure.Thanks for grabbing lunch.”
Walking out to the front of the bakery, we sit down at one of the small tables, and Sloane takes everything out of the bags.
“Turkey or ham?”she asks, holding both up.I choose the turkey, leaving the ham for Sloane since I know it’s her favorite.
Just as she’s unwrapping her sandwich, a strange look comes over her face.Brows knitted together, she begins to chew on her bottom lip.
I’m sitting across from her, my back to the window, and when I look over my shoulder, I take in what she sees.
